ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Ontario Ties Series with Bizarre Overtime Victory

Published on April 5, 2012 under ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


(Boise, ID) - Geoff Irwin's rebound goal at 9:02 of overtime lifted the Ontario Reign to a 4-3 win over the Idaho Steelheads Wednesday night, evening their best-of-five ECHL Western Conference playoff series at one win apiece.

Games 3 and 4 are in Ontario on Friday and Saturday night.

The game included a little bit of everything - power play goals, clutch scores, big saves. It also included a game misconduct issued in the second period to Idaho goaltender Jerry Kuhn following a collision behind the play between Kuhn at Ontario's CJ Stretch. It happened at the 7:26 mark of the second period and Idaho on top, 2-1, forcing Idaho to go the rest of the game with backup Bryan Hince. Hince performed admirably under adverse circumstances, stopping 21 of 24 shots over the final 42 minutes of play.

Idaho had taken the one-goal lead thanks to a rebound goal from Chad Nehring at 10:50 of the first period and a power-play goal from Marty Flichel at the 4:14 mark of the second.

Three minutes later, a delayed penalty was signaled against Ontario. With Idaho moving forward with the puck and Kuhn heading to the bench, Kuhn and Stretch got involved in some sort of collision. After a lengthy discussion between referee Ryan Murphy and his linesmen, Kuhn was issued a five-minute major penalty for clipping and a game misconduct, which forced Hince to come in to finish the game.

Hince and Idaho held the one-goal lead until the mid-point of the third period when Alan Mazur's slap shot from the top of the left circle tied the game at two. Just 72 seconds later, at 12:57 of the third, Michael Neal gave Idaho the lead back with a shot from the hash marks between the circles after a goal-mouth scramble. Neal's first of the playoffs was assisted by Chad Nehring and Kory Scoran, making it 3-2 Steelheads.

With 2:23 to go in regulation, Ontairo's JD Watt tied the game with a shot from behind the net that bounced in off a leg in front. The net had come off its pegs before the puck crossed the line, which normally would have ended the play. However, the officials determined Idaho was the team that knocked the net free and, by rule, that allowed Watt's tally to stand, evening the game at 3-3 and sending it to overtime.

Almost halfway through the overtime session, Kyle Kraemer's shot from the right circle was saved by Hince but bounced directly to Irwin, who played in Idaho last season, and Irwin banged home the rebound at 9:02 of the extra session to end the game.

Jean Francois Berube got the win in net for the Reign, stopping 26 of 29 shots. Hince took the loss with 21 saves for Idaho. Idaho's power play was 1-4, Ontario's was 0-3.

The series now shifts to Ontario for Games 3, 4, and 5 (if necessary). Game 3, which is Friday night, begins at 8 PM (Mtn). The Steelheads will be hosting a watch party for Games 3 and 4 at the SportZone inside CenturyLink Arena. There is no admission charge and there will be drink specials and a limited food menu for fans in attendance.

COORS OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME - Michael Neal

AQUA FINA "3 STARS" -

(1) Geoff Irwin (ONT)

(2) Michael Neal (ID)

(3) JD Watt (ONT)

Group outings at a Steelheads game are a great way to gather friends, colleagues, or co-workers for a fun night out in downtown Boise. Ticket prices are discounted and you can get a Pepsi, Double-R Ranch Hot Dog, and bag of Tim's Cascade Chips with each ticket. Contact the Steelheads front office at 208.383.0080 or log on to www.idahosteelheads.com for more information.

Check out the Idaho Steelheads Statistics

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ECHL Stories from April 5, 2012


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