Poor Start Buries Steelheads In 6-4 Loss To Aces In Game Two

A 3-0 deficit just over 10 minutes into the first period and a five-goal hole early in the second period was too much to overcome for the Steelheads, as they dropped Game Two of their National Conference Quarter Finals series with the Aces 6-4, in front of 2,511 fans at Qwest Arena on Thursday night.The Steelheads (0-2), who bested the Aces (2-0) in five games in the 2007 National Conference Finals, are now down two-games-to-none in the best-of-seven with the series shifting to Anchorage for games three and four. The Aces? three-goal, first period barrage began just 1:28 into the frame when Josh Soares converted a two-on-one rush, depositing F.P Guenette?s pass for his second of the series. Brett Hemingway picked up the second assist.Just over a minute later the Aces took a 2-0 lead when Cam Keith tipped Peter Metcalf?s right point shot past a stunned Steve Silverthorn (2 saves). Then, midway through the stanza Kimbi Daniels scored off a scramble in front to give the visitors a 3-0 lead. Keith and Guenette drew the helpers.That goal saw the end of Silverthorn?s night, as he was replaced by rookie Mat Zaba (13 saves). After one period the Aces led 3-0 despite being out-shot 13-8.The Aces extended their lead to 5-0 with a pair of power play goals separated by just 45 seconds. Guenette tallied his first career playoff goal from Metcalf and goaltender Marek Schwarz (48 saves) and then Brett Hemingway beat Zaba with a wrister from the slot at the 5:30 mark. Soares and Olivier Filion factored into Hemingway?s marker, as Steelheads forward Lance Galbraith was serving a major penalty for charging Schwarz 50 seconds into the second period.Aaron Gagnon got the Steelheads on the board at 7:53 of the second period, finding a loose puck outside of Schwarz?s crease and slapping it home for his first goal of the series. Lance Galbraith and John Lammers earned the assists.Off an odd man rush through center the Aces were able to make it 6-1 with 6:59 left in the period. Defenseman Derick Martin was the recipient of a pass by Guenette and he beat Zaba just inside the far post. Michael Lambert picked up the second assist.With 20 second left in the second stanza Taggart Desmet stuffed home John Snowden?s centering feed to cut the Steelheads? deficit to 6-2 heading into the intermission. Late in the third Blake Forsyth floated a shot from the blue line that beat Schwarz to make it 6-3. Desmet was camped out in front and may have tipped the offering, but regardless both he and Snowden factored in on the score sheet. Snowden then earned his second career ECHL playoff goal, tallying at 18:17 of the third with Zaba at the bench for the extra attacker. That marker made it 6-4, rounding out the scoring. The Steelheads finished with 52 shots, while the Aces registered 21. The Steelheads are now one-for-16 on the power play in the series, while the Aces have four power play goals in 11 total chances. Schwarz is 2-0 while Zaba took the loss in his first pro playoff appearance. The 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs, presented by RC Willey, continue as the Steelheads and Aces hook up again, with Game Three of the National Conference Quarter Finals coming on Saturday, April 12. The puck drops from Sullivan Arena in Anchorage at 9:15 p.m. MST. All of the Steelheads? postseason action can be heard live on 1350 AM, KTIK ?The Ticket? or via the B2 Networks. Don?t forget, Steelheads? single-game playoff 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.