Idaho Outlasts Colorado in Shootout
December 9, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release
(Boise, ID) - Idaho got goals from four different skaters and solid goaltending again from Jerry Kuhn, holding off charge after charge from the visiting Colorado Eagles for a 5-4 shootout victory Friday night in Boise.
The back-and-forth game was played in front of 3,954 fans at CenturyLink Arena.
Idaho started strong, scoring twice in a 25-second span of the first frame. First, it was Kael Mouillierat going top sheft from the right circle over Andrew Penner to give Idaho a 1-0 lead just 4:22 into the contest. His 11th of the season came on his 24th birthday as well as ACHD Commuteride "Rat Pack Night," a promotion at all Friday-night home games featuring Mouillierat.
Before the cheering could subside, Ian Lowe made it 2-0 on a wrister through the leg pads of Penner at 4:47 as Idaho took the two-goal lead into the second period. Lowe's seventh was assisted by Patrick Kennedy and Michael Neal.
Colorado countered quickly early in the second. First, it was Jason Beatty's second of the season followed quickly by Chad Costello's tenth to even the score up in the first three minutes of the middle frame. Idaho took the lead back less than a minute later, though, thanks to the hard work of Cody Purves and Aaron Lewadniuk. With a loose puck near the crease, Penner was trying to cover up for Colorado. Purves kept battling for the puck, springing it loose to the left-hand side of the crease where a diving Lewadniuk chipped a backhand into the net for his fourth of the season, giving the Steelheads a 3-2 lead. The Eagles tied it late in the second on Costello's second of the night.
Once again, Idaho would forge ahead in the third. Ian Lowe drove the puck hard to the net, rolled the puck back to Chris Hepp, and Hepp's backhand went between the legs of Colorado's Beatty to Chad Klassen and Klassen banged his eighth of the season into the net to put Idaho on top. Briefly. Colorado again rallied to tie on Michael Forney's goal, sending the game to overtime.
Both teams came up empty in the extra session, taking the game to a shootout. Marc Rancourt opened with a pretty backhand-to-forehand score and Lewadniuk beat Penner high over the glove hand to give Kuhn some breathing room for Idaho. Kuhn turned aside Kevin Ulanski in the final round of the shootout to lift Idaho (9-11-3) to the win.
Kun stopped 39 of 43 shots during the game and three of four in the shootout in the win. Penner stopped 27 of 31 and two of four in the shootout. Idaho was 1-4 on the power play, while Colorado was 0-1.
NOTE: Just prior to gametime, the Steelheads announced they had signed defenseman Andrei Plekhanov (ple-HAHN-ov). The 25-year-old Russian made his debut just moments after arriving at CenturyLink Arena after traveling from Russia to Boise. He was a 3rd-round draft choice of the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets in 2004 and had spent the previous two seasons playing in the KHL in Russia, one of the world's top hockey leagues. Plekhanov assisted on Lewadniuk's goal, his first point as a Steelhead.
The same two teams will battle again Saturday night in Boise. It's Teddy Bear Toss Night as fans are encouraged to toss a new, stuffed toy onto the ice when Idaho nets its first goal of the night. All toys collected will be donated to Toys for Tots. Tickets are available by calling the CenturyLink Arena box office (208.331.TIXS) or by logging on to www.idahosteelheads.com .
COORS OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME - Ian Lowe
AQUA FINA "3 STARS" -
(1) Kael Mouillierat (ID)
(2) Chad Costello (COL)
(3) Ian Lowe (ID)
Group outings at a Steelheads game are a great way to gather friends, colleagues, or co-workers for a fun night out in downtown Boise. Ticket prices are discounted and you can get a Pepsi, Double-R Ranch Hot Dog, and bag of Tim's Cascade Chips with each ticket. Contact the Steelheads front office at 208.383.0080 or log on to www.idahosteelheads.com for more information.
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