ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Idaho Shoots Way Past Alaska, 4-3

Published on January 5, 2014 under ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Anchorage, AK - William Rapuzzi, Mitch Wahl and Tommy Grant each found the back of the net in a game-ending shootout while Pat Nagle stopped all three shots he faced, allowing the Idaho Steelheads to defeat the Alaska Aces, 4-3, Saturday night in Anchorage.

With the win, Idaho (17-11-4) improves to 38 standings points, two behind Alaska (40) and three behind Colorado (41) in the ECHL's Mountain Division.

The Steelheads netted the game's first goal when a pair of players with ties to Anchorage connected. Tommy Grant, who played college hockey at Alaska-Anchorage, delivered a perfect centering pass to Anchorage native William Rapuzzi at 3:53 of the first. Rapuzzi's sixth of the season gave Idaho a 1-0 lead. The Aces would tie the game when Ross Ring-Jarvi's shot from the right edge of the crease just beat Pat Nagle at 13:37, but Idaho would take the lead back at 18:11 when Brett Robinson poked home another Grant centering pass from the left wing, making it 2-1.

Idaho had an opportunity in the final minute of the first to extend the lead on the power play but, instead, Alaska's Jordan Kremyr started a short-handed rush for the Aces and it ended with Evan Trupp knocking the puck home from the bottom of the left circle at 19:40 of the first to tie the score at 2-2.

Each team would strike once in the second. First, it was Shawn Skelly on the power play at 11:48 of the period from the left-wing circle to give Alaska its first lead of the night. Then, just 21 seconds later, Dan DeLisle and David deKastrozza would team up to get the puck in the slot to Rob Linsmayer and Linsmayer netted his fourth of the season (second with Idaho) at 12:07 to re-tie the game at three goals apiece.

The Aces would pepper Pat Nagle with 15 shots in the third period but Idaho's goaltender turned all of them aside to force overtime. In the overtime session, penalties on Patrick Cullity for Idaho and Alaska's Evan Trupp took the game to three-on-three skating and the Aces thought they won the game on a Brad Richard shot from the bottom of the left circle, but it was immediately waved off by referee Frederic LeBlanc who said the puck never crossed the goal line. Television replays inside Sullivan Arena appeared to confirm LeBlanc's view of the play, so the game continued on to a shootout.

In the shootout, Nagle denied Trupp with a poke check to set Idaho up and William Rapuzzi improve to 5-for-5 on shootouts with a wrist shot from the hashmarks. After that, Nagle stopped Skelly and Nick Mazzolini while Wahl and Grant both buried shots to secure the victory for the Steelheads.

Nagle made 43 saves during live play and was a perfect 3-for-3 in the shootout. Alex Kangas took the loss for Alaska, allowing 3 goals on 22 shots during live play and not stopping a shot in the shootout.

Idaho went 0-4 on the power play while Alaska converted one of three opportunities on the man advantage.

Grant (two assists) and Robinson (goal, assist) each had multi-point nights for Idaho. Robinson now has 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) in his past 16 games for Idaho.

Idaho remains on the road next week with two games at division-leading Colorado. Game time on Friday and Saturday is 7:05 PM and can be heard live on KTIK (1350 AM or www.ktik.com ). The team's next home game is Wednesday, January 15, when the Steelheads host the Utah Grizzlies. Tickets are available by calling the CenturyLink Arena box office at 208-331-8497.

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