BOISE, Idaho – The Idaho Steelheads scored three goals in the third period and Kyle Jean netted the only goal of the shootout, as the Idaho Steelheads (6-5-1) defeated the Adirondack Thunder (7-1-3) 4-3 in front of 4,436 fans on Military Appreciation Night at CenturyLink Arena.
The Steelheads trailed 2-0 entering the third period, but battled back with three goals in a span of 9:42 to hand the Adirondack Thunder, previously 6-0-0 on the road, their first defeat away from home this season. The Steelheads also moved to a perfect 3-0 in the shootout, their second shootout win this season on home ice.
Branden Komm stopped all four shooters he faced in the shootout, making him 8-for-8 this year in the breakaway contest. That included some payback on Thunder rookie Brian Ward, who scored on a penalty shot in the second period but whom Komm shut down in extra time. Jean beat goaltender Mason McDonald in the fourth round, faking a slap shot to freeze the rookie goaltender before sliding the puck through his legs. Komm stopped Ty Loney to clinch the win.
Komm made an equally important save in overtime. Just following an unsuccessful Steelheads power play, Peter MacArthur fed a driving Gunnar Hughes at the Steelheads back post. Komm stretched across to fight off Hughes’ attempt for his second goal of the night, kicking out the right pad to keep the game alive.
Rob Linsmayer broke through for the Steelheads first goal of the game at 7:09 of the second period, burying the rebound of a Brandon Anselmini point shot. Anselmini now has points in six of his last seven games (0-7-7). On the power play 6:39 later, it was Linsmayer again feeding Will Merchant in the slot for his third goal of the season, all on the power play, to tie the game.
The Steelheads have at least one power play goal in ten of 12 games this season.
The Thunder pulled back in front at 15:28 of the third period when Hughes hammered a rebound off the end boards past Komm. But Idaho answered right back just 1:23 after that, with David Glen driving to the net and redirecting a Charlie Dodero feed for his second goal of the season.
The Thunder had a 2-0 lead early in the second period. Loney netted his fourth of the season at 7:42 of the first period on a right wing shot. At 1:09 of the second, Ward scored on a penalty shot after Dodero pulled him down on a short-handed breakaway.
The Steelheads moved back over .500 with the win, and have not lost consecutive games in regulation since the first two games of the season. Jefferson Dahl earned an assist to extend the ECHL’s longest active points streak to ten games.
The Steelheads and Thunder meet for the series rubber match on Saturday night in Boise, with puck-drop scheduled for 7:10pm MT. The game is available on ECHLTV, Cable One and 93.1FM KTIK.
With Idaho Steelheads release