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Idaho Steelheads

Allen Grabs 2-1 Series Lead over Steelheads

April 21, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Boise, ID - The Allen Americans scored twice on the power play and rode 37 saves by goaltender Riley Gill to skate past the Idaho Steelheads, 3-1 at CenturyLink Arena in Game 3 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals. The Americans lead the best-of-seven series two-games-to-one heading into Game 4 on Friday night.

The Steelheads outshot the Americans 31-13 over the game's final two periods but couldn't overcome an early two-goal deficit.

In the first game of the series played in Boise, it was the Americans coming out of the gate with energy in the first period, launching 17 shots on Philippe Desrosiers and carrying a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.

At 4:44 of the first period, Greger Hanson earned his first goal of the playoffs off of a one-timer from the high-slot. Hanson didn't appear to get all of the shot off the pass from defenseman Eric Roy in the left-wing corner, but the change of speed seemed to fool Desrosiers as the puck beat him to the glove side.

At 16:59 of the first, the Americans converted on their first power play of the evening just nine seconds into the advantage. Dave Makowski fired a shot through traffic from the center point that beat Desrosiers' blocker and made it 2-0. Makowski's 17 goals during the regular season were tied for the league lead among defenseman.

The Steelheads netted a power play goal of their own early in the second period. At 4:28 of the period and off of a clean offensive zone face-off win by Carson McMillan, defenseman Tommy Fallen dragged the puck right to the high slot and blasted a drive past Gill to bring the Steelheads within one, his first goal of the playoffs.

That was as close as the Steelheads would get, as the Americans expanded their lead back to two goals on another power play goal, this time defenseman Matt Register's shot through a Gary Steffes screen for Register's first of the playoffs at 11:44 of the second.

Allen's power play is now 4-for-7 in the past two games of the series. Chad Costello earned an assist on both power play tallies to extend his points streak to 22 games dating back to the regular season, with 34 assists in that time.

The Steelheads had the better of offensive opportunities in the latter two periods, outshooting Allen 18-5 in the second period and 13-8 in the third, but unable to score again against Gill. That doesn't mean they couldn't get the puck past Gill, with Kruise Reddick and Radoslav Illo ringing the post in the second period and Zach Bell finding iron in the third. Kyle Jean and Emil Molin each had five shots in the game.

The Steelheads will look to even the series on Friday with Game 4 at CenturyLink Arena, with puck-drop scheduled for 7:10pm MT. The game is available on 1350AM KTIK, ECHLTV, and Cable One.

STEELHEADS STATS:

Goals: Fallen (1)

Philippe Desrosiers: 27 saves on 30 shots

Power Play: 1-for-3

Penalty Kill: 1-for-3

CENTURYLINK THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1. David Makowski ALN

2. Tommy Fallen IDH

3. Riley Gill ALN

COORS LIGHT OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME

Tommy Fallen: Power play goal, 5 shots

PLAY OF THE GAME:

Radoslav Illo had a golden opportunity to tie the game midway through the second period when he collected a pass entering the offensive zone and fired a shot high and off the post in behind Riley Gill. The Steelheads couldn't score, and shortly after Zach Yuen would be called for an interference penalty that would send the Americans back on their dangerous power play. Matt Register capitalized on that power play and the Steelheads were down two-goals once again.

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