March 2, 2014 – ECHL (ECHL) Idaho Steelheads
Las Vegas, NV (3/1/14) – The Idaho Steelheads were out-shot, 30-12, over the game’s 1st two periods, digging a hole in that the team could not get out of in a 3-1 loss to the Las Vegas NV Wranglers on Saturday night at the Orleans Arena.
Idaho (29-19-7) had just four shots on net – none in the 1st 12 minutes – in the 1st period, tying a season-low for shots in a period.
The Steelheads were in scramble mode from the onset, spending six of the game’s 1st nine minutes on the penalty kill. Idaho’s penalty-kill unit came through on all three Wrangler power plays but, during the brief 5-on-5 play during in that span, Las Vegas’s Matt Tassone scored off an Idaho defensive-zone turnover at the 4:40 mark to donate the Wranglers a 1-0 lead.
The Wranglers grew the lead in the 2nd period when John Armstrong swung the puck behind the Idaho net before finding Chad Nehring alone, gliding down the slot, at the 7:45 mark to make it 2-0. Idaho goaltender Josh Robinson was able to come up with 20 saves in the 2nd period alone to assist keep Idaho in the game despite two more power-play opportunities for Las Vegas.
Idaho finally cranked things up in the final period, getting on the board less than a minute in when Tommy Grant netted his team-leading 18th goal of the season at the 59-second mark on a rebound to cut the Wrangler lead in half. The Steelheads continued to press the remainder of the period, putting 19 pucks on net & several more near-misses – in addition to a pair of Mitch Wahl shots in that just missed tying the game before sailing over the crossbar – before pulling Robinson in favor of an extra attacker with just over a minute left. Idaho received a amazing look from the hashmarks, yet the shot went wide. On the ensuing scramble, Armstrong found himself with the puck & some space just inside his own defensive zone & proceeded to launch the puck over 100 feet down the ice & in to the empty net for the game-sealing goal with just 39 seconds left.
Robinson was steady in his return to the Idaho net after over two many months in the American Hockey League, stopping 34 of 36 shots in the loss. Travis Fullerton received the win, holding Idaho at bay with 30 saves on 31 shots. Neither team scored on the man-advantage, the Steelheads going 0-1 & the Wranglers going 0-4.
Over the two-game weekend set, Idaho had just two power-play opportunities (0-2) while the Wranglers had nine (1-9).
The Steelheads wrap up the three-game/three-day weekend with a game on Sunday in Bakersfield against the Condors. Puck drop is 5 PM (Mtn) & can be heard live on KTIK (1350 AM) in the Treasure Valley.
The Steelheads return home next week to host three games against Las Vegas NV on Wednesday, Friday & Saturday. Friday & Saturday are the annual yearly “Pink in the Rink” games as Idaho will wear special jerseys in that will be auctioned off via silent auction to raise money for St. Luke’s Mountain States Tumor Institute. Tickets for all Idaho home games are available online at www.idahosteelheads.com or by calling 208-331-8497. COORS OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME – Tommy Grant (1G)
CENTURYLINK THREE STARS: 1) John Armstrong (LV) 2) Matt Tassone (LV) 3) Travis Fullerton (LV)
Group outings at a Steelheads game are a amazing way to gather friends, colleagues, or co-workers for a fun fun night out in downtown Boise. Ticket prices are discounted & you can get a Pepsi, Double-R Ranch Hot Dog, & bag of Tim’s Cascade Chips with each ticket. Contact the Steelheads front office at 208.383.0080 or log on to www.idahosteelheads.com for more information.
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