The Idaho Steelheads opened their two-game road series in Texas with a narrow 3-2 defeat against the Allen Americans on Thursday morning at the Comerica Center.
Playing in a tight-checking matinee matchup, the Steelheads initially built a two-goal advantage through the opening two periods. Kale Howarth broke the scoreless deadlock with just 3:26 remaining in the first frame, tracking down a loose puck at the side of the crease and sliding it past Allen goaltender Jesper Vikman. Lee Lapid doubled the visitors’ margin late in the second period, capitalizing on a power play.
That momentum vanished before the second intermission arrived. Mathieu De St. Phalle answered for the Americans with less than a minute remaining in the middle frame, collecting a rebound in the right circle for his third goal of the season to narrow the gap to 2-1.
The third period completely shifted the game’s trajectory. Just 24 seconds into the final stanza, Riley Kidney deflected an Andre Anania point shot past Idaho goaltender Topias Leinonen to level the score.
The Steelheads spent much of the third period defending under heavy pressure, getting outshot 17-4 in the stanza while taking three minor penalties. The decisive blow came in the final minute when Ty Pelton-Byce was whistled for elbowing. With the man advantage, Allen capitalized during a scramble in the crease. Miko Matikka and Sam Lipkin jammed away at the loose puck, with Matikka credited for the game-winner with just 23 seconds left on the clock.
Topias Leinonen stopped 36 of 39 shots in the loss for Idaho, while Jesper Vikman turned away 25 of 27 shots to earn the victory for Allen.
The two teams return to the ice at the Comerica Center on Friday, October 30th, for the finale of their two-game set, with puck drop scheduled for 7:10 p.m. CT.
