Steelheads Win Fourth Straight

The Idaho Steelheads (4-0-0) extended their season-opening winning streak to four games with a 3-2 win tonight over the Utah Grizzlies (1-1-0). The win is also the third straight for the Steelheads by a 3-2 score. The Steelheads opened the scoring when Evan Barlow found an opening behind Utah goalie Parker Van Buskirk at 10:02 of the first period. Mathieu Tousignant and Matt McKnight assisted on Barlow?s team-leading third of the season. With six seconds left in the opening period, Utah defenseman Jake Gannon fired a point shot home for his first of the season, assisted by James Sixsmith and Dylan Hunter. Utah also struck first in the second period when Shea Guthrie scored at 5:50 for his second of the season. Matt Clarke and Sixsmith assisted. Tyler Spurgeon netted the equalizer for the Steelheads at 9:36 of the second period; the goal was his second of the season. Mark Derlago and Brendan Milnamow assisted on the goal. Spurgeon took a pass from behind the goal and, without hesitation, beat Van Buskirk. Less than two minutes later, Ashton Rome scored his second of the season, assisted by Marty Flichel and Mike Stuart. Rome?s goal proved to be the game-winner. Rome muscled his way to the net and found a top-shelf opening behind Van Buskirk. Rejean Beauchemin stopped 35 of 37 shots to improve to 3-0-0 on the season; Beauchemin is the reigning ECHL Goaltender of the Week. Parker Van Buskirk falls to 1-1-0 with the loss; he stopped 22 of 25 shots. The Steelheads are back in action Saturday night at the E-Center against Utah. The puck drops at 7:05 PM. The Steelheads return home on November 7th, and fans can get tickets by calling 331-TIXS.