Rosie Response Desrosiers' first pro shutout tops Rush
March 13, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release
Rapid City, SD - The Steelheads (34-21-7) jumped out to an early lead in Rapid City Saturday night and made it count, skating to a 3-0 win over the Rush (24-30-6) for rookie goaltender Philippe Desrosiers' first professional shutout. With the win, answering a one-goal loss to the Rush on Friday night, the Steelheads have not lost back-to-back games in regulation since December 9th and 10th.
Desrosiers made 22 saves on the night, nine of them in the third period, to earn his 11th win of the season and Idaho's fifth shutout of the season. He is unbeaten in his last ten starts for Idaho, going 8-0-2 over that stretch.
The Steelheads wasted no time getting on the board Saturday, scoring just 43 seconds into the game. Jake Fallon intercepted a Max Nicastro clearing attempt and whipped the puck towards the net. Andrew Carroll found the rebound behind the goal and wrapped the puck right to the front, where Radoslav Illo jammed it in for his sixth of the season.
There was initially no call on the ice as bodies piled around Rapid City goaltender Sam Marotta. The referee, Stephen Thomson, conferred with both linesmen and the goal judge before ruling it a goal and a 1-0 Steelheads lead.
Just minutes later, the Steelheads doubled their lead. Off more good forecheck and cycle work, Jefferson Dahl whipped a pass to the front of the net that was right on the tape for Rob Linsmayer to chip up over Marotta's glove, off the crossbar, and into the net for his 16th of the year at 4:56 of the first.
The Steelheads protected that 2-0 lead until 5:54 of the second period. With time winding down on a Steelhead power play, Carson McMillan found himself with the puck and plenty of time at the left face-off dot. McMillan walked in and rifled a shot over the short-side shoulder of Marotta to give Idaho a commanding 3-0 lead.
It was McMillan's sixth goal in nine games against the Rush this season, and his sixth goal and tenth point in the last nine games overall.
The Steelheads protected that lead with good goaltending, but just as importantly a solid lockdown defensive performance. The Rush had limited second-opportunities thanks to Desrosiers' rebound control and the response of the Idaho defensemen collapsing in front of the Steelhead net. The Steelheads work at the defensive blue line also forced Rapid City into a dump-and-chase game that Idaho dominated, preventing the Rush from generating a forecheck for much of the third period.
The Steelheads work in the neutral zone was perhaps most obvious on the penalty kill, which was perfect for the eighth straight game. The Steelheads killed off all five Rush advantages, including a four-minute double minor that finished the first period. The Steelheads are now 28-for-29 (96.6 percent) on the kill over the last ten games.
The Steelheads improved to 11-2-2 in their last 15 contests. They remain four points ahead of the Grizzlies for the top spot in the West Division.
The Steelheads return home to CenturyLink Arena and await their next contest against this same Rush team, a two-game series kicking off next Friday in Boise. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:10pm MT, with the game available on 1350AM KTIK, CableOne, and ECHLTV.
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