Steelheads fall to Colorado in overtime

(Loveland, CO) ? A Steve Haddon centering pass took a bad bounce of Steve Oleksy's stick in overtime Wednesday night, caroming right to Colorado defenseman Jon Landry for the game-winning goal as the Eagles defeated the Idaho Steelheads, 5-4, in a wild game. Idaho (6-8-3) salvaged one point in the standings despite the loss. The Steelheads struck first in the first period when David Fredriksson fired home a rebound off a Chad Klassen shot attempt. Fredriksson's fourth of the season gave Idaho a 1-0 lead. Colorado would even the score on a pretty backhand goal off the stick of Jack Combs over the shoulder of Jerry Kuhn, but Idaho would re-take the lead late in the first period on a Derek LeBlanc blast from the right-hand circle. The Ian Lowe-assisted tally gave Idaho a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes. Colorado tied it up on Adam Chorneyko's fourth of the season, but Idaho took the lead back on another LeBlanc blast, this one from the left-hand circle. LeBlanc's third of the season (and second of the night) gave Idaho a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes. In the third, Colorado scored twice to take the lead, including a Jack Combs penalty shot, to go up 4-3. But Idaho would not go quietly. With 2:30 left in regulation and Idaho on a 5-on-3 power play, Kael Mouillierat and Steve Oleksy fed Idaho's all-time leading scorer, Marty Flichel. Flichel, playing his 800th professional game in North America, buried a signature slap shot past Kyle Jones to tie the game up at 4 and force overtime. Colorado won it in overtime when Haddon's pass glanced off Oleksy's stick to Landry. Landry carried the puck to the top of the crease and just tucked it inside the far post under a sprawling Jerry Kuhn to send the sellout crowd of 5,289 into a frenzy. Kuhn stopped 32 of 37 Colorado shots while Kyle Jones stopped 16 of 20 Idaho shots. Idaho was 1-4 on the power play, with Colorado going 1-2 on the man advantage. Idaho and Colorado will play twice more, with contests Friday and Saturday night in Loveland. Both games can be heard on KTIK-AM (1350) in the Treasure Valley. NOTE: Oleksy played in his 100th game with the Idaho Steelheads Wednesday night and rookie forward Ryan Watson made his professional debut for Idaho. The Steelheads return home on December 7 to begin a homestand against Colorado. Tickets are available by calling the CenturyLink Arena box office (208.331.TIXS) or by logging on to www.idahosteelheads.com. COORS OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME - Marty Flichel AQUA FINA "3 STARS" - (1) Jon Landry (COL) (2) Jack Combs (COL) (3) Derek LeBlanc (ID) Steelhead Season-Ticket Holders get six games FREE when they sign up for full-season packages. Fans can still get pro-rated full-season tickets for the remaining 30 home games, starting at less than $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.