Bad breaks doom Steelheads in 2-1 loss

(Anchorage, AK) ? An untimely lost stick and a number of posts cost the Idaho Steelheads Friday night as the team was defeated by the Alaska Aces, 2-1, in front of 4,133 fans in Anchorage. Idaho falls to 1-3 on the season, while Alaska improves to 4-0. For the second consecutive night, Alaska buzzed Idaho from the get-go with heavy offensive pressure. Goaltender Jimmy Spratt kept the Aces at bay for more than half the period before Dan Kissel finally snapped a bullet over his shoulder at 12:40 of the first period to make it 1-0 Aces. Alaska outshot Idaho, 15-3, in the first frame one night after outshooting Idaho 18-3 in the first period. The Steelheads straightened things out in the second period and produced numerous scoring chances. A Kory Scoran blast from just inside the blue line pinged off the goalpost midway through the period just moments before Ian Lowe ripped a shot over Gerald Coleman's shoulder - but also found iron instead of twine. The two posts kept Idaho down a goal going into the third period. Idaho would hit a third post in the third period - again by Lowe - as the Steelheads tried to even the game up. However, with 8:35 left in regulation, Alaska caught another break when Idaho defenseman Steve Oleksy lost his stick in a battle for a loose puck in the right corner with Aces forward Nick Mazzolini. With Oleksy without a twig, Mazzolini gathered the puck, moved down the goal line, and slid the puck past the stickless Oleksy to Matt Ambroz. Ambroz was able to lift the puck over the shoulder of Spratt and into the net to make it 2-0. The Steelheads finally got a fortunate bounce in the third period on the power play as Kael Mouillierat threaded the puck through traffic near the Alaska crease. The puck took a bounce and seemed headed out of harm's way when Chad Klassen swooped in and slammed the puck past Coleman into the net, making it 2-1 Aces. Klassen's first of the season extended his point streak to four games. Mouillierat, with the assist, also extended his point streak to four straight contests. Alaska was able to fend off Idaho's efforts to tie the game as Coleman came up with a couple nice saves. He finished the night with 25 saves on 26 shots. Idaho's Jimmy Spratt was solid in defeat, turning aside 32 of 34 Alaska attempts. Idaho's power play went one for five on the night, while Alaska came up empty on two power-play chances. Idaho wraps up it's three-game set with the Aces on Saturday. Game time is 9:15 (Mtn) and can be heard on KTIK (1350 AM) in the Treasure Valley. The Steelheads don't return home until November 2 against Las Vegas. COORS OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME - Chad Klassen AQUA FINA "3 STARS" - (1) Matt Ambroz (AK) (2) Dan Kissel (AK) (3) Gerald Coleman (AK) Steelhead Season-Ticket Holders get six games FREE when they sign up for full-season packages. Pro-rated plans for the remaining 35 home games start at just $275 per seat. Partial-season plans are also available. Contact the Steelheads front office at 208.383.0080 or log on to www.idahosteelheads.com for more information.