ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Idaho Picks up Another Shootout Win

March 2, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


(Ontario, CA) - Evan Barlow's deke and backhand goal in the fifth and final round of the shootout lifted the Idaho Steelheads to a 3-2 win over the Las Vegas Wranglers Wednesday night at Qwest Arena in Boise.

It was Idaho's second straight shootout win after beating Ontario in a shootout last Saturday night. It also extended Idaho's unbeaten streak to five games as the Steelheads haven't fallen in regulation since being defeated by Alaska on February 18.

Las Vegas got on the board first when Chris Francis picked up a loose puck just to the left of the Idaho net. Steelhead netminder Adrien Lemay was scrambling back into the crease after trying to play the puck behind his own net. Francis tucked the puck through Lemay's legs, his second of the season, to give the Wranglers a 1-0 lead in the first period.

The score remained that way until the second period when Kael Mouillierat was able to bang home a rebound from the top of the crease past Michael Ouzas to tie the score at one. Barlow and Matt Case assisted on Mouillierat's 19th of the season.

It stayed 1-1 until deep into the third period. At 13:24 of the third, Junior Lessard triggered a 2-on-1 rush for the Steelheads, finding Geoff Irwin streaking up the left side. Irwin's pass across to the right side was tipped, but Aki Seitsonen was still able to gather the puck and beat Ouzas cleanly to give Idaho a one-goal lead with over six minutes to play. Lessard got the second assist, extending his streak to eight games with at least one point. Then, with a minute left in regulation and the Las Vegas net empty, Lessard was called for a delay of game penalty when his clearing attempt left the playing surface. That gave Las Vegas two extra attackers and they capitalized, as Tyler Mosienko found Blake Gallegher in the circle and Gallegher's blast beat Lemay to tie the game at 2 with just 33 seconds left in regulation.

Neither team could score in the overtime session as Idaho (27-18-12) successfully killed off a Wrangler power play, leading to the shootout. Mouillierat started the shootout with a tally for Idaho in the first round. Collin Long tied it up in the fourth round, setting the stage for Barlow to send 3,086 fans home happy with his back-hand game-winner.

Lemay moved to 3-0 in net for the Steelheads after stopping 27 of 29 shots during the game and then four of five Wranglers in the shootout. Michael Ouzas was strong in net for Las Vegas but takes the loss after making 32 saves and stopping three of five in the shootout.

Idaho returns to Qwest Arena on Friday, March 4, to face the Western Conference-leading Las Vegas Wranglers. Fans are encouraged to bring plastic grocery bags to the game and turn them in to the City of Boise's "Curb It" program in exchange for a new, re-useable bag, courtesy of Curb It. Tickets are available at www.idahosteelheads.com or by calling 208.331.TIXS.

COORS OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME - Aki Seitsonen

AQUAFINA THREE STARS 1) Aki Seitsonen (ID) 2) Adrien Lemay (ID) 3) Michael Ouzas (LV)

Check out the Idaho Steelheads Statistics



ECHL Stories from March 2, 2011


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