Kuhn Steals Show in Shootout Win Over Wranglers
December 3, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release
(Las Vegas, NV) - Jerry Kuhn set an Idaho Steelheads team record with 55 saves - many of them under heavy pressure - Friday night as Idaho defeated the Las Vegas Wranglers, 3-2, in a shootout.
The game was played in front of 4,707 fans at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
Idaho struck twice in the first period to take a 2-0 lead. First, on his first shift as a Steelhead, forward Patrick Kennedy accepted a nice feed from Michael Neal and lifted a backhand over Joe Fallon's shoulder to put the Steelheads on top at the 2:11 mark of the first period. It was Kennedy's first professional goal. The Steelheads extended the lead midway through the period on the power play, as Marty Flichel gathered the puck near the blue line, eased in to the high slot, and ripped a blast past Fallon. His fifth of the campaign gave Idaho a 2-0 lead.
The Wranglers got one back on a Ryan Weston power-play goal late in the first and then evened the score on a Channing Boe tally midway through the second. From then on out, it was the Jerry Kuhn show. Idaho's goaltender made save after save under heavy duress as Las Vegas outshot Idaho, 22-3, in the second frame and then piled 16 more shots on net in the third. One sequence late in the second period saw him deny two point-blank attempts from the top of the crease by Las Vegas to keep the game tied at two. Then, in the third, he dove into a scrum of bodies to cover up a loose puck before Las Vegas could direct another shot at him as the game went to overtime.
In all, Kuhn stopped 55 of 57 shots as he made five more stops in the extra session. The previous team record, which he set earlier this season, was 49 saves. The record before that (48) was shared by Kuhn and former Steelhead (now Anaheim Duck) Dan Ellis. Kuhn did that in Las Vegas last spring during the Kelly Cup Playoffs.
In the shootout, Marc Rancourt's patient forehand inside the near post and Jacob Cepis's rip gave Kuhn all the pad he needed as he shut down Ash Goldie, Judd Blackwater, Barry Goers, and Mike Madill to seal the win for Idaho (8-9-3).
Idaho and Las Vegas do battle again Saturday night at 8 PM (Mtn) on KTIK (1350 AM) with Will Hoenike handling the play-by-play call.
The Steelheads return home on December 7 to begin a homestand against Colorado. Tickets are available by calling the CenturyLink Arena box office (208.331.TIXS) or by logging on to www.idahosteelheads.com.
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