Wheeling and Dealing! Steelheads Snap Skid with Win
February 9, 2017 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release
Wheeling and Dealing - Steelheads Snap Skid with Win over Nailers
(Idaho Steelheads, Credit: Steve Conner Photography )
Boise, ID- In the first ever meeting between the two teams, Joe Basaraba opened the scoring just 47 seconds into the first period to send the Idaho Steelheads (25-16-7) on their way to a 4-1 win over the Wheeling Nailers (24-16-5) on Wednesday night in front of 3,499 fans at CenturyLink Arena.
The Steelheads outshot Wheeling 40-26 in the game, and 31-14 in the first two periods. Corbin Baldwin was a plus-3 on the evening with two assists, factoring into the offense on his first shift.
With the Nailers in the midst of a change, Baldwin found Basaraba streaking through center and down the right wing boards. Basaraba collected the pass and beat defenseman Ryan Segalla down the wall, cutting to the front of the net and walking around goaltender Sean Maguire for his 16th goal of the season and a 1-0 Steelheads lead.
The Nailers would draw even when a bouncing puck at the side of the Steelheads net found its way to Tyler Currier in the slot for a wrist shot and his 10th goal of the season at 16:23. That tie would not last long.
With Travis Walsh in the box for cross-checking, the Steelheads penalty kill struck for its eighth shorthanded goal this season and the fifth in the last nine games. Basaraba carried the puck over the Wheeling blue line and dropped a pass for Brian Nugent, Basaraba continuing towards the net. Using Basaraba and the defenseman as a screen, Nugent fired a low wrist shot through Maguire's legs for a 2-1 lead at 19:00.
It was Nugent's second goal of the season, scoring in his third game back from an injury that saw him miss 28 contests.
The Steelheads built on their lead in the second period with strong forecheck work. Will Merchant raced into the offensive zone with help from Jefferson Dahl to force a turnover by Wheeling defender Danny Fick. Dahl threw the loose puck right to the slot for a Rob Linsmayer chance. Maguire made the first save but Merchant tucked in the rebound for his 16th of the year at 13:04 to make it 3-1.
Wheeling had its best look of the second period late when Jarrett Burton whistled an uncontested shot wide from the slot. The Steelheads went right back down the other end and had a strong shift in the Wheeling zone, resulting in a hooking penalty on Fick. Gage Quinney followed that penalty with a hooking minor of his own to put Idaho on a 5-on-3 power play for 1:10.
Anthony Luciani would cash in at 18:42, his wrist shot from the left circle ringing the post and banking in off of Maguire for a 4-1 Idaho lead. It was Luciani's team-leading 19th goal of the year, and fifth on the power play.
The Nailers would bring pressure in the third period, hitting three posts but never able to solve Landon Bow a second time. Bow stopped all 12 shots he saw in the final period to improve to 9-3-2 on the season. The win snapped a six-game winless streak for Idaho.
The Steelheads and Nailers hit the ice again on Friday night for the second game of their three-game series. The Steelheads will be wearing specialty jerseys for the Jayden DeLuca Foundation Jersey Auction, which will conclude after Saturday night's contest. Puck-drop is scheduled for 7:10 pm MT on 1350 KTIK, Cable One, and ECHLTV. For tickets call the Steelheads Front Office at 383-0080 or visit IdahoSteelheads.com.
Photo: Steve Conner Photography
STEELHEADS STATS: Goals: Basaraba (15), Nugent (2), Merchant (16), Luciani (19) Landon Bow: 25 saves on 26 shots Power Play: 1-for-4 Penalty Kill: 0-for-5
CENTURYLINK THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. Corbin Baldwin IDH
2. Joe Basaraba IDH
3. Jefferson Dahl IDH
COORS LIGHT OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME Joe Basaraba: Goal, assist, 4 shots, plus-2 rating
PLAY OF THE GAME: The penalty kill has been a catalyst for Idaho for three weeks now, and tonight it served as a turning point early in the game. After the Steelheads had controlled much of the first period, the Nailers tied the game off a bouncing puck the Steelheads could not clear, and then were given a power play shortly after. Rather than shrink back, the Steelheads stayed aggressive against the league's seventh-ranked power play and created several opportunities, with the Jean-Morrissette duo again creating odd-man rushes. Yet it was Brian Nugent scoring his second goal this season, and his first on home ice in Idaho, which reestablished Idaho's lead and allowed them to put their foot on the gas pedal again entering the second period.
Images from this story
 Wheeling and Dealing - Steelheads Snap Skid with Win over Nailers (Steve Conner Photography ) |
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