ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Aces Score Late to Top Steelheads, 3-2

February 11, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


(Boise, ID) - Brian Swanson redirected a Chad Anderson shot past Idaho's Jerry Kuhn with 1:34 left in regulation Saturday night, lifting the Alaska Aces to a 3-2 road victory in front of 4,853 fans at CenturyLink Arena in Boise.

The game marked the sixth time in the last seven meetings between the two old rivals that the game was decided by one goal. Idaho is 5-2 against the Aces in those contests.

Idaho got on the board first at 4:44 of the first when Stephen Schultz scored off an Ian Lowe shot. Lowe's power-play blast banged hard off the end wall behind the Alaska net, bouncing right out in front to Schultz, who drove it past Adam Courchaine for his first ECHL goal after being reassigned to Idaho by Texas of the American Hockey League earlier this week.

The 1-0 Steelhead lead held up into the second period when Alaska tied it on a Chad Anderson power-play goal, blistering a shot from the right-hand circle over Kuhn's shoulder to even the game at one. Kuhn made a series of big stops, including denying Alaska's Garry Nunn on a breakaway, to keep the game even at one through two periods.

Idaho (22-21-5) would take the lead back early in the third on a hard-working goal as Patrick Kennedy, tied up by an Alaska defender, kicked the puck to the top of the left-hand circle to defenseman Adam Maccarone. Maccarone let loose with a shot from outside and Cody Purves, from his knees, managed to get a piece of the Maccarone shot and deflect it past Courchaine at the 4:42 mark of the third to give Idaho a 2-1 lead. The Aces tied it up barely a minute later on a Dan Kissel rifle from the high slot at 5:52 of the third.

The game remained tied deep into the third period as Jerry Kuhn kept his team in it with big save after big save. With 1:34 left in regulation, Anderson took a shot from the top of the right-hand circle toward the far post. Brian Swanson got his stick in the way, skillfully deflecting the shot between Kuhn's legs from the top of the crease, to give the Aces a 3-2 victory.

Kuhn was masterful once again in net for the Steelheads, turning aside 45 of 48 Alaska shots. It was the 11th time Kuhn has stopped at least 40 shots in a game. Courchaine stopped 16 of 18 shots to pick up the victory for Alaska. Idaho was 1-2 on the power play, while Alaska was 1-5 with the man advantage.

The Steelheads and Aces play their final regular-season contest against one another Saturday night in Boise. Tickets are available by calling the CenturyLink Arena box office (208.331.TIXS) or by logging on to www.idahosteelheads.com.

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ECHL Stories from February 11, 2012


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