WICHITA, KS – The Idaho Steelheads (27-13-3) scored twice in the third period to help split the weekend with the Wichita Thunder (18-18-8) during a 5-4 win on Sunday evening from Intrust Bank Arena.
The Thunder once against scored the opening tally within the first minute of the game at 0:27 of the first period on a shot from forward Pierre-Cedric Labrie to take a 1-0 lead. Steelheads forward Spencer Naas answered back with a shot from the right circle on a drop-off pass, tying the game at 1-1. The Thunder continued the back and forth with a power play goal by defenseman Keoni Texeira at 10:53 before Steelheads forward Steve McParland leveled the score, 2-2, at 16:54 with a breakout shot through the legs of the netminder.
The tennis match of goals continued at 9:28 of the second period thanks to Thunder forward Jakob Stukel to edge back ahead, 3-2. Steelheads defenseman Brady Norrish tapped in a puck heading toward the net to ensure a tally less than one-minute later at 10:18, leveling off the scoreline at 3-3 before Thunder defenseman Travis Brown converted on a 5-on-3 power play at 16:55, taking a 4-3 lead.
The Steelheads finally earned their first lead of the weekend in the third period, which proved to be all they needed. At 0:31, McParland nestled his second goal of the game on a rebound to tie the game at 4-4 before Steelheads forward Brad McClure ripped a shot from the right side at 3:07 on the power play to edge the Steelheads ahead, 5-4. Despite a late push by the Thunder, the Steelheads held on to take the victory.
Steelheads netminder Ryan Faragher (6-3-1) halted all 10 shots in relief for the win with Colton Point stopping 10 of 14 shots in 40 minutes. Thunder goaltender Ty Rimmer (0-1-0) also came in relief, saving 29 of 32 shots in 40 minutes during the loss, and Dylan Wells turned aside 15 of 17 shots to start the game.
The Steelheads head to Allen Event Center to open a three-game weekend against the Allen Americans on Wednesday, January 30th at 6:05 p.m.
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