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ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Steelheads Handle the Rush Three first-period goals pace win

March 18, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Idaho Steelheads Score against the Rapid City Rush
Idaho Steelheads Score against the Rapid City Rush
(Idaho Steelheads)

Boise, ID - The Steelheads (35-21-7) netted three goals in the first period Friday night, sending them on their way to a 4-1 win over the Rapid City Rush (26-31-6) in front of 4,184 fans at CenturyLink Arena. The win pushed Idaho's record to 12-2-2 in the last 16 games.

Philippe Desrosiers made 24 saves on the evening to move to 9-0-2 in his last 11 starts for the Steelheads and earn his second straight win over the Rush.

Joe Basaraba opened the scoring for the Steelheads on the power play at 6:56 of the first period. Andre Morrissette wheeled out of the left wing corner and slid a pass through Rush defenseman Brett Kostolansky to a waiting Basarba on top of the Rapid City crease. Basaraba tapped the puck past goaltender Danny Battochio for his tenth goal of the season.

The goal extended Basaraba's points streak to six games. Adding an assist later in the contest, Basaraba now has five goals and eight points in the last six games.

The Steelheads doubled their lead 1:44 later when Jefferson Dahl poked home the rebound of a Tommy Fallen point shot for his team-leading 21st goal of the season. The goal was set up by good work below the goal line by Kyle Jean, who carried the puck from the left corner behind the net to the far side of the ice before threading a pass across the ice to the left point to set up Fallen.

The Rush protested when the Steelheads made it a 3-0 game at 15:36 of the first. Joe Basaraba's hard, rising shot from the right-wing boards appeared to catch Battochio up high and under the mask, sending Battochio to the ice. Play was allowed to continue, and Carson McMillan dunked his 18th of the year into an empty net.

McMillan has seven goals and 11 points this season in ten games against the Rush.

The Rush would get on the board 4:11 into the second period when defenseman Barret Kaib, making his professional debut, unleashed a one-timer that deflected off the skate of Zach Bell and through Desrosiers to make it a 3-1 game. That was the penalty kill's only flaw for Idaho on another stellar night, killing six of seven shorthanded situations. The Steelheads have killed 34 of 36 penalties over the last 11 games (94.4 percent), and they got a bit of offense on the penalty kill Friday night as well.

At 15:27 of the second period with the Steelheads shorthanded, Zach Kamrass cleared the puck from his own zone all the way down into the Rush end, on net. Battochio bobbled the skipping puck, spilling a rebound out between the circles. Jean beat the Rush defense down the ice and dragged the puck away from Battochio before the goaltender could smother it. Jean tucked the puck into an empty net for his 13th of the year and a 4-1 lead.

It was Idaho's fourth shorthanded goal of the season and first since December 4th.

With the win, Idaho extended its lead atop the West Division to six points over Utah. The Steelheads are also tied with Fort Wayne at 77 points, but the Komets maintain the second spot in the Western Conference due to their one game in hand on Idaho.

The Steelheads and Rush meet again Saturday night in Boise. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:10pm MT, with the game available on 1350AM KTIK, CableOne, and ECHLTV.

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Idaho Steelheads Score against the Rapid City Rush
Idaho Steelheads Score against the Rapid City Rush
   

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