BOISE, Idaho – The Idaho Steelheads (4-0-0) scored four-unanswered goals starting in the second period to help take a 5-2 win over the Wichita Thunder (1-2-2) on Saturday night at CenturyLink Arena.
For the first time this season, the Steelheads conceded the first goal of the game, and at 5:43 of the first period it was Thunder forward Fabrizio Ricci to find the back of the net on a 2-on-1 break and the early 1-0 lead. Steelheads forward Will Merchant added his second-straight night with a tally thanks to a deflection coming from a shot by defenseman Tanner Jago at 12:03 to level the score, 1-1. However, the Thunder grabbed back the lead, 2-1, before the end of the frame at 15:57 on a shot by forward Steve Iacobellis.
Defense was the key in the second period, and the Steelheads led that effort on both ends of the ice. Starting at 1:44, the Steelheads found back-to-back defenseman scoring when Brady Norrish stepped up for a shot in the left circle to tie the game at 2-2. Then, at 5:06, Steelheads defenseman Jeff King followed up his own shot with a secondary chance set up by forward Marc-Olivier Roy to take their first lead of the night, 3-2.
In the third period, the Steelheads spread out their lead starting at 8:19 thanks to help of a fortunate bounce, leading Merchant to his second goal of the night to double the lead, 4-2. As the Thunder pressed with the extra attacker on, Steelheads defenseman Colton Saucerman fired a shot from goal line to goal line at 18:19 to seal off the 5-2 win.
Steelheads goaltender Colton Point (1-0-0) halted 31 of 33 shots in the win, while Thunder netminder Mitch Gillam (1-2-1) stopped 29 of 33 shots in the loss.
The Steelheads begin a three-game road weekend with a meeting against the Thunder on Friday, Oct. 25 at 6:50 p.m. from INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kan. Coverage begins at 5:45 p.m. on 1350-AM KTIK and ECHL.TV.
The Steelheads return to CenturyLink Arena on Friday, Nov. 1 at 7:10 p.m. against the Utah Grizzlies. Call the Steelheads Front Office at 208-383-0080 to plan your seats for this season, including single-game, flex plans and season tickets. Stay connected to the Steelheads on idahosteelheads.com or by following the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Adirondack Thunder
Allen Americans
Atlanta Gladiators
Bloomington Bison
Cincinnati Cyclones
Florida Everblades
Fort Wayne Komets
Greensboro Gargoyles
Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Idaho Steelheads
Indy Fuel
Iowa Heartlanders
Jacksonville Icemen
Kalamazoo Wings
Kansas City Mavericks
Maine Mariners
Norfolk Admirals
Orlando Solar Bears
Rapid City Rush
Reading Royals
Savannah Ghost Pirates
South Carolina Stingrays
Tahoe Knight Monsters
Toledo Walleye
Trois-Rivières Lions
Tulsa Oilers
Utah Grizzlies
Wheeling Nailers
Wichita Thunder
Worcester Railers