BOISE-- Long-time Steelheads veteran Marty Flichel showed that he still has what it takes to play professional hockey on Tuesday. Flichel assisted on a game-tying goal in the third period, and then scored the game-winner in a 3-2 victory over the Ontario Reign. The win gave the Steelheads a 1-0 lead over the Reign in the opening round of the ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs.
Idaho opened the contest with a bang when forward Ron Meyers lit the lamp at the 1:42 mark of the first period. Meyers gathered a rebound and back-handed the shot past Reign goalie Jean-Francois Berube for the score. Idaho carried the one-goal lead to the halfway mark of the second period before Kyle Kraemer beat Jerry Kuhn on a wrist shot to tie the game.
The two teams remained tied going into the third period until Reign center C.J. Stretch scored to go up a goal.
But the home team rallied, thanks to a Flichel assist to Aaron Lewicki, which tied the game up at two goals apiece. But, Flichel wasn't done. With overtime looming, Flichel received a Derek LeBlanc pass and fired a shot over Berube's glove to take the lead with 1:34 remaining. The score would hold up, giving Idaho a one game lead in the best-of-five series.
Game 2 of the series is scheduled for Wednesday night.
