ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Patterson, Steelheads Grind out 4-1 Win over Utah

Published on February 14, 2015 under ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Boise, ID - Gaelan Patterson pounced on a loose puck early in the third period for the go-ahead goal and then delivered a perfect, cross-ice pass for a key insurance goal as the Idaho Steelheads pulled away from the Utah Grizzlies, 4-1, Saturday night in front of 5,212 fans at Boise's CenturyLink Arena.

The sellout crowd was Idaho's fourth this season and third in a row on a Friday or Saturday night. The Steelheads improved their overall record to 29-15-4 (62 points).

After a slow start to the action, Utah scored first on a seeing-eye point shot from Jacob Johnston at 9:01 of the first. He let a wrist shot go from the left point and it made its way through a slew of bodies in front of Idaho goaltender Jack Campbell and into the net. Idaho answered quickly to even the score when Shawn Boutin rimmed a puck down the right wing to Jefferson Dahl near the right edge of the trapezoid. Dahl spotted Wade MacLeod zooming down the slot and delivered a perfect pass for a one-timer from the hashmarks at 14:06, MacLeod's 21st of the season, to tie the game at 1-1.

That score would hold through the second period despite golden scoring chances for each team. First, Utah's Barry Almeida got loose on a breakaway but Campbell denied the attempt with a great glove save. Then, MacLeod beat Bobkov blocker side, but the puck clanged off the post, keeping the score even at one goal apiece after two periods.

Idaho broke the tie early in the third off a Patterson faceoff win in the offensive zone. Colton Beck tried to feed Ludwig Karlsson in front, but the puck bounced off Karlsson's skate in the low slot. Patterson swatted at the puck, knocking it past Bobkov at 1:46 of the third for his eighth goal of the season to give Idaho a 2-1 lead. Just over six minutes later, defending a Utah power-play opportunity, Patterson gathered a loose puck near his own blue line and charged ahead with Colton Beck on a two-on-one rush. Patterson lifted a pass over a Utah stick and landed it perfectly on Beck's blade and the Idaho rookie connected at 8:16 of the third for the short-handed goal to extend Idaho's lead to 3-1.

MacLeod finished the scoring with an empty-net goal, assisted again by Dahl, at 19:56 - his fourth goal of the weekend - to give Idaho the 4-1 win.

Campbell was strong in net in his second start with Idaho, turning aside 22 of 23 shots for his first win at the ECHL level this season. Bobkov took the loss for Utah, stopping 30 of 33 shots as Idaho out-shot Utah, 34-23. Idaho was 0-for-2 on the power play but a perfect 5-for-5, including the short-handed goal, on the penalty kill.

MacLeod (two goals), Patterson (goal, assist), Beck (goal, assist) and Dahl (two assists) all had multi-point nights.




ECHL Stories from February 14, 2015


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