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ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Power Surge! Idaho Power Play Nets Three in Win Over Rush

December 17, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Power Surge - Idaho Power Play Nets Three in Win over Rush
Power Surge - Idaho Power Play Nets Three in Win over Rush
(Idaho Steelheads, Credit: Nate McIntyre Photography)

Boise, ID- Travis Ewanyk notched the third two-goal game of his professional career and the Steelheads (14-9-3) got back in the win column with a 6-2 win over the Rapid City Rush (8-12-5)in front of 3,990 fans at CenturyLink Arena.

Ewanyk tallied twice in the second period once on a power play deflection and once on a breakaway. Ewanyk also added an assist to earn his first three-point game of the year.

After Rapid City scored three power play goals in the series opener on Wednesday night, the Steelheads power play flexed its muscle on Friday with a 3-for-3 performance. Anthony Luciani got things started with a power play wrist shot off the left-wing wall that beat Rush goaltender Adin Hill, giving Idaho a 1-0 lead on Luciani's tenth of the season and fourth on the power play at 11:31.

Rapid City would answer with a power play goal of their own, a deflection from the slot by Terrence Wallin for his first goal in a Rush uniform at 15:05 of the first period. Brenden Walker fired the puck and earned an assist, one of two on the night to give him six points in the first two games of the series.

Just 1:11 into the second, Idaho retook the lead with Ewanyk's redirection of a Will Merchant power play point shot, with Ewanyk deflecting the puck near the same spot where Wallin scored his goal. The Rush answered again 4:48 later when goaltender Branden Komm couldn't find the rebound of a shot that hit his mask, the puck eventually working its way back to the front for Ryan Misiak's fourth of the year at 5:59.

Idaho took the lead with Ewanyk's second of the game at 7:52 of the middle period as he charged the point and blocked a Wallin shot, following the bouncing puck to the neutral zone for a breakaway. Ewanyk wristed a shot past Hill's blocker for a 3-2 lead. Travis Walsh would score Idaho's third power play goal with a shot from the left point at 11:11 for his fourth of the season to make it 4-2.

Ewanyk and Luciani are tied for the team lead in goal-scoring with ten.

Immediately following a strong penalty kill in the third period, Rob Linsmayer carried the puck over the Rapid City blue line and fired a wrist shot past Hill for his fifth of the year at 9:13. Merchant netted his seventh of the year at 18:26 to cap the scoring on an assist from Connor Chatham, giving Chatham points in back-to-back games.

With the win, Idaho snapped a four-game winless streak that was their longest of the season. The Steelheads' three power play goals matched their single-game high for the season.

Komm stopped 29 of 31 shots for his fifth win of the season. Ten Steelheads made it onto the score sheet.

The Steelheads and Rush meet for the rubber game of the series on Saturday night, with puck-drop scheduled for 7:10pm MT at CenturyLink Arena. The game is available on 1350AM KTIK, Cable One, and ECHLTV.

STEELHEADS STATS: Goals: Luciani (10), Ewanyk (9,10), Walsh (4), Linsmayer (5), Merchant (7) Branden Komm: 29 saves on 31 shots Power Play: 3-for-3 Penalty Kill: 2-for-3

CENTURYLINK THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1. Travis Ewanyk IDH

2. Travis Walsh IDH

3. Anthony Luciani IDH

COORS LIGHT OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME Travis Ewanyk: 2 goals, 1 assist, 4 shots

PLAY OF THE GAME: Idaho's power play gave the team tremendous confidence throughout the night, but the team's first 5-on-5 goal sent them off and running in the second period. Travis Ewanyk had one of his best games as a Steelhead, a force in front of the net and making plays in the defensive zone that led to scoring chances, one benefiting him directly. His aggressive play at the Idaho blue line led to a turnover, a breakaway, and a 3-2 Steelheads lead. Ewanyk is showing his offensive ability in his first season in the ECHL, now with 14 points in his last 14 games. _

Check out the Idaho Steelheads Statistics




Images from this story

Power Surge - Idaho Power Play Nets Three in Win over Rush
Power Surge - Idaho Power Play Nets Three in Win over Rush
(Nate McIntyre Photography)		   



ECHL Stories from December 17, 2016


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