ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Wranglers Down Steelheads In Shootout, 6-5

January 31, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Boise, ID - Despite erasing a two-goal deficit late in the third period, the Steelheads fell 6-5 in a shootout to the Las Vegas Wranglers in front of 3,990 fans at Qwest Arena on Monday night.

It was the second straight contest in which the Wranglers (32-7-4) defeated the Steelheads (23-14-5) in a shootout, as the visitors won 3-2 just two nights prior. The Steelheads lead the season series 2-1-2, as they picked up four out of a possible six points from the three-game series that began last Friday.

The Wranglers held a 2-0 lead at the first intermission on the strength of two five-on-five markers. At 6:56 of the period, Sean O'Connor scored his second goal of the three-game series. Matt Dzieduszycki then made it 2-0 with just 2:16 left in the first period, off a nice pass from Steve Crampton. Dzieduszycki lifted a backhand into the top corner over the glove of Steve Silverthorn (24 saves), for his 20th of the season.

The second period saw the two teams trade goals twice. After the Steelheads got on the board via a Greg Hornby power play tally, Crampton scored at 10:10 of the second to make it 3-1. Just 3:29 later, the Steelheads answered again, cutting the deficit to one. D'Arcy McConvey jammed home a bouncing puck from the Wranglers' crease. Garett Bembridge and Tyler Kindle assisted on McConvey's 19th goal of the season.

Christian Chartier gave the Wranglers another two-goal lead with a power play goal just 64 seconds later.

The Steelheads again cut the lead to one at 16:15 of the period on an unassisted goal by Paul Caponigri. Caponigri gloved down a failed clear by Wranglers' defenseman Tyler Sloan and wristed a shot past Marc Magliarditi (31 saves).

After 40 minutes of play, the shots were 23-16 in favor of the Steelheads and the score was 4-3, with the visitors in front.

At 7:09 of the third period, Dzieduszycki's second of the evening gave the Wranglers a 5-3 edge. Dan Tudin and Chartier assisted on the goal.

With just over 12:30 gone by in the third period, Bembridge's 34th goal of the season made it 5-4. Blake Forsyth and McConvey got the assists. In the waning minutes of regulation, and with Silverthorn at the bench for the extra attacker, Marty Flichel swept home the tying goal. Flichel's 17th of the season came at 18:38, with McConvey and Bembridge getting the helpers. The assist, Bembridge's third point of the affair, allowed him to surpass Bobby Russell as the Steelheads single-season scoring leader. The Saskatchewan product now has 64 points in 42 games.

A scoreless overtime forced the shootout, where the Wranglers' fifth shooter, Dzieduszycki, beat Silverthorn cleanly. Bembridge had a chance to prolong the match, but Magliarditi was equal to the task.

Silverthorn is now 10-9-3 on the season. The triumph allowed Magliarditi to earn his 200th career ECHL win and 20th of the campaign.

The Steelheads return to action on Wednesday, February 1, as they travel to Estero, Florida to take on the Everblades. Faceoff is at 5:30 p.m. MST. All the action can be heard live on ESPN Radio 1350 AM, "The Ticket," beginning approximately 20 minutes before the drop of the puck.

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ECHL Stories from January 31, 2006


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