Steelheads Earn Split of Weekend Series in Bakersfield

The Idaho Steelheads (15-15-7) scored three times in the third period to secure a 6-3 win over the Bakersfield Condors (18-15-1) in Bakersfield and earn a split of the weekend two-game set at Rabobank Arena, where 6,681 fans witnessed this evening?s contest. Steve Oleksy had a goal- the game-winner- and an assist, and Cody Purves scored twice in the Idaho win, as the Steelheads rebound from back-to-back losses. Purves scored the game?s first goal at 6:38 of the first period when Matt McKnight found Purves in front of the goal, and Purves, with his stick on the ice, received the pass and immediately fired a puck into the top corner of the Bakersfield net to beat goaltender Brian Stewart, who is on assignment from the Philadelphia Flyers (NHL) organization. All-Star forward Kael Mouillierat picked up a bouncing puck in front of the Bakersfield net and scooped it home with Idaho on a power play at 14:08 of the first period to extend the lead to 2-0; Oleksy and John Swanson assisted on Mouillierat?s 16th of the campaign. Pascal Morency scored twice for the Condors in the first 6:49 of the second period to vault Bakersfield back in to a 2-2 tie with the Steelheads before Purves scored once again to give Idaho the lead. Purves? second goal, and fifth of the season, gave Idaho a 3-2 lead after Derlago found Purves open in front of the net for a one-timer tally. At 12:05 of the second period, Peter Zingoni tied the game at 3-3 for Bakersfield when he sent a wrist shot through traffic from the right wing boards that beat Idaho goalie Jase Weslosky, who played over half of last night?s game in a relief appearance. Steve Oleksy scored the eventual game-winner with Idaho on the power play at 12:53 of the third period as he one-timed a puck into the top corner of the Bakersfield net from the top of the left circle. The goal was Oleksy?s fourth of the season, and was assisted by Evan Barlow and Weston Tardy. Matt McKnight also managed to net one into the top corner of the Bakersfield net to give Idaho a 5-3 lead at 17:20 of the third period, with Matt Tassone and Swanson assisting. Aki Seitsonen sealed the win with an empty-net goal with 42 seconds remaining; his fourth goal, assisted by Geoff Irwin. Jase Weslosky stopped 36 of 39 in the win; he is now 4-5-0 for the Steelheads. Brian Stewart?s record falls to 2-2-0 for the Condors after stopping 31 of 36 shots in the loss. Idaho is in action next on Wednesday night, January 12th in Utah against the Grizzlies, and will return home for three games in three nights against the Victoria Salmon Kings at Qwest Arena on January 14th, 15th, and 16th.