Flichel celebrates birthday with game-winner in final second

Note for Season Ticket Holders: Don?t wait! Renew your season tickets for the 2009-2010 season today. Pay your balance in full prior to April 4, 2009 and receive a 10% discount. Call Will Hoenike at (208) 472-2103 to renew.Interested in becoming a Steelheads season ticket holder? Secure your seat for the 2009-2010 season and get a seat for the remaining 08-09 regular season home games FREE! Call a ticket account executive at 383-0080 for more information. The Idaho Steelheads (34-18-4) fought back from a two-goal deficit entering the third period to beat the Victoria Salmon Kings (31-22-6) by a 6-5 score in front of 4,669 fans at Qwest Arena. Marty Flichel scored the game-winner with a half-a-second left on the clock to secure the win for the Steelheads on his birthday. The game did not begin with the flow going the Steelheads? way. Sean O?Connor capitalized on a Steelheads? turnover and put Victoria in front 1-0 seven seconds into the game. Darrell Hay tied the game at 1-1 with just under two minutes to go in the period, as the Steelheads capitalized on a five-on-three against the league?s second stingiest penalty kill unit. Marty Flichel and Bryan McGregor assisted on Hay?s fourth of the year. The second period saw a combined six goals. Sean O?Connor opened the scoring in the period with his second of the game at 0:46, with assists going to Patrick Coulombe and Chris St. Jacques. Less than four minutes later, the Salmon Kings went up by a pair when Olivier LaBelle scored a power play goal, assisted by Aaron Brocklehurst and St. Jacques. At 8:45, McGregor pulled the Steelheads to within a goal with his 22nd of the season, assisted by Riley Weselowski. However, at 13:42, Adam Taylor extended the Victoria lead to two goals once again, with assists going to Tim Wedderburn and Brocklehurst. Again, Ben Nelson would bring the Steelheads to within a goal with his 23rd at 12:31 of the second (assisted by Dan Welch and Kory Scoran), but the glory was short-lived, as Matt Kelly scored just over three minutes later to give the Salmon Kings a two goal lead yet again. Entering this game, the Salmon Kings held a record of 20-0-2 when carrying a lead into the third period. But things would change this evening, as three third period goals made the difference for Idaho. Mark Bomersback?s 22nd of the season, assisted by McGregor and Garett Bembridge at 5:33 of the third made the score 5-4. Ben Nelson tied the game at 5-5 at 12:31, with assists going to Matt McKnight and Trevor Ludwig. Finally, with the Steelheads on a power play, Marty Flichel held the zone on an Olivier Filion clearing attempt, and let a shot go to beat Victoria netminder Todd Ford. The puck crossed the line with less than a second to go, and it was the game-winner for the Steelheads. Rejean Beauchemin stopped 24 of 29 Victoria shots, as his record improved to 14-8-3. Todd Ford stopped 33 of 39, and saw his record fall to 15-12-1 with the loss. The Steelheads will try to make it three-in-a-row against the Salmon Kings tomorrow night. The puck drops at Qwest Arena at 7:10 PM.