Steelheads edged in another one-goal affair

Anchorage, AK (1/31/14) - Rob Linsmayer's shot in the seventh round of the game-ending shootout was denied by Gerald Coleman, allowing the Alaska Aces to edge the Idaho Steelheads, 3-2, in front of 4,835 fans at Sullivan Arena Friday night.It was the sixth consecutive game between the two old rivals to be decided by one goal. Idaho fell to 20-15-5 with the loss.Neither team found the net in the first period as the Steelheads successfully killed off back-to-back penalties, including nearly 30 seconds of a two-man advantage for Alaska. Aces defenseman Sean Curry nearly broke the scoreless deadlock on the power play, but his shot clanged off the post.The scoring picked up in the second period, starting with Idaho's Brett Robinson blasting home a shot from the high slot at the 8:38 mark. Robinson's fifth of the season, assisted by Linsmayer and Damon Kipp, gave Idaho a 1-0 lead. Alaska would even things up on the power play just under three minutes later when a Brad Richard shot from the bottom of the left-wing circle just snuck over the shoulder of Idaho goaltender Pat Nagle at 11:18 of the period. Idaho would pick up a power-play marker of their own when Tommy Grant stuffed home William Rapuzzi's feed at the right post at 14:46 of the second, Grant's 14th goal of the season and ECHL-best eighth on the power play. Again, Alaska didn't wait long to respond as Zach Davies shot from the center point deflected off an Idaho stick past Nagle at 15:43 of the second to tie the game, 2-2.Idaho's Johnny McGuire and Dustin Molle engaged in two fights in the second period, with McGuire scoring a decisive victory in the first of the two tilts, before the two were issued game misconducts for removing their elbow pads prior to the second bout.The third period was like the first, scoreless, thanks to a pair of outstanding saves by Nagle. Neither team scored in sudden-death overtime, sending the game to a shootout. Each team netted one marker in the initial five rounds - Idaho's William Rapuzzi improved to an ECHL-best 6-for-6 with his third-round goal - to force extra rounds. Alaska's Nick Mazzolini and Idaho's Kipp each scored in the sixth round. Tommy Mele scored in the seventh round before Linsmayer's shot was stopped by Coleman to end the game.Nagle turned in his fourth game of at least 40 saves this season, stopping 40 of 42 during live action for Idaho. Coleman picked up the win after stopping 22 of 24. Each side went 1-3 on the power play. Alaska's man-advantage tally snapped a streak of 19 successful penalty kills for Idaho.The two teams wrap up their three-game set Saturday night in Anchorage. The puck will drop at 9:15 (Mtn) and can be heard live on KTIK (1350 AM) in the Treasure Valley. Idaho returns home on Wednesday, February 5, to host the Utah Grizzlies at CenturyLink Arena at 7:10 PM on Bud Light "Dollar Beer Night."COORS OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME - Brett Robinson (G/A)CENTURYLINK THREE STARS:1) Brad Richard (AK)2) Gerald Coleman (AK)3) Pat Nagle (ID)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.