Steelheads run out of steam in Sunday loss

Bakersfield, CA (12/29/13) - Laurent Brossoit stopped all 23 shots he faced Sunday, including three big saves early in the third, to lift the Bakersfield Condors over the Idaho Steelheads, 3-0, at Rabobank Arena.The loss dropped Idaho's record to 16-10-4 (36 points), one point behind Alaska and three points behind Mountain Division-leading Colorado in the ECHL standings. It also concluded a quick, three-game/three-night road trip through two different cities for the Steelheads.  Idaho won the first two games in Las Vegas on Friday and SaturdayBoth teams played a cautious first period virtually void of scoring chances until former Steelhead Andrew Carroll swiped a loose puck from the high slot toward the Idaho net with less than two minutes to go in the first. Jordan Knackstedt, who wasn't really involved in the play initially, was the recipient of Carroll's work in the slot as he picked it up at the right-wing post and scored at 18:19 of the first to give the Condors a 1-0 lead.Dan DeLisle nearly tied it for Idaho midway through the second but Brossoit came up with a big leg-pad save to keep Idaho off the scoreboard. Then, in the closing seconds, another defensive-zone turnover for Idaho led to a Joel Broda wrist shot past Pat Nagle with less than one second in the second period to give the Condors a 2-0 lead.The Steelheads responded in the third with their best period of the game as Brossoit had to fend off three big chances early in the period from Idaho. First, he denied Tommy Grant on a mini-breakaway less than a minute into the period. Then, seconds later, he found the puck amidst a sea of bodies during a goal-mouth scramble and covered up a fraction of a second before Idaho could jab it into the net. Moments later, Brossoit denied Justin Mercier from in tight before Nicholas Tremblay netted an insurance goal five minutes into the third period to establish a 3-0 lead.Idaho would have two late power plays, putting 13 shots on net in the third, but Brossoit kept Idaho out of the net, shutting the Steelheads out for the second time in less than two weeks. He also blanked Idaho in Boise on December 18.Pat Nagle turned in another solid effort in net, stopping 23 of 26 shots, but Brossoit was better, allowing the Condors to get the win. For the weekend, Nagle faced 110 shots in three consecutive games, stopping 104 of them (.946 save percentage).Neither team converted on the power play, Idaho going 0-5 and Bakersfield going 0-4.Idaho remains on the road next weekend with a pair of games in Anchorage against the rival Aces. Puck drop each night is 9:15 PM (Mtn) and can be heard live on KTIK (1350 AM or www.ktik.com). The team's next home game is Wednesday, January 15, when the Steelheads host the Utah Grizzlies. Tickets are available by calling the CenturyLink Arena box office at 208-331-8497.COORS OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME - Dan DeLisleCENTURYLINK THREE STARS:1) Laurent Brossoit (BAK)2) Joel Broda (BAK)3) Jordan Knackstedt (BAK)Group outings at a Steelheads game are a great way to gather friends, colleagues, or co-workers for a fun night out in downtown Boise. Ticket prices are discounted and you can get a Pepsi, Double-R Ranch Hot Dog, and bag of Tim’s Cascade Chips with each ticket. Contact the Steelheads front office at 208.383.0080 for more information.