Late short-handed tally lifts Idaho past Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA (10/24/14) – Brett Robinson's short-handed goal with less than three minutes to play provided the winning margin as the Idaho Steelheads edged the Bakersfield Condors, 3-2, at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield.

Robinson and Alex Belzile each scored in the final eight minutes as Idaho (2-1) rallied for its second road win of the young season.  The Steelheads play at Ontario on Saturday (7 PM Mtn, KTIK, 1350 AM).

The teams skated a scoreless first as Roy came up with a brilliant point-blank save with the leg pad to keep Bakersfield off the board.  The Condors would draw a pair of late penalties in the first, giving the team 1:23 of two-man advantage to start the second, but Roy and the penalty-kill unit was able to snuff out that opportunity for the home team.

Idaho scored the first goal of the game at 5:58 of the second when James Livingston beat Ty Rimmer over the shoulder inside the near post.  Livingston's first of the season was assisted by Wade MacLeod and Jesse Root, to give Idaho a 1-0 lead.  Bakersfield would tie the game on a power-play goal five minutes later to knot the game at one goal apiece going into the final frame.

The Condors took the lead at 6:47 of the third period on Jonathan Narbonne's second goal of the season - just the second even-strength goal allowed by Idaho - to take a 2-1 lead.

Idaho evened things up at 12:24 when Belzile banged home a loose puck from the doorstep on the power play, his first of the season, assisted by Root and Colton Beck, to make it 2-2.  Then, with three minutes left and the Condors on the power play, Bakersfield's Josh Windquist couldn't find a loose puck near the blue line.  Robinson skated by, picked up the loose puck, and streaked in the right-wing side before snapping a wrist shot past Rimmer at 3:09 for the short-handed, tie-breaking goal.

Idaho out-shot Bakersfield in the third period, 16-4, and for the game, 34-25.  Root had a pair of assists in his Steelheads' debut while Beck and MacLeod extended point streaks to three straight games to start the campaign.

Olivier Roy got the win in net for Idaho, stopping 23 of 25.  Rimmer got the loss for Bakersfield, allowing three goals on 34 shots.  Idaho's power-play unit was 1-6 and its penalty-kill unit was 4-5.

The Steelheads return home on Wednesday, October 29, for Dollar Beer Night, presented by Bud Light, against the Stockton Thunder.  Puck drops at 7:10 PM and tickets are available by calling the CenturyLink Arena box office at 208-331-8497

COORS OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME – Jesse Root

CENTURYLINK THREE STARS:1) Brett Robinson (ID)2) Jonathan Narbonne (BAK)3) James Livingston (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 Chips with each ticket.  Contact the Steelheads front office at 208.383.0080 or log on to www.idahosteelheads.com for more information.