
Late Strike Sinks Steelheads
Published on April 3, 2015 under ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release
Boise, ID - Trent Daavatilla's back-hand shot from the bottom of the left-wing circle squeaked past Olivier Roy with just eight seconds left in the game as the Colorado Eagles edged the Idaho Steelheads, 4-3, in an intense game at CenturyLink Arena Friday night.
The game featured 22 minor-penalty calls and 16 total power plays, eight per side, as Idaho's overall record fell to 46-18-6 (98 points). The same two teams will play again Saturday night at CenturyLink Arena in downtown Boise. Game time is 7:10 PM. Despite the loss, Idaho clinched the ECHL's Pacific Division championship by virtue of Ontario's shootout loss at home against Bakersfield.
Each team had multiple power-play chances in the first period but the only goal was an even-strength tally by Idaho. Martin Lee's center-point shot banged off the end boards near the right edge of the crease, where it was gathered and fired home by David deKastrozza at the 13:56 mark of the first period, giving Idaho a 1-0 lead.
Colorado tied the game early in the second on a shot from the right-wing circle at the 3:11 mark, also at even strength. Thirty seconds later, Idaho went on the penalty-kill and Colorado nearly took the lead on a re-direction, but the goal was waved off due to the puck being played with a high stick. Moments later, Jake Rutt worked a puck free in the defensive zone to deKastrozza, who got the puck ahead to Taylor Peters. Peters drove the net, short-handed, and slipped a shot under the crossbar at the 4:32 mark of the second period, a short-handed tally, to give Idaho a 2-1 lead. It was Peters' second goal of the season with Idaho.
The Eagles tied it late in the second after a flurry of penalty calls on Idaho gave Colorado extensive 5-on-3 power-play time. The visitors cashed in at 19:11 of the second on Kyle Kraemer's shot through traffic from the high slot, evening the game at two goals apiece going into the third.
Colorado took the lead early in the third on a low-angle shot short-side past Roy at the 2:05 mark of the third from Derek Rodwell as the teams exchanged power-play opportunities throughout the period. Idaho finally tied the game on the power play as Gaelan Patterson and Wade MacLeod worked a nice, two-man play up the left-wing side as Patterson left a pass in MacLeod's wheelhouse for a one-timer from the left edge of the circle at the 16:21 mark of the third, MacLeod's 38th of the season, to tie the game at 3-3. The Steelheads nearly took the lead moments later during 4-on-4 play, but Colorado's Clarke Saunders somehow smothered a near-perfect redirection off the stick of Jesse Root from the top of the crease.
With overtime looming, Colorado won an offensive-zone draw with 15 seconds left in regulation. A center-point shot from the Eagles went wide, but the puck stayed behind the net. Daavatilla circled behind the net, gathered the puck, emerged on the right-wing side before sneaking a soft back-hand past Roy at 19:52 for the game-winning goal for the Eagles.
Saunders was the winning goaltender, stopping 19 of 22 shots for Colorado. Roy took the loss, stopping 20 of 24 in net for Idaho. Each team went 1-8 on the power play and David deKastrozza was the game's only multi-point scorer, scoring a goal and adding an assist.
Saturday night's game will feature special jerseys to be auctioned off via silent auction, benefitting the Jayden DeLuca Foundation, courtesy of Muscle Pharm. Game time is 7:10 PM each night. Tickets are available online at www.idahosteelheads.com or by calling 208-331-8497.
ECHL Stories from April 3, 2015
- Eagles Soar over Steelheads, 4-3 - Colorado Eagles
- Grizzlies Beat Alaska 4-1; Home Finale Saturday - Utah Grizzlies
- Lagace Returns, Stops 39, and Condors Win 3-2 in Ontario - Bakersfield Condors
- Penalty Troubles Wrangles in Beast - Brampton Beast
- Rush Valiant In Tight Battle, Fall In Shootout To Mallards - Rapid City Rush
- Late Strike Sinks Steelheads - Idaho Steelheads
- Oilers Survive Mavericks' Surge in 6-4 Win - Tulsa Oilers
- Royals Edge 'Blades in the Third Period - Florida Everblades
- Missouri Topped 6-4 by Tulsa Mavericks Second Period Rally Not Enough to Outdo Oilers - Kansas City Mavericks
- Americans Explode for 8 Goals in An 8-1 Win over Brampton - Allen Americans
- Rush Fall to Mallards - Rapid City Rush
- Jackals Fall in Fort Wayne, 4-1 - Elmira Jackals
- Mallards Edge Rush in Shootout, Close in on Playoff Berth - Quad City Mallards
- IceMen Hammer Nailers in Dominating 6-1 Win - Evansville IceMen
- IceMen Leave Nailers with Cold Result - Wheeling Nailers
- Walleye clip K-Wings - Kalamazoo Wings
- 'Clones Outlast Fuel 4-2 - Indy Fuel
- Warriors Hold on for 4-3 Victory over Gwinnett - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Cajkovsky Provides Overtime Heroics for Stingrays in Triumph over Solar Bears - South Carolina Stingrays
- Royals Go Perfect for Germain Arena with 5-3 Win over Florida - Reading Royals
- Cyclones Scorch Fuel, 4-2 - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Gladiators Comeback Falls Short, 4-3 - Atlanta Gladiators
- ECHL Transactions - April 3 - ECHL
- Mavericks Sign Derik Johnson - Kansas City Mavericks
- Countdown to Face-Off: Kalamazoo Wings vs Toledo Walleye - Kalamazoo Wings
- Mavericks Announce Date for End of Season Event - Kansas City Mavericks
- Game Preview: Tulsa Oilers vs. Missouri Mavericks - Tonight at 7:35 p.m. - Tulsa Oilers
- Brendan Connolly Named CCM ECHL Player of the Month - Alaska Aces
- Game Preview - Ontario Reign vs. Bakersfield Condors - Ontario Reign
- Former Thunder Goalie Bunz Makes NHL Debut - Stockton Thunder
- Tyler Bunz Becomes 12th Condor to Make NHL Debut - Bakersfield Condors
- Cyclones Game Preview - Cincinnati vs. Indy - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Bunz Makes Thunder History in NHL Debut - Wichita Thunder
- Nailers vs. IceMen Game Day Snap Shot - Wheeling Nailers
- Jackals and Komets Clash for Final Time this Season - Elmira Jackals
- Gladiators Game Preview - Gladiators at Road Warriors - Atlanta Gladiators
- The Royal Road Ahead: Reading Royals at Florida Everblades - Reading Royals
- ECHL Today - April 3 - ECHL
- Fullerton, Jackals Halt Three-Game Winning Streak - Wheeling Nailers
- Stingrays Game Preview: Stingrays and Solar Bears Close Regular-Season Series Tonight - South Carolina Stingrays
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