(Boise, ID) – The Las Vegas Wranglers netted three second-period goals in less than five minutes, turning the tide of the game and spurring the visitors to a 5-2 win over the Idaho Steelheads Saturday night in Boise.
Idaho (3-7) still took four of the six points possible on the weekend set while Las Vegas (5-4-2) escapes town with three points in the standings.
The Steelheads got on the board first in the opening frame when David Fredriksson carried the puck up the right-hand side of the ice. From just outside the circle, he snapped a wrister that beat Las Vegas goaltender Joe Fallon. Fredriksson’s first North American professional goal was assisted by Ondrej Roman and gave Idaho a 1-0 lead at 12:25 of the first. Fredriksson now has points in each of Idaho’s past five contests.
Las Vegas would even the game less than 90 seconds later when Adam Huxley tipped a Ned Lukacevic shot past Jimmy Spratt to tie the score.
Idaho took the lead in the second period when Michael Neal carried the puck from the trapezoid behind the Las Vegas net toward the slot on the right-hand side of the ice. Neal then feathered a nice pass to Ian Lowe, who was uncovered on the back post for the easy, slam-dunk tally. Lowe’s fifth of the year gave the Steelheads a 2-1 lead that would hold deep into the second period.
That’s when Las Vegas did its damage. Judd Blackwater, Peter MacArthur, and Scott Campbell each found the back of the net in a span of 4:31, turning a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead with a minute and a half left in the second frame.
Idaho was unable to cut into the Wrangler lead in the third, with Las Vegas adding an empty-net score with 14 seconds left to set the final margin of 5-2.
Fallon stopped 20 of 22 Idaho shots in the win for Las Vegas. Jimmy Spratt stopped 27 of 31 in net for Idaho. The Wranglers power play went 2-7 on the night, while Idaho was 0-2 on the man advantage.
Idaho and Las Vegas will play again on Tuesday night in Las Vegas at the Orleans Arena.
The Steelheads return home November 18-19 to host the defending Kelly Cup champion Alaska Aces. Tickets are available by calling the CenturyLink Arena box office (208.331.TIXS) or by logging on to www.idahosteelheads.com.
COORS OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME – David Fredriksson
AQUA FINA “3 STARS”
(1) Judd Blackwater (LV)
(2) David Fredriksson (ID)
(3) Scott Campbell (LV)
