NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Idaho Steelheads

Idaho Gets Shootout Win over Colorado

April 5, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Boise, ID - Josh Robinson stopped 37 of 39 shots in live play and turned aside all five shooters in a game-ending shootout as the Idaho Steelheads won their fourth consecutive game Friday night, knocking off the Colorado Eagles, 3-2, in front of a sellout crowd of 5,170 fans at CenturyLink Arena.

William Rapuzzi netted the only goal in the shootout, improving to 7-for-9 in a shootout setting this season, tops in the ECHL.

Colorado scored first early in the opening frame when Jason Beatty's centering pass snuck through a sea of bodies in front of the net before ricocheting in off the leg of Todd Fiddler at the 3:19 mark, his second pro goal, to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. Dustin Butler robbed Justin Mercier on the doorstep later in the first period to get the visitors into the dressing room at intermission with the one-goal advantage.

The Steelheads evened things up at 4:27 of the second when rookie Eamonn McDermott made a terrific spin move in the neutral zone to shake a pair of Colorado defenders before springing Luke Judson with a perfect pass into the offensive zone. Judson streaked in through the left-wing circle, beating Butler with a wrist shot for his 12th goal of the season, eighth since being acquired by Idaho in late January.

Idaho took the lead early in the third period when Mercier forced a neutral-zone turnover, carried the puck to the high slot, and ripped a shot off the pads of Butler. The rebound caromed to Rob Linsmayer who quickly dished the puck to Gaelan Patterson at the top of the crease for his tenth goal of the season, coming at 2:24 of the third. Colorado would tie it later in the third when a Kevin Young shot from the center point was redirected just inside the right-wing post by Jesse Mychan, his 11th goal of the season.

The 2-2 score held through regulation, forcing an overtime session. Colorado's first shot of the extra time nearly ended it as a high, hard wrist shot from Trent Daavatilla caught Robinson on the shoulder, popped straight up in the air and landed just behind him in the crease. Robinson scrambled back to cover it up as it trickled toward the goal line to keep the game alive.

In the shootout, there was no such doubt. Robinson locked down Kyle Kraemer, Riley Nelson, Young, Fiddler and Kyle Ostrow. Idaho got the only goal it would need in the shootout when Rapuzzi ripped a wrister over the glove of Butler in the second round, his seventh successful shootout goal of the season.

With the win, Idaho (37-25-7, .587 winning percentage) extended its lead over Colorado (31-24-12, .552 winning percentage) in the race for home-ice advantage in the first round of the ECHL's Kelly Cup playoffs.

The Steelheads wrap up the home portion of their regular-season schedule on Saturday night when the team once again hosts the Colorado Eagles.. Tickets are available by calling the CenturyLink Arena box office at 208-331-8497.

Check out the Idaho Steelheads Statistics

• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...

ECHL Stories from April 5, 2014


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central