Flichel opens scoring, and Stockton wins 4-3 for second straight night

For the second night in a row, Marty Flichel opened the scoring for the Idaho Steelheads (21-14-3) against the Stockton Thunder (17-17-5); and for the second night in a row, Stockton came out on top by a 4-3 score at the Stockton Arena. Marty Flichel opened the scoring for the Steelheads just as he did last night, only tonight it wasn?t a clean rip past the netminder. Bryan Pitton left the Stockton net and misplayed a puck off the endboards, and Flichel was in front staring at an empty cage to bang the puck home. The goal was of the unassisted variety. The second period saw four goals, and the first came for Stockton and tied the game at 1-1. Ryan Huddy scored at 7:33, with an assist going to Mike LaLonde. Bryan McGregor put the Steelheads up 2-1 when he slipped the puck under Pitton?s right shoulder for his 13th of the season; Matt Stephenson and Kory Scoran picked up assists. Ryan Constant countered for Stockton less than a minute later, as he found the back of the net with helpers from Igor Gongalsky and Judd Blackwater. Mark Bomersback scored the period?s last goal to put the Steelheads up 3-2; the goal was his ninth, assisted by Marty Flichel and Darrell Hay. At 10:52 of the third period, James Bates scored the goal that would eventually send the game to overtime; it was a power play tally assisted by Robbie Bina and Kenny MacAulay. In overtime, Huddy scored his second of the game to clinch the victory at 0:27; assists went to Mike LaLonde and Sebastien Bisaillon. Matt Climie?s record between the pipes falls to 13-8-1, as he stopped 33 of 37 shots. Bryan Pitton improves to 9-10-2 with the win; he steered aside 23 of 26 shots.