BOISE, Idaho – The Idaho Steelheads (3-3-1) earned back-to-back wins to close their home stand thanks to a 39-save effort from rookie goaltender Landon Bow and a two-point night for Anthony Luciani, defeating the Reading Royals (3-2-1) by a 3-1 score in front of 3,612 at CenturyLink Arena.
Bow earned his second career pro victory, stopping 14 of 15 shots in the third period as the Royals poured on the pressure in the final minutes. It was a shot-blocking parade, with defensemen Joe Faust, Charlie Dodero, and Corbin Baldwin on the ice for much of the final frame.
The Royals did break through Bow in the third at 10:30 with Florian Iberer’s first goal of the season, but from there on it was a defensive lockdown for the Steelheads. Joe Faust iced the game with an empty-net goal from his own end with 1:49 left to play.
Bow was also one of Idaho’s best penalty-killers on a night when the penalty kill was called on often and dominated. The Steelheads killed off all seven Royals power plays, including a 5-on-3.
Idaho opened the scoring just 90 seconds into the game when Anthony Luciani, driving down the right wing boards, feathered a pass to the slot for a streaking Travis Ewanyk. Ewanyk chipped his second goal of the season between the legs of Martin Ouellette for a 1-0 Steelheads lead.
At 13:59 of the first period, the Steelheads had their own 5-on-3 power play and didn’t miss. Luciani collected a pass at the right circle, stepped in, and blasted his second 5-on-3 power play goal in as many nights through Ouellette. It was a replica of Luciani’s goal on Friday night, the same situation and the same shot from the same location on the ice. It gave Idaho a 2-0 lead and would hold up as the game-winning goal.
Luciani finishes the five-game home stand with three goals and seven points. Jefferson Dahl, who assisted on Luciani’s power play tally, extended his points streak to five games, during which he’s racked up a goal and eight points.
The Steelheads earned seven of an available ten points on their home stand and climbed back to the .500 mark with the win.
Idaho heads on the road for a three-game trip that begins with a single game in Rapid City against the Rush on Wednesday. Puck-drop at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center is scheduled for 6:35pm MT, available on ECHLTV and 1350AM KTIK.
With Idaho Steelheads release
You must be logged in to post a comment.