BOISE, ID – The Idaho Steelheads scored three goals in the first and added four more in the second in an 8-2 victory over the Wichita Thunder. Wade Murphy led the way with two goals and an assist and Bryan Thomson recorded 28 saves. Jay Dickman and Jeremy Masella scored for the Thunder.

Idaho took command of this game early, scoring just 26 seconds into the contest. That came when Murphy picked the pocket of a Wichita defenseman, then beat Beck Warm with his third goal of the year.

A little over six minutes later the Thunder tied the score when Dickman scored on the power-play. Michal Stinil took a shot that Dickman tipped past Thomson for his fourth tally of the season.

However, it was Steelheads from there as the team scored six straight goals, including three on the power-play. Aaron Aragon put his team back on top 29 seconds after the Dickman goal. Jack Becker passed the puck to Aragon, who blew a one-timer by Warm to make it 2-1.

Idaho was on the power-play at 12:23 when Mark Rassell extended the lead to two. The Steelheads were controlling the puck inside the Thunder zone when Ty Pelton-Byce took a shot that Rassell deflected past the Wichita netminder for his fifth goal of the year.

Idaho added a goal early in the second period as well, as Dawson Barteaux collected an unassisted goal 1:50 into the frame. Barteaux intercepted a clearing attempt, then beat Warm for his first goal of the year.

The onslaught continued at 4:34 when Francesco Arcuri netted his first goal of the season.

The Steelheads added two power-play goals in the frame to give them four goals in the second period. Murphy netted his second goal of the game at the 7:33 mark, and A.J. White added his second goal of the season a little less than nine minutes later.

After the Dickman goal, the Thunder were denied until 14:37 when Masella scored his first goal of the year. Masella took the puck from deep within his own zone, spread by two Idaho players before splitting the two defensemen, then beating Thomson with a wrist shot.

Idaho added one more goal at 15:23 one Seamus Donohue scored his first goal of the season.

Warm left after allowing six goals on 19 shots. Trevor Gorsuch finished out the final 33 minutes of the contest, making 18 saves.

These two teams will go at it again on Friday. The puck drops at 8:10 Wichita time.

Gamesheet

by Robert Pannier