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ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Walters, Rush Down Steelheads

November 2, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Rapid City, SD-Jefferson Dahl netted two goals for the Steelheads but Ryan Walters' third period goal was the game-winner at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center on Wednesday night, as the Rapid City Rush (2-6-1) skated past the Idaho Steelheads (3-4-1), 5-3 in the first game of Idaho's three-game road trip.

The Steelheads fought back from a two-goal deficit in the second period to tie the game, but surrendered Rapid City tallies in the final minute of the second and opening minute of the third period to put the game out of reach.

Just 1:07 into the third period, after the majority of the first shift was spent in the Rush end, a turnover in the Idaho zone became a Rapid City goal. Travis Walsh went in behind his own net and tried to reverse the puck, but there was no one there for the Steelheads. The puck swung around the wall where former-Steelhead Riley Weselowski came down from the right point and threw the puck in front for a Walters deflection and a 4-2 Rapid City lead.

Jefferson Dahl would pull the Steelheads closer, stuffing in his second of the game and third of the season at 14:45 of the third, but that was as close as the Steelheads would get. Ryan Misiak scored into an empty net to put the game away.

The Rush opened up the scoring with two goals in the first period. Brenden Walker buried a power play rebound of a Lindsay Sparks shot at 9:58 of the first period, and 2:24 later Josh MacDonald converted on a Walters feed in the high slot to make it a 2-0 game.

The Steelheads answered with two goals in the second period. Dahl netted his second of the season on an impressive individual effort, carrying the puck over the Rapid City line, bouncing off two checks to take the puck back, and flipping a wrister over goaltender Kent Patterson's glove. Dahl's two-goal night extended his points streak to six games, matching a career high. He has 11 points during the streak.

Joe Faust evened the scored at 2-2 with 46 seconds left in the period with is fourth of the year, a blast from the right circle off a feed from Kellan Lain in the corner. That lead was short-lived as Michael Young answered back with a point shot just 17 seconds later that fooled Branden Komm and restore Rapid City's one-goal lead.

The Steelheads streak of consecutive games with a power play goal was snapped at five, as the team was 0-for-2 on the night. Idaho had a 5-on-3 advantage for 1:20 at the start of the second, but could not convert and never got another chance.

Idaho's road trip continues on Friday night with the first of two games at Budweiser Events Center against the Colorado Eagles. Puck-drop is scheduled for 7:05pm MT, available on ECHLTV and 1350AM KTIK.

STEELHEADS STATS: Goals: Dahl (2,3); Faust (4) Branden Komm: 16 saves on 20 shots Power Play: 0-for-2 Penalty Kill: 1-for-2

CENTURYLINK THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1. Ryan Walters RCR

2. Josh MacDonald RCR

3. Kent Patterson RCR

COORS LIGHT OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME Jefferson Dahl: 2 goals, plus-1, 3 shots

PLAY OF THE GAME: The Steelheads came out of the locker room flying to start the third period. Trailing by a goal, they spent the entire first shift in the offensive zone and had several good chances that Kent Patterson knocked away. The first puck to make it back below the Idaho goal line seemed like an innocent play, but a miscommunication and the ensuing turnover quickly ended up in the back of the Steelheads' net for the game-winner by Ryan Walters. The Steelheads outshot the Rush 34-21 and were trying to seize the third period, but that turnover was the difference.

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