Thunder Doubled Up in Boise 6-3
Despite Michal Spacek's first career goal and Garet Hunt's seventh goal of the year, the Thunder fell to the Steelheads 6-3 in the first of three straight meetings.
Stockton was able to score 2 goals in the first period but couldn’t contain the Steelhead’s offense as they fell to Idaho by a final score of 6-3 Wednesday night.
Over half of the games’ scoring came in the first period, which featured 5 goals. After Idaho tallied the first two goals of the game, the Thunder then scored two straight in a stretch of 52 seconds to tie the game 2-2. Thunder defenseman Michal Spacek collected the first goal for Stockton when he blasted a slap-shot past Idaho goaltender Pat Nagle. After forward J.P. Burkemper found Spacek, the Czech Republic born defenseman scorched a shot past Nagle high glove side, earning himself his first professional goal of his career.
Then only 52 seconds later Captain Garet Hunt slipped a shot past Nagle to tie the game. After Hunt connected on his seventh goal of the season, the intensity picked up in the first period where six penalties were handed out.
One of those penalties was a game misconduct, earned by Idaho forward Brett Robinson as he elbowed Thunder defenseman Ben Rosen up high. Robinson picked up a 5-minute elbowing major and was sent to the showers early. Rosen left the ice under his own power, but was visibly shaken up, however, he would return to the game.
The ensuing 5-minute Thunder power play never really came into fruition as Brayden Irwin and Ryan Constant both picked up penalties to put the Steelheads on the power play. Idaho wouldn’t take long to retake the lead as forward Anthony Nigro scored ten seconds after Constant picked up the penalty to put the Steelheads on the power play. Idaho won the face off in the Thunder zone back to Patrick Cullity, who found Nigro in front of the net for the tap in.
“They were fortunate that they got that penalty call to cancel out our 5-minute advantage,” explained Head Coach Rich Kromm. “They go up 4-on-3 and score. It changed the momentum of the game and it took us, really, until the third period to recover.”
The Steelheads would come out strong to start the second period as recently named CCM ECHL Player of the Month, Mitch Wahl showcased why he earned that award. The forward dished out a big hit on Constant to jar the puck away from the Thunder defenseman. He then sneaked around the outside of the play into the slot where he received a pass from Austin Fyten to extend the Idaho lead 4-2.
Then early in the third period, Idaho Captain Justin Mercier picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone and walked in and put a shot high glove that beat Foster to give Idaho the 3-goal advantage.
Stockton then finally found their rhythm midway through the third and began to put pressure on the Steelheads. A shot from the point came in quickly on Nagle who had trouble controlling the puck. The rebound came out directly in front of the Idaho netminder where both Joey Martin and Irwin were lurking. Both players took a whack at the puck and inevitably Martin was able to pull the Thunder within two.
However, the Steelheads would seal the fate of the Thunder when Anthony Nigro scored his second of the game with 3:10 left in the third.
Thunder goaltender Brian Foster was once again very busy as he faced 40 shots in the game, stopping 34. Foster made some great saves that kept the Thunder in the game until that late dagger by Nigro.
The ECHL leading power play unit didn’t help the Thunder tonight as the team went 0 for 5 with the man advantage.
“The power play certainly struggled,” said Kromm. “They got pressure on us and we didn’t really create chances. We forced shots that weren’t there and passed up opportunities when we had them. We’ll have to work on that.”
With the loss the Thunder fall to 11-7-0-2 but remain in second place in the Pacific but the Steelheads now leap one spot above the Thunder in the Western Conference due to the tiebreaker. The Thunder have their next chance to snap this three-game losing streak and four-game winless streak on Friday when the team faces these same Steelheads. Puck drop is set for 6:10 PST with the University Plaza Waterfront Hotel’s watch party kicking off an hour before puck drop.
1st Star – Patrick Cullity, IDH – 1 Goal and 2 Assists
2nd Star – Anthony Nigro, IDH – 2 Goals
3rd Star – Tyler Elbrecht, IDH – Even with 1 Shot