Steelheads Beat Utah, Keep Streak Alive

The Idaho Steelheads (5-0-0) earned a come-from-behind win to stay undefeated in Utah tonight, as they downed their rivals, the Grizzlies (1-2-0) by a 5-3 score. Brendan Milnamow earned the first two goals of his professional career in the win. The Steelheads got on the board first when Trevor Ludwig moved up the left wing side, sent a pass to the front of the net, and Mark Derlago redirected the puck home for his third of the season, and fifth point in as many games; Derlago?s goal came at 11:56 of the opening period. As far as scoring was concerned, the Grizzlies started and finished the second period. Dylan Hunter banged one home from in-close at 1:18 of the second period for a power play goal to tie the game for Utah. Less than three minutes later, Adam Huxley skated into the offensive end and placed a beautiful drop pass on the stick of Brendan Milnamow, who buried his first professional goal from the top of the left wing circle to regain the lead for the Steelheads. Less than six minutes later, Adam Huxley and Mark Pavli of Utah engaged in a series of fisticuffs, with Huxley scoring a victory. Before the period could end, however, Ryan Kinasewich buried two goals in less than three minutes to give the Grizzlies a 3-2 lead heading into the locker room for the second intermission. Kinasewich?s first goal of the game gave him 112 in a Grizzlies jersey, making him the team?s all-time goal scoring leader. The third period, however, was all Steelheads. Evan Barlow tied the game with his team-leading fourth goal of the season, and second power play tally in as many nights, at 8:22; Barlow capitalized off a scramble in front that immediately followed a faceoff in the Steelheads offensive end. Less than eight minutes later, Ashton Rome skated up the left wing side and fired a shot on netminder Mitch O?Keefe, who made the initial save. A bouncing puck eventually found its way past O?Keefe for what would prove to be Rome?s second game-winner in as many nights. Brendan Milnamow buried an empty-netter for good measure with just over a minute remaining in regulation time. Richard Bachman improved to 2-0-0 to start his pro career; he stopped 30 of 33 shots that headed his way. Mitch O?Keefe, seeing his first action of the season, falls to 0-1-0; he stopped 18 of 22 shots from the Steelheads. The Steelheads are back in action Friday night in Anchorage to take on the Alaska Aces. The Steelheads return home November 7th against Utah. Call 331-TIXS for tickets.