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ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Ontario Snags Second Point with Shootout Win

November 2, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Boise, ID - Derek Couture had a pair of goals and Michael Hutchinson made a series of key saves as the Ontario Reign picked up a hard-fought, 4-3 shootout win over the Idaho Steelheads Friday night in Boise.

Idaho (2-2-1, 5 points) picked up one point in the standings by sending the game to a shootout. Anthony Nigro led Idaho's attack with a goal and an assist, extending his point streak to four consecutive games.

Ontario struck immediately on a Couture backhander just 28 seconds into the game to take a 1-0 lead. Idaho settled in after that, getting the equalizer off the stick of Mitch Wahl at 15:55 of the first as he went top-shelf over a sprawled Hutchinson, finishing a cross-ice pass from Tommy Grant on the power play to tie the game at a goal apiece after one period of play.

The Reign scored again early in the second when a Couture shot deflected off David deKastrozza's stick, squeaking by Idaho goaltender Pat Nagle at 2:51 of the second period. Danny Dries pounced on the loose puck, tapping it home behind Nagle to make it 2-1. The lead would extend to 3-1 when Couture stayed with a loose puck near the left post, ultimately lifting it past Nagle at 10:32 of the second. The Steelheads picked up a big goal late in the frame when a Patrick Cullity shot from the left point found its way through traffic, bouncing past Hutchinson at 18:36 of the second to cut Ontario's lead to 3-2 going into the third period.

Idaho controlled play in the third period, getting the tying goal at the 4:50 mark on a bullet from the left circle off Nigro's stick, a power-play goal from William Rapuzzi, to make it 3-3. It was Idaho's eighth third-period goal of the season, second-most in the ECHL, and first goal allowed by Ontario in the final frame. Idaho had opportunities to take the lead over the final fifteen minutes, but Hutchinson came up with a pair of big leg-pad saves to send the game into overtime. Neither team would score in the extra time, setting up a game-ending shootout.

After a Rapuzzi wrister evened up the shootout at a goal apiece for Idaho, Hutchinson made the save of the game after being deked by Taylor Vause. Hutchinson somehow managed to fling his left leg back to just deflect the Vause shot, keeping the shootout even in the fourth round. It extended to the sixth round. After Hutchinson kept Justin Mercier's shot out of the net, Yasin Cisse executed a nice backhand-to-forehand move in close to beat Pat Nagle for the game-ending shootout tally, earning the Reign a second point.

There were a pair of fighting majors in the game as Idaho's Jeremy Yablonski tilted with Ontario's Mike Towns in the second period. Shortly thereafter, Idaho's Tyler Elbrecht dropped the mitts with Couture, who finished the game with a 'Gordie Howe Hat Trick' (two goals, assist, fighting major).

Hutchinson picked up the win for Ontario, stopping 38 of 41 shots. Pat Nagle took the loss, making 31 saves on 34 shots and stopping an additional four of six shootout shooters. Idaho's power play unit converted two of three opportunities while the team's penalty-kill unit was a perfect 4-for-4.

Idaho's six-game homestand at CenturyLink Arena continues Saturday night when the team once again meets the Ontario Reign. Tickets are available by calling the CenturyLink Arena box office at 208-331-8497.

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