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Idaho Steelheads

Idaho Strikes First Blow in Playoff Series against Utah

April 16, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Boise, ID - Jason Bast scored from the bottom of the left-wing circle at 5:49 of overtime Wednesday night, propelling the Idaho Steelheads to a 3-2 victory in Game 1 of the U.S. Bank ECHL Kelly Cup playoffs at CenturyLink Arena.

The win gives Idaho one-game-to-none lead in the best-of-seven series, which resumed Friday in Utah. Counting regular season and pre-season, it was the seventh time (in 16 meetings) that Idaho and Utah have played beyond regulation.

Idaho struck twice in the first period to take the lead. Colton Beck picked up a loose puck near the red line midway through the opening frame to start a two-on-one rush with Bast. Beck touched the puck to Bast, who delivered the puck back to Beck near the left edge of the crease. Beck was able to lift it over the leg pad of a sprawling Igor Bobkov at 9:36 of the first to give Idaho the lead. Three minutes later, Brett Robinson managed to play a bouncing puck out of the air to Jake Rutt at the left point. Rutt quickly spun a pass to a wide-open Wade MacLeod on the inside edge of the right-wing circle. MacLeod snapped a one-timer past Bobkov at 12:30 to give Idaho a two-goal lead.

Utah crept closer late in the first on a Brenden Walker power-play goal at 16:52 to make it 2-1 after one period.

Neither team scored in the second period as Bobkov delivered big save after big save - 19 in the period, many from high-percentage scoring areas - to keep Idaho from extending its lead despite a dominant effort in the middle period from the Steelheads.

Utah turned the tables with a good start to the third, finally tying the game on a bad-bounce goal as a centering pass from the right-wing wall deflected off an Idaho stick behind Olivier Roy at 7:31 to even the game at 2-2. Bobkov had one more larceny in his bag of tricks, robbing Robinson at point-blank range in the final two minutes of regulation to help ensure the game reached overtime.

In the overtime session, rookie blue-liner Zack Kamrass picked up a loose puck deep in his own zone before delivering a perfect, cross-ice pass all the way through the neutral zone onto the tape of Bast. Bast sped in the left-wing side with Alex Belzile joining the rush, but Bast opted to do it himself, snapping a shot from the left circle past Bobkov at 5:49 of overtime to end the game.

Both goaltenders turned in strong performances. Roy got the win for Idaho, stopping 25 of 27 Utah shots. Bobkov kept Utah in the game, but ultimately took the loss despite 38 saves on 41 shots. Idaho's power play was 0-5, Utah was 1-4 with the man-advantage. Bast, with a goal and assist, was the game's only multi-point scorer.

Game 1: Idaho 3, Utah 2 (OT); Idaho leads series, 1-0

Game 2: Idaho at Utah (Fri, April 17, 7:05 PM)

Game 3: Idaho at Utah (Sat, April 18, 7:05 PM)

Game 4: Utah at Idaho (Fri, April 24, 7:10 PM)

Game 5: Utah at Idaho (Sat, April 25, 7:10 PM) - IF NECESSARY

Game 6: Idaho at Utah (Mon, April 27, 7:05 PM) - IF NECESSARY

Game 7: Utah at Idaho (Wed, April 29, 7:10 PM) - IF NECESSARY

The next two games of the series are both in Utah but the scene shifts back to Boise for Game 4 on Friday, April 24. Fans can secure the same seat to all possible Steelheads' home playoff games through the "Pay as We Play" program, call the Steelheads front office at 208-383-0080 for more information.

Check out the Idaho Steelheads Statistics

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