Nehring nets game-winner as Steelheads edge Wranglers - The Idaho Statesman

Chad Nehring was happy to see his family and friends who flew in from Canada prior to the Idaho Steelheads’ playoff game Thursday night.

He was even happier to see them after the contest.

Nehring scored the game-winning goal midway through the third period as Idaho defeated the Las Vegas Wranglers 4-3 in Game 3 of their ECHL Western Conference semifinal playoff series.

“It’s great,” Nehring said of the win â€" and his family’s visit. “They’ve been trying to make it all year, and no weekend has worked out. It worked out that we play three games at home on this weekend and they could get away. It’s perfect having them here.”

The win gives Idaho much-needed life in the best-of-seven series. A loss would have put the Steelheads in a 3-0 hole, but instead Idaho trails 2-1 going into Game 4 on Saturday night at CenturyLink Arena.

“We always say … you’re never in trouble until you lose on home ice,” Nehring said. “We knew these games were big, and if we can hold serve here, we’ll be all right and we’ll go steal one there at the end.’’

After a back-and-forth, see-saw battle, the outcome was decided on Nehring’s controversial goal.

Officials huddled after the play before determining a goal was scored. One dressing room was convinced it was a goal, the other was convinced it wasn’t.

“When I came in my office and watched (the replay), I don’t think there’s any doubt the puck was in,’’ Idaho coach Hardy Sauter said.

“It was a joke, a joke,’’ Las Vegas coach Ryan Mougenel said. “How you guess on a goal for a game-winner, that’s kind of tough to swallow.’’

In the end, though, Mougenel conceded that Idaho deserved the win.

“We didn’t play the way we needed to play,’’ he said. “It’s a good lesson for us. … But I’ve got a pretty bright team and you don’t have to beat them over the head. But we’re definitely in one.’’

Sauter said they’ve climbed back into the series little by little.

“Game 1, we looked like we were watching them play,’’ Sauter said. “Game 2, halfway through, we started to assert ourselves a little bit and I think by the end of Game 2 I think we realized, you know what, if we dig in and work we can play with this team. Tonight, I think you saw more of the same. We went out, worked extremely hard, and obviously got the victory.’’

After being outshot in the first two games, Idaho outshot Las Vegas 45-37.

Idaho took a 2-0 lead midway through the second period after goals by Aaron Lewicki and Joe Pereira.

Las Vegas answered with two goals of its own by the second intermission, setting up a tense third period.

Jeff May put the Wranglers up 3-2, but Cody Purves responded with one of his patented hard-working goals from in close.

Nehring then broke the 3-3 tie with his game-winner.

“We’re obviously really happy that we’re back in this series, 2-1,’’ Sauter said. “It was a big game, no doubt, but I can’t say for our group anyway that Saturday is any less important. It gives us an opportunity to tie the series. Hopefully, we play as hard and as intense as we did tonight and good things happen, and we get that win. We’ll worry about the rest later.’’

NOTE: Idaho’s win means a Game 5 is necessary and that contest will be played at 7:10 p.m. Sunday at CenturyLink Arena.