ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Momentum Swings Away from Idaho in 5-2 Loss

November 8, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Boise, ID - The visiting Alaska Aces answered two early Idaho goals with two of their own in a 28-second span of the first period Friday night, propelling the visitors to a 5-2 win over the Steelheads in front of 4,016 fans at CenturyLink Arena in Boise.

Coming off a sluggish performance Wednesday night, Idaho (3-4-1, 7 points) came out with energy right out of the gates. The Steelheads would draw first blood at 7:46 of the first when Connor Goggin hit Tyler Gron with a home-run pass up the middle for a breakaway. Alaska's Mark Guggenberger got a piece of the initial shot but it popped in the air, landed on his back and rolled into the net to give Idaho a 1-0 lead. The goal was Gron's first of the season and was also assisted by Ryan Button.

An Alaska turnover led to Idaho's second goal as Brad Richard lost control of the puck below the end line. Idaho's Brett Robinson found the loose puck and passed it toward the edge of the crease to Taylor Vause. Vause, in one motion, played the puck back to Brock Montgomery who ripped home the one-timer at 10:02 of the first. Montgomery's first professional goal gave Idaho a 2-0 lead.

Alaska countered quickly, though, as Tim Coffman's fifth of the year came just 28 seconds later. Then, just 32 seconds after that, Peter Sivak got loose near the right post at 11:02 for his sixth of the season as Alaska erased Idaho's two-goal lead in exactly one minute.

Following a spirited fight between Gron and Alaska's Tommy Mele, Alaska's Andy Taranto appeared to get away with a high stick to the face of Idaho's Patrick Cullity. Then, moments later, Cullity was whistled with a retaliation penalty and, on the ensuing power play, Alaska's Brendan Connolly scored from the right wing to give the Aces a 3-2 lead after one period.

Jordan Kremyr extended Alaska's lead to 4-2 at 1:46 of the second. Idaho momentarily appeared to trim the lead back to one midway through the second, but William Rapuzzi's goal was correctly disallowed after the puck was inadvertently kicked across the goal line.

With Idaho still down two in the third, Guggenberger robbed Gaelan Patterson on a nice feed from Justin Mercier midway through the period and then made a nice save on Robinson to maintain the two-goal advantage. Evan Trupp finished the scoring at 16:40 of the third.

Guggenberger got the win, stopping 26 of 28 shots as Idaho out-shot Alaska, 28-19. Chris Carrozzi took the loss in his first Idaho start, making 14 saves. Alaska was 1-4 on the power play while Idaho was 0-2.

The homestand continues on Saturday night when Idaho hosts the rival Alaska Aces. Tickets are available by calling the CenturyLink Arena box office at 208-331-8497.

Check out the Idaho Steelheads Statistics



ECHL Stories from November 8, 2013


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