ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Winning Streak Comes To An End As Steelheads Blasted By Falcons 6-1

January 26, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Fresno, CA - Four Falcons notched multiple points as the home team raced out to a 4-0 lead in the opening 28 minutes before handing the Steelheads a 6-1 defeat in front of 4,723 fans at the SaveMart Center on Friday night.

The loss ends the Steelheads (21-13-7) season-high, four-game winning streak, while the Falcons (22-11-5) now vault past the Steelheads and into third place in the National Conference playoff picture. The five-goal drubbing is the Steelheads worst loss this season and it drops the club to 8-8-2 on the road and 0-3-1 against the Falcons this year.

The Falcons took a commanding 3-0 lead heading into the first intermission off goals by Tyler Kindle, Luke Curtin and Kenny Bernard. Kindle jammed home a power play chance from outside the crease at 9:32 with Luke Curtin and Brady Leisenring drawing the helpers. Then, at 15:06, Curtin took advantage of a Steelheads' turnover and slipped the puck past Kellen Briggs (43 saves) for his fourth of the campaign. Leisenring again picked up a helper, as did all-star Oren Eizenman. With a minute left in the frame, Eizenman found Bernard coming late into the offensive zone and he beat Briggs with a wrist shot to make it 3-0. Josh Ciocco grabbed the second assist.

Through one period the shots favored the Falcons 16-7.

The Steelheads found themselves down 4-0 at the 7:55 mark of the second period after P.O. Beaulieu smacked home a rebound opportunity for his eighth goal of the season. Kenny MacAulay and Leisenring picked up the assists on the even strength marker, the only tally for either side in the second stanza.

After 40 minutes of play the Steelheads trailed 4-0 and they were being out-shot 30-14.

Marty Flichel got the Steelheads on the board with an even-strength tally at 3:49 of the third period to make it 4-1, as he found the rebound off Lance Galbraith's initial opportunity and floated a backhander over Jake Moreland (20 saves) for his eighth of the campaign.

The Falcons capped their impressive win with goals by Eizenman and Matt Stefanishion later in the third period, with Eizenman's marker being a power play tally and his team-leading 22nd of the year.

The final shots favored the Falcons 49-21, which are the most shots the Steelheads have allowed in a game this season. With the loss, Briggs is now 10-6-1. Moreland's win was his 12th of the year and the 10th overall for the Falcons on home ice.

The Steelheads continue on the road as they hook up with the Bakersfield Condors on Saturday, January 26. The puck drops at 8:05 p.m. MST. All the action can be heard live on 1350 AM, KTIK "The Ticket" or via the B2 Networks. Don't forget, Steelheads' single-game tickets can be purchased via www.idahosteelheads.com (using the print-at-home feature), by calling 331-TIXS or from the Qwest Arena box office.

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ECHL Stories from January 26, 2008


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