Steelheads Fall in Shootout to Rush
March 20, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release
Idaho Steelheads Forward Kyle Jean
(Idaho Steelheads)
Boise, ID - Ryan Walters' game-winner was the only goal of the shootout as the Rapid City Rush (27-31-6) outlasted the Idaho Steelheads (35-21-8), 3-2 in front of 4,252 fans at CenturyLink Arena. Walters' goal in the fourth round of the shootout ended an entertaining goaltender's duel between Rapid City's Sam Marotta and Idaho's Branden Komm.
Marotta made 26 saves in regulation and overtime before denying all four Idaho shootout attempts. Komm stopped 35 shots, including five in overtime, but could only stop three Rush shooters in the breakaway competition.
The Rush were able to force overtime midway through the third period with Mikhail Stefanovich's 18th goal of the season. With the Steelheads leading 2-1, Stefanovich poked the puck around Corbin Baldwin in the neutral zone and moved in 2-on-1 with Spencer Pommells. Driving the net, Stefanovich received a head-man pass from Pommells and skated in on Komm, losing his edge and sliding into the goaltender. Right before Stefanovich made contact with Komm, the puck squeaked underneath the Idaho goalie and into the net to tie the game.
Idaho got on the board first at 11:37 of the first period. Damian Cross' nifty outlet pass from the right-wing boards in his own zone sprung Jake Fallon through neutral ice. With Rapid City's Winston Day Chief and Max Nicastro both chasing him down, Fallon released a short-side backhander past Marotta to give the Steelheads a 1-0 lead.
The Rush tied the game 1-1 at 9:12 of the second period with Pommells' 16th goal of the year when he converted a Lindsay Sparks feed from right in front of the Idaho net. The goal came shortly after the Steelheads failed to clear the defensive zone along the right-wing boards, with Sparks quickly throwing the turnover to the front.
Just 4:28 later the Steelheads regained the lead when Zack Kamrass took a Joe Basaraba feed at the left point and blasted it past Marotta for his fourth goal of the season, and his first goal in 28 games, to give Idaho a 2-1 lead. The assist for Basaraba extended his points streak to seven games, with five goals and nine points in that stretch.
The Steelheads had a chance to extend that lead early in the third when Fallon moved in on a shorthanded breakaway bidding for his second goal of the night. Marotta made a difficult glove save on Fallon's backhand deke, one of several odd-man rushes denied by Marotta on the evening.
Saturday night was just the fourth time this season the Steelheads failed to secure a win when leading after two periods, falling to 26-1-3. The Steelheads also dropped to 3-3 in the shootout.
The Steelheads did earn a point for the fourth straight game and are now 12-2-3 in their last 17 games. With the overtime point, Idaho kept pace with the Fort Wayne Komets in the Western Conference, who also lost in overtime. Both teams have 78 points in the standings, with Fort Wayne maintaining second place by virtue of one game in hand on Idaho.
The Steelheads return to action on March 25th to kick off a two-game set at CenturyLink Arena with the Colorado Eagles.
All fans are welcome to join the Steelheads on the CenturyLink Arena ice on Sunday afternoon between 2 and 4pm for the CenturyLink Free Skate, sponsored by the Idaho Statesman. Fans are welcome to skate with their favorite players and get autographs on the CenturyLink Arena ice. Fans who bring a canned food donation will also receive two tickets to the Steelheads game against the Utah Grizzlies on March 30th.
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 Idaho Steelheads Forward Kyle Jean |
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