Idaho Wins Fourth Straight, 4-3 over Alaska
January 10, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release
Boise, ID - Idaho netted three goals in a ten-minute span of the first period and held off a comeback attempt from the visiting Alaska Aces, winning 4-3 in front of 4,694 fans at CenturyLink Arena in Boise.
The win was the fourth straight for Idaho (21-10-3), who has now picked up points in the standings in nine of its last eleven games.
Alaska struck first as Quinn Sproule, who attended training camp with Idaho in October, snuck back-door at 9:13 of the opening frame and finished a nice centering feed from Olivier Archambeault to take a 1-0 lead. That goal ended a streak of 137:23 of shutout hockey for Idaho goaltender Olivier Roy, but it also appeared to bring Idaho to life.
Just 13 seconds later, Wade MacLeod got a piece of Eamonn McDermott's shot from the center point, redirecting it past Alaska's Niklas Lundstrom at 9:26 to tie the game at 1-1. Then, at 14:20, Alex Belzile - the player acquired via trade from Alaska in exchange for Sproule back in October - skated through Brad Cole and Corey Syvret before going top shelf over Lundstrom's blocker to give Idaho a 2-1 lead. The goal was Belzile's 16th of the season, tied for the team lead, assisted by McDermott and Patrick Cullity. Cullity added a tally on the power play in the closing minute of the first period as Jason Bast found the defenseman creeping back-door as well. Cullity's second of the season at 19:13 gave Idaho a 3-1 lead after one period.
In the second, with Charlie Dodero in the penalty box, Idaho's David deKastrozza picked up a loose puck near his own blue line and raced ahead short-handed, veering toward the right-wing circle. He then sent a wrist shot far side past Lundstrom's blocker at 5:43, his eleventh of the season, to extend Idaho's lead to 4-1. It was also deKastrozza's third short-handed goal of the season, tied for most in the ECHL. That was the end of the night for Lundstrom, who was replaced in net by Aaron Crandall. Alaska snuck closer at 17:40 of the second when, again, a defenseman crashed the net back-door. This time, it was Brad Cole scoring to cut Idaho's lead to 4-2 going into the third period.
Early in the third, Livingston was assessed a major penalty which led to Alaska's third goal, a Greg Wolfe shot from the slot at 4:48 to shave Idaho's lead to one. In the latter stages of the third, the Aces pressed for a tie as a shot from the right-wing circle popped straight up in the air and appeared to land behind Roy in the Idaho crease. But forward Colton Beck lunged behind Roy and used his skate to keep the puck from crossing the goal line and maintain Idaho's one-goal lead. Roy also fought off a couple of tough shots from Chris Francis to help secure the one-goal win for the Steelheads.
Roy ended the night with 31 saves on 34 shots in picking up his 18th win of the season for the Steelheads. Lundstrom was lifted after allowing four goals on 17 shots for Alaska. Crandall was solid in relief for the Aces, denying all 16 shots he faced to give his team a chance to get back in the game. Both teams scored in the power play as Idaho went 1-3 and Alaska went 1-5, but Idaho also netted deKastrozza's short-handed goal as well.
Cullity (goal, assist), McDermott (two assists) and Livingston (two assists) all had multi-point nights for the Steelheads who are now 8-2-1 in their past eleven games.
The team's season-long six-game homestand resumes Saturday night when Idaho and Alaska battled again on Blue Cross of Idaho Cap Night. Tickets are available online at www.idahosteelheads.com or by calling 208-331-8497.
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