ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Steel Sweep- Idaho Sweeps Aces to Finish Season-Series

Published on March 5, 2016 under ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Idaho Steelheads vs. the Alaska Aces
Idaho Steelheads vs. the Alaska Aces
(Idaho Steelheads)

Boise, ID - After battling through 40 minutes of a scoreless tie, Rob Linsmayer and Joe Basaraba both netted third period goals and Philippe Desrosiers made 26 saves to guide the Idaho Steelheads (33-20-7) past the Alaska Aces (20-31-7), 2-1 in front of 5,099 fans inside a sold-out CenturyLink Arena.

Wearing their "Pink in the Rink" custom jerseys for the second straight night, the Steelheads earned their second three-game series sweep of the season and first on home ice. The Steelheads have now won four straight games and earned points in eight straight contests, both streaks tying season-high marks.

After two periods of physical play and gridlock, but no scoring, Linsmayer got the Steelheads on the board first. At 3:39 of the third, Steelheads defenseman Tommy Fallen joined the rush and carried the puck down the left wing wall and into the corner. Fallen centered it in front, an elevated pass that Kyle Jean swatted out of the air and on goal. Aces goaltender Jacob DeSerres made the initial save, but Linsmayer found the loose rebound at the side of the net and popped it over the goaltender for his 15th of the season.

The Steelheads would get insurance at 12:48 of the period when Basaraba picked up a Carson McMillan pass at center ice and drove 1-on-1 into the Aces zone. Basaraba took the puck to his backhand near the left faceoff dot and whipped it past DeSerres to make it 2-0 Steelheads. Basaraba now has goals in three straight games and six goals over the last eight games. A member of the McMillan-Basaraba-Andre Morrissette line has earned at least one point in each of the last eight games.

The insurance goal would prove important for the Steelheads, as the Aces drew closer with 3:07 to go in regulation when Peter Sivak ripped a wrist shot from the top of the left circle past Desrosiers' glove for his 17th of the season, making it a 2-1 game. That was as close as the Aces would get, with Desrosiers making several key saves over the final two minutes with the Aces' net empty to secure his tenth win of the season.

Desrosiers is now unbeaten in regulation in his last nine starts for Idaho, going 7-0-2 dating back to December 13th.

The Steelheads killed off all four Alaska power play opportunities, and have now killed off 23 of their last 25 shorthanded situations.

The win pushed Idaho's lead atop the West Division to six points over the Utah Grizzlies, the Steelheads' largest lead of the season.

The Steelheads will have time to rest before their next contest on Friday night, the first of a two-game series against the Rapid City Rush at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05pm MT, with the game available on 1350AM KTIK and ECHLTV.

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Idaho Steelheads vs. the Alaska Aces
Idaho Steelheads vs. the Alaska Aces
   



ECHL Stories from March 5, 2016


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