ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Slow Start Dooms Steelheads in Opener

October 18, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


West Valley City, UT - Jamie MacQueen notched all four goals as the Idaho Steelheads could not overcome a sluggish first period Friday night, falling to the Utah Grizzlies, 4-2 in the ECHL season opener for both teams in Utah.

The Steelheads (0-1) got two assists from William Rapuzzi in his professional debut.

Utah put Idaho on its heels early Friday, scoring twice in the first ten minute and out-shooting Idaho, 21-8 in the first period overall. The Steelheads leveled the ice a bit in the second period but Utah's Igor Bobkov denied all 12 shots he saw in the frame to keep the Grizzlies on top, 2-0, going into the final period.

In the third, Idaho would have three cracks on the power play trailing by two but came up empty each time. Then, moments later, Utah would cash in on a power-play opportunity as MacQueen whacked a loose puck out of mid-air into the net behind Idaho goaltender Pat Nagle to extend Utah's lead to three goals at the 11:31 mark of the final frame.

The Steelheads finally got on the board with 3:46 left to play when Ryan Button's blast from the left circle deflected up over Bobkov's shoulder to cut Utah's lead to 3-1, but any hopes of a dramatic comeback were dashed 80 seconds later when MacQueen's shot from the left circle trickled through Nagle's legs to make it 4-1. Tommy Grant would net his first goal with the Steelheads, a blistering wrist shot from the right circle, with ten seconds left to close the scoring.

After being out-shot badly in the first, Idaho actually recovered to out-shoot Utah, 36-35. Bobkov picked up the win with 34 saves on 36 shots for Utah. Nagle took the loss for Idaho with 31 saves on 35 shots. Idaho's power play came up empty, going 0-6, while Utah's was 1-2.

Idaho plays its home-opener on Wednesday, October 23, at CenturyLink Arena in Boise against the San Francisco Bulls. Tickets are available by calling 208-331-8497.

Check out the Idaho Steelheads Statistics



ECHL Stories from October 18, 2013


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