Early Deficit Dooms Steelheads In 3-2 Loss To Aces

A three-goal deficit in the opening 17 minutes proved too much, as the Steelheads dropped the opening game of their six-game road trip, a 3-2 loss to the Aces in front of 4,616 fans at Sullivan Arena on Tuesday night.The loss ended the Steelheads (33-18-9) four-game unbeaten streak, while moving the Aces (31-20-5), who have won 10 of 11, to within eight points of the Steelheads for third place in the National Conference playoff picture.The first of the Aces? three unanswered, opening period power play goals came just 3:18 into the contest, as Brett Hemingway potted his first of the night. Josh Soares and Peter Metcalf picked up the helpers on Hemingway?s 16th of the season and his sixth goal in 10 games with the Aces.Midway through the period F.P. Guenette tipped Corbin Schmidt?s goal line offering past Steelheads? goaltender Kellen Briggs (4 saves) for a 2-0 lead. His 14th of the year, a power play goal, was also set up by Kimbi Daniels.Hemingway tallied again just 3:20 before the first intermission, ripping Matt Shasby?s pass behind a sprawled out Briggs for a 3-0 advantage heading into the dressing room. Josh Soares also got an assist on the power play tally, marking the third time this season the Steelheads have allowed three power play goals in a game this season.Matt Zaba (10 saves) came in to replace Briggs after the first period, a frame in which the shots were even at seven apiece.The Steelheads rallied in the second period, grabbing two, even-strength goals in the first 10 minutes to cut the Aces? lead to one. First, Chad Brownlee?s point shot bounced off Aces? goaltender Mike Brown (22 saves) allowing Craig Cescon to bat the rebound out of mid air for his second goal in the last four games. John Snowden picked up the second assist. John Lammers cut the Steelheads? deficit to 3-2 when he buried his 22nd goal in his last 22 games at the 9:38 mark of the frame. Marty Flichel, coming off a six-assist performance in his last game, skated into the Aces? left wing circle and around Peter Metcalf before sliding a backhand pass into the slot where Lammers slammed it home for his eighth goal in just six games against the Aces.Through two periods the Steelheads led in shots 21-9 after claiming a 14-2 edge in the middle stanza.There was no scoring in the third period as the Steelheads finished the night with a 24-17 shot advantage. The Steelheads went zero-for-seven on the power play, while the Aces scored three times in six opportunities. Briggs (15-9-2), who was pulled for the first time in his rookie season, saw his four-game unbeaten streak come to an end, while Brown (5-7-0) won his fourth straight decision. The Steelheads hook up with the Aces again on Wednesday, March 5, the final regular season meeting between the two clubs. The puck drops at 9:15 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.