Martin And Desmet Lead Steelheads To Win Over Grizzlies

Andrew Martin scored twice and added an assist, while Taggart Desmet picked up three points as well in the Steelheads? 4-3 victory over the Grizzlies in front of 2,608 fans on Monday night from the E-Center.The win helps the Steelheads (29-16-8) to a three-game unbeaten streak and a three-game winning streak against the Grizzlies (27-22-5), as the 10-game season series comes to an end with the Steelheads going 5-2-2 versus their closest rival.The Grizzlies gained a 1-0 lead at the 8:46 mark of the first period when Rob Sirianni grabbed an errant shot off the end boards and flipped the puck over Steelheads? goaltender Kellen Briggs (32 saves) and into the top shelf for his sixth goal of the season. Sean Offers who fired the missed point shot and Travis Rycroft set up the even-strength goal.Through one period the shots favored the Steelheads 12-4 and they led 1-0 on the scoreboard.Martin got his first of two, second period markers with his seventh of the season coming at 5:08 to tie the game at one. Desmet and Darrell Hay picked up the helpers.John Lammers lifted the Steelheads to a 2-1 advantage when he extended his scoring streak to 10 games and his goal streak to seven games, which is the longest current streak in the ECHL. Desmet got the lone assist on Lammers 16th of the campaign at the 14:43 stage of the second period.Just 14 seconds later the Grizzlies evened the score at two on Tyler Haskins marker from the goalmouth. Taking Scott Burt?s pass, Haskins beat Briggs for his 15th of the year.Martin was able to tally again at 15:14 to give the Steelheads a 3-2 lead heading into the dressing room. Lammers took a neutral ice pass from Jeremy Scherlinck and moved the puck over to Martin at the top of the left circle in the Grizzlies? zone, where he snapped a shot just past the blocker of Grizzlies? goaltender Mike Mole (24 saves) for his third goal in four games since joining the Steelheads.Desmet then potted his team-leading 19th of the season just 1:11 into the third period, as he took Martin?s feed from the goal line and slammed the puck into the net for a 4-2 lead and some breathing room for his club. Travis Rycroft cut the Steelheads lead to one with 6:08 left in regulation, converting off a Steelheads? turnover. Christian Gaudet registered the only assist.Briggs made several stops down the stretch, kicking aside nine third period chances in all to help cement the Steelheads 13th road win this season and his 14th win overall. Both teams finished zero-for-two on the power play.The Steelheads continue their four-game, six-day swing on Wednesday, February 20 against the Victoria Salmon Kings. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. MST. All the action can be heard live on 1350 AM, KTIK ?The Ticket? or via the B2 Networks. Don?t forget, Steelheads? single-game tickets can be purchased via www.idahosteelheads.com (using the print-at-home feature), by calling 331-TIXS or from the Qwest Arena box office.