Steelheads drop game four in OT to Blades, 3-2
May 22, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release
BOISE, Idaho - Sparked by the play of goaltender Jeff Maund, the Florida Everblades won Game 4 of the Kelly Cup Finals over the Idaho Steelheads, 3-2 in overtime. Maund stopped 35 shots, and Jay Legault tallied the game-winner to cut Idaho's lead in the series to 3-1. A Bank of America Centre record crowd of 5,771 was hoping to see Idaho clinch its first-ever Kelly Cup. Instead, there will be a fifth game on Saturday night.
Neither team scored on its initial power play opportunity, and Idaho had just killed off the Florida man-advantage when Derek Paget tipped the puck to center ice, where David Cornacchia picked it up as he came out of the box. Leading a three-on-one, Cornacchia fed Jeff Bateman, who beat a sliding Maund top shelf for his first postseason goal. The Blades tied it up just 46 seconds later as Jared Newman fired a shot wide, and the puck rebounded off the boards behind the net to Brian McCullough who one-timed it past Dan Ellis at 6:33. The first period ended with the Everblades leading in shots, 9-7.
Early into the second frame, Brett Draney went in on the Blades' net on a breakaway, but Maund made a beautiful glove save to keep the game even. Idaho had a four-minute power play at 6:07, but it was Florida who scored the goal. Idaho turned over the puck in its end and Matt Pagnutti gathered it up, passed it to Chris Thompson who waited out Ellis as he went down to make the save. Thompson beat him glove side to give Florida its first lead in the series.
Skating four aside, Idaho tied the score at two at the 10:38 mark of the final period. Darrell Hay fired a long shot that deflected off Zenon Konopka's skate and into the net. Konopka's ninth goal of the playoffs tied Florida's Tom Buckley for the league lead. Idaho had two consecutive power plays late in the period, but outstanding play by Maund kept the Steelheads off the board. Just 30 seconds into the second man advantage, Cornacchia blasted a slapshot past Maund, but referee Ryan Fraser waived off the goal as Lance Galbraith was called for goaltender interference. Florida couldn't capitalize on the penalty, and the game went into overtime for the second straight game.
Both teams had several good scoring chances, but the netminders earned their keep. Florida won a face off in the Idaho end, and scored the game-winning goal after a scrum to Ellis' left. Reggie Berg won possession of the puck and pushed it to Jay Legault, whose initial shot hit the post, but he followed up with a rebound to win it for Florida at 7:01.
Maund stopped 35 of 37 shots to improve his playoff record to 2-3, while Ellis saved 32 of 35 and saw his record drop to 12-3.
Tickets are now on sale for tomorrow night's game by logging on to www.idahosteelheads.com or www.idahotickets.com, or by visiting any Select-A-Seat outlet or the BofA Box Office starting at 8:00 am Saturday morning.
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ECHL Stories from May 22, 2004
- Lynx Set To Release Schedule - Augusta Lynx
- Preview of Saturday s Kelly Cup Finals Game 5 - ECHL
- Hockey Appreciation Day - Louisiana IceGators
- Steelheads drop game four in OT to Blades, 3-2 - Idaho Steelheads
- Blades Force Game 5 After 3-2 Overtime Win - Florida Everblades
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