ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Steelheads Game Preview, West Division Semi-Finals, Game Two

April 12, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


GAME RECAPS:

GAME 1: STEELHEADS 1, WRANGLERS 0 (2 O.T.)
Steelheads' defenseman Tyler Kindle scored short-handed with 2:33 remaining in double overtime, as the Steelheads took Game One of the series, 1-0. With defenseman Blake Forsyth in the penalty box for tripping, rookie defenseman Kory Scoran sent an outlet pass to Kindle who found rookie forward Dan Hacker alone on the right wing side. Hacker skated into the Wranglers' zone, before throwing a pass through the slot that center David Bararuk tipped over to Kindle who had jumped into the rush. The Portage, MI native rifled a snap shot just underneath the crossbar and over the blocker of Wranglers' goaltender Marc Magliarditi (43 saves) for his first career playoff tally. Matt Yeats stopped all 49 shots fired his way to pick up his fifth career ECHL playoff victory, and his first with the Steelheads. The shutout was the second in Yeats' Kelly Cup Playoffs career, and the fifth for the club in their three-year existence. The contest lasted 97:27, the longest game in both the Steelheads' and the Wranglers' ECHL history. Since the 1992-1993 season, only six games in ECHL history have lasted longer than this marathon from Orleans Arena.

TONIGHT'S TILT:

Tuesday's win allowed the Steelheads to claim home ice advantage in the best-of-seven series, so the pressure is on the Wranglers tonight to try and earn a split. The goaltending match-up for Game Two is expected to be the same as Game One, with Matt Yeats dueling against the Wranglers' Marc Magliarditi. Prior to Game One, Wranglers' head coach Glen Gulutzan said the keys for his team in this series was to match the Steelheads speed and be as physical as possible. The Wranglers did that for the most part in Game One, although the Steelheads did their fare share of hitting as well. Over the last two periods of regulation, the Wranglers had the majority of the chances, out-shooting the Steelheads 27-14 in the 2nd and 3rd periods. On the special teams front, the Steelheads didn't get a power play opportunity after the early stages of the second period in last night's win. For the game, the Wranglers had five man advantages to the Steelheads two. Look for special teams to play a bigger role in Game Two. Tonight's referee is Max Battimo (Josh Ellis called infractions last night). In addition to goaltending and special teams, face-offs are also crucial in the postseason. And the Wranglers controlled that aspect as well in Game One, winning 51 of the 90 draws (56.6%). After this evening's contest, the series shifts to Qwest Arena in Boise for Games Three and Four. If necessary, Game Five will be on Qwest Arena ice on Monday, April 17.

STEELHEADS' NOTES: Tuesday's victory allowed the Steelheads to improve to 3-3 all-time in the first game of Kelly Cup Playoff series...Tuesday's win was the first double overtime game in the club's ECHL history...Rookie winger Andy Contois will be inserted into the lineup tonight, replacing Greg Hornby. Contois was a healthy scratch in Game One...Leading scorer and captain D'Arcy McConvey, who is on recall to the Iowa Stars (AHL), was a healthy scratch in Iowa's overtime victory last night, but the chances of him returning for the remaining games in this series appear slim.

WRANGLERS' NOTES: The Wranglers are now scoreless in 158:03 against the Steelheads in the Kelly Cup Playoffs, dating back to the 2004 Pacific Division Semi-Finals...The Wranglers played Game One with just five "natural" defensemen, using forward Chris Stanley back on defense for most of the contest...Veteran winger Chris Kenady, who was acquired from Long Beach late in the regular season, is the only player to play against the Steelheads in each of their three, opening round Kelly Cup Playoff series. In 2004, Kenady was with the Wranglers, while in 2005, Kenady was a member of the Long Beach Ice Dogs (whom the Steelheads bowed out to in a best-of-five series, 3-1)...Goaltender Marc Magliarditi is now 10-12 in his ECHL playoff career, including five overtime losses... Following a one-goal loss in the 2005-2006 regular season, the Wranglers were 6-3-0.

STEELHEADS' RECENT TRANSACTIONS:
4/11/06: ADD Greg Hornby (LW) - Activated off the 7-day IR
4/10/06: DELETE Alex Dunn (D) - Transferred from the 7-day IR to the 30-day IR
4/10/06: DELETE Matt Reid (LW) - Placed on the 7-day IR
4/10/06: DELETE Mike Adamek (F) - Released from contract
4/09/06: ADD Justin Cox (RW) - Returned from San Antonio (AHL)
4/08/06: ADD Garett Bembridge (RW) - Returned from Portland (AHL)
4/04/06: DELETE D'Arcy McConvey (C) - Recalled to Iowa (AHL)

WRANGLERS' RECENT TRANSACTIONS:
4/11/06: ADD Dan Tudin (LW) - Returned from Omaha (AHL)
4/09/06: DELETE Marco Peluso (F) - Placed on the 7-day IR
4/09/06: DELETE Mike Kautz (D) - Placed on the 30-day IR

THE MATCHUP:

This best-of-seven series pits the 2nd seeded Las Vegas Wranglers against the 3rd seeded Idaho Steelheads. The first team to win four games in this semi-final round will advance to the West Division Finals and take on the winner of the other best-of-seven semi-final, which has the number one seeded Alaska Aces battling the 4th seeded Utah Grizzlies.

HEAD TO HEAD:

The Steelheads went 2-3-2 against the Wranglers in 2005-2006, while winning one of three contests on the road. Out of the seven games in the season series, the Steelheads and Wranglers played four, one-goal games. On January 27, the Steelheads thumped the Wranglers 9-5, which was arguably the most lopsided defeat the 2nd placed Wranglers suffered in 2005-2006. In ECHL play, the Steelheads hold a 14-8-4 regular season mark against the Wranglers. In their only playoff meeting back in 2004, the Steelheads ousted the Wranglers three games to two, in the best-of-five Pacific Division Semi-Finals. The Steelheads actually trailed in the series 2-0, before winning the final three games of the series, en route to the 2004 Kelly Cup in their inaugural ECHL season.

REGULAR SEASON TEAM LEADERS:

IDAHO
- D'Arcy McConvey: 39g, 47a = 86 pts.
- Garett Bembridge: 36, 39a = 75 pts.
- David Bararuk: 25g, 46a = 71 pts.
- Steve Silverthorn: 22-14-3, 2.90 GAA, 90.1%, 3 SHO

LAS VEGAS
- Matt Dzieduszycki: 34g, 44a = 78 pts.
- Dan Tudin: 33g, 44a = 77 pts.
- Steve Crampton: 20g, 29a = 49 pts.
- Marc Magliarditi: 34-11-5, 2.47 GAA, 90.9%, 3 SHO

SCHEDULE (all times MST):

Game 1 @ Las Vegas - Tuesday, April 11 - (8:05pm) - Orleans Arena: 1-0 W (2 O.T.)
Game 2 @ Las Vegas - Wednesday, April 12 - (8:05pm) - Orleans Arena
Game 3 @ Idaho - Friday, April 14 - (7:10pm) - Qwest Arena
Game 4 @ Idaho - Saturday, April 15 - (7:10pm) - Qwest Arena
Game 5 @ Idaho - Monday, April 17 (if necessary) - (7:10pm) - Qwest Arena
Game 6 @ Las Vegas - Tuesday, April 18 (if necessary) - 8:05pm) - Orleans Arena
Game 7 @ Las Vegas - Wednesday, April 19 (if necessary) - (8:05pm) - Orleans Arena

Check out the Idaho Steelheads Statistics



ECHL Stories from April 12, 2006


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