Boise, ID (1/13/18)— Henrik Samuelsson’s final-minute power play goal forced overtime at CenturyLink Arena on Saturday night but former Steelhead Justin Taylor’s backhander was the winner, as the Kalamazoo Wings (19-13-3) handed the Idaho Steelheads (21-11-6) a 3-2 overtime loss in front of a sell-out crowd of 5,242 fans.
After Wings’ defenseman Jon Jutzi hit the post earlier in overtime, Aaron Irving slid a pass between the circles for Taylor in front of the Idaho net. Taylor shook off Will Merchant to flip a backhander under the arm of Philippe Desrosiers for his 21st goal of the season.
Taylor was with the Steelheads for their 2013 run to the Western Conference Final. He’s currently ranked second in the ECHL in goal-scoring.
The Steelheads forced overtime with the tying goal in the game’s final minute. With Josh Pitt in the box for tripping and the Steelheads’ net empty, Samuelsson slid a pass to the front from the side of the goal that redirected off a Kalamazoo defender and through Wings goaltender Michael Garteig to tie the score 2-2. Samuelsson’s 14th of the year came with just 35 seconds remaining.
The Steelheads trailed 1-0 heading into the final period. They drew even at 4:36 of the third after the Wings had failed to capitalize on an opportunity at the other end. Off an odd-man rush, Tyler Heinonen attacked the Idaho crease only to be disrupted by a Desrosiers poke check. In transition, Cole Ully and Jefferson Dahl pulled ahead on a 2-on-1. Dahl finished for his 15th of the year to tie the score 1-1.
Brendan Bradley scored his second goal of the game and ninth of the season 1:07 later, scoring from in front of the net after missing from the same spot seconds earlier. Bradley opened the scoring at 7:10 of the first period with a high-slot wrister off the rush, his first point on a three-point night.
The Steelheads fell to 0-4 this season in games decided within the five-minute overtime session, with three of those defeats coming at CenturyLink Arena. The overtime point earned was significant for Idaho, moving them past the Wichita Thunder and into sole possession of second place in the Mountain Division. Idaho has points in five of the last six games (3-1-2).
The Steelheads played in front of their ninth sellout crowd this season at CenturyLink Arena.
The Steelheads head to the All-Star break and do not return to game action until January 19th when they visit the Tulsa Oilers at BOK Center. Justin Parizek will head to Indianapolis for the CCM/ECHL All-Star Classic, representing the Mountain Division and taking part in the Fastest Skater Competition.
The Steelheads and Oilers drop the puck next Friday at 6:05pm MT with the game available on 1350AM KTIK and on ECHLTV.
With Idaho Steelheads release
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