Idaho falls, learns playoff fate
Published on April 2, 2011 under ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release
(Boise, ID) - Ontario's Brett O'Malley had a goal and an assist while Reign netminder Beau Erickson made a series of big saves Friday night, leading Ontario to a 3-1 win over the Idaho Steelheads in front of 9,592 fans at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in southern California.
Ontario struck first in the first period when Michael Pelech tapped in a loose puck during a wild battle in front of the Idaho crease. His ninth of the season would be the game's only goal until the third period.
In the meantime, however, Idaho was foiled by several near-misses. Erickson stood tall in net as the Reign kept it a 1-0 hockey game deep into the third period. Midway through the final frame, Jordan Morrison finished a perfect back-door pass from Alex Bourret to make it 2-0. Idaho drew near just 22 seconds later when Geoff Irwin knocked in a rebound off an Aki Seitsonen shot. Irwin's 13th of the season was also assisted by rookie Tyson Hobbins, his first professional point.
Idaho again had a series of opportunities in the final minutes but could not solve Erickson. Mark Derlago put a shot off the crossbar and Tristan King was robbed right in front of the net, epitomizing Idaho's offensive frustrations.
Ontario finished the scoring with an empty-net goal with 34 seconds left from O'Malley.
Jerry Kuhn stopped 24 of 26 Ontario shots in the loss for Idaho. Erickson stopped 31 of 32 Steelhead attempts for Ontario.
There was only one power-play in the entire game and Idaho failed to convert on it late in the third period.
Idaho and Ontario wrap up the regular season against one another Saturday night. Idaho moves on to the Kelly Cup playoffs as the no. 5 seed by virtue of Utah's loss to Bakersfield. Idaho's first round opponent will be the Las Vegas Wranglers, who lost to Stockton Saturday night to lock in to the no. 4 seed. Game One of the best-of-five first round series will be at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas Tuesday night.
Game Two will also be in Las Vegas before the series shifts back to Idaho for Games Three and Four next weekend at Qwest Arena. Game Five, if necessary, would be in Las Vegas.
The ECHL's Kelly Cup Playoffs are right around the corner and the Idaho Steelheads are out to defend their conference title from last season. Fans can lock in their favorite seat for every possible home playoff game while saving up to 35 percent off the walk-up prices with the "Pay as We Play" playoff ticket plan. Contact the Steelheads front office at 208.383.0080 or log on to www.idahosteelheads.com for more information.
ECHL Stories from April 2, 2011
- K-Wings Announce 2010-11 Team Awards During Fan Appreciation Night - Kalamazoo Wings
- Nailers Clinch Fourth Seed in Playoffs with 4-3 Win - Wheeling Nailers
- Stingrays Topple Everblades in Shootout; Face Nailers in Opening Round of Playoffs - South Carolina Stingrays
- Road Warriors Claim East Title With Win Over Gwinnett - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Cyclones Battle Reading Royals in First Round of Kelly Cup Playoffs - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Jackals To Host Road Warriors This Tuesday And Wednesday To Open Playoffs - Elmira Jackals
- Blades end regular season with 2-1 shootout loss - Florida Everblades
- Blades announce first round playoff schedule - Florida Everblades
- Glads Cap Season with Loss in Greenville - Atlanta Gladiators
- Salmon Kings Sign Chad Klassen - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Forward Cory Conacher Loaned to Milwaukee - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Wranglers Announce Round One Schedule - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Jackals Announce Transactions - Elmira Jackals
- ECHL Transactions - April 2 - ECHL
- Countdown to Face-Off - Kalamazoo Wings
- Svendsen Returns - Kalamazoo Wings
- Ethan Cox Named AMI Graphics ECHL Plus Performer of the Month - Alaska Aces
- Alaska's Cox Is AMI Graphics ECHL Plus Performer of the Month - ECHL
- Steelheads First-Round Playoff Series Set - Idaho Steelheads
- Jackals Game Preview: Elmira at Kalamazoo - Elmira Jackals
- Grizzlies Host Playoff Games Tuesday, Wednesday - Utah Grizzlies
- Countdown to Faceoff: Toledo at Wheeling Tonight - Wheeling Nailers
- Game Preview: Stockton Thunder at Las Vegas Wranglers - Stockton Thunder
- Greenville Road Warriors Game Preview - April 2 - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Stingrays Gameday: Stingrays End Regular Season Tonight Against Everblades - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL Today - April 2 - ECHL
- Thunder win pushes division title hunt to final night of regular season - Stockton Thunder
- Stockton Downs Vegas, 3-2 - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Jimmy Spratt makes 24 saves in Victoria's 3-1 win over Alaska - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Aces' Streak Snapped by Victoria in 3-1 Loss - Alaska Aces
- Salmon Kings Announce Home Dates For Opening Round Of 2011 Kelly Cup Playoffs - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Reign Defeat Steelheads, 3-1 - Ontario Reign
- Record-High Crowd Sees Grizzlies Fall 3-1 - Utah Grizzlies
- Idaho falls, learns playoff fate - Idaho Steelheads
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