Steelheads Hold off Eagles to Take Series Lead
April 25, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release
Loveland, CO - Gaelan Patterson scored off a rebound early in the third period and Josh Robinson turned aside 16 of 17 shots he faced in the final stanza as the Idaho Steelheads held off the Colorado Eagles, 2-1, in Game 5 of their best-of-seven Western Conference playoff series Friday night.
Idaho's win gives the team a three games to two lead in the series with an opportunity to close out and advance on Monday night in Game 6 at CenturyLink Arena in Boise. Tickets are available by calling 208-331-8497 or logging on to www.idahosteelheads.com.
After a tight start to the game, Idaho hit the accelerator in the second half of the opening frame, taking the lead on a Brett Robinson shot from the edge of the right-wing circle at the 15:51 mark of the period, his second of the postseason assisted by Patrick Cullity and Rob Linsmayer, to take a 1-0 lead. Idaho pressed to extend the lead but Colorado goaltender Marc Cheverie denied William Rapuzzi on a breakaway and also robbed Mitch Wahl with the stick at the left-wing post to keep his team in the game after a first period that saw Idaho out-shoot the homestanding Eagles, 14-3.
In the second period, it was the Colorado penalty-kill that kept Idaho from widening its lead, coming up with a big, 5-on-3 penalty kill in the latter stages of the frame. Idaho appeared to extend the lead later when Rapuzzi jabbed the puck at Cheverie near the top of the crease. Cheverie appeared to slide back into his own net with the puck underneath him, which would be a goal, but referee Pierre Lambert ruled no goal and Idaho's 1-0 lead held into the third period.
Early in the third, Idaho picked up the insurance goal it needed when David deKastrozza won an offensive-zone faceoff forward and stepped around the opposing center to take a quick shot which was stopped by Cheverie. The rebound, however, rolled right to Patterson who banged home the loose puck at 5:13 from the left edge of the crease, his second of the postseason, to give Idaho a 2-0 lead. Colorado would kill off another 5-on-3 power play opportunity for Idaho to stay in the game but the Idaho defense, in particular Robinson in net, came through time and time again. Robinson's best save of the period was in close late in the game and the team's penalty-kill was able to shut down a late power-play chance for the Eagles.
Brock Nixon poked home a loose puck with just three seconds left in the game to spoil the shutout bid, but the outcome was no longer in doubt at that point.
Both teams were strong on the penalty kill. Idaho's penalty-killers were a perfect 4-for-4 while Colorado's were a perfect 6-for-6. Robinson got the win, stopping 27 of 28 to up his playoff save percentage to .948 (127/134) in four appearances. Cheverie was a tough-luck loser, turning in a solid performance with 29 saves on 31 shots.
Game 6 is Monday night at CenturyLink Arena in Boise. Tickets are available now by calling the CenturyLink Arena box office at 208-331-8497 or by logging on to www.idahosteelheads.com. A decisive seventh game, if necessary, would be Tuesday in Boise.
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from April 25, 2014
- Wranglers' Season Comes to Close with 3-2 Game Four Loss to Aces - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Frustrating Series Ends Grizzlies Season in Bakersfield - Utah Grizzlies
- Steelheads Take the Series Lead with 2-1 Win - Colorado Eagles
- Steelheads Hold off Eagles to Take Series Lead - Idaho Steelheads
- Komets Rail Reading 3-1, Gain 3-1 Series Lead - Fort Wayne Komets
- Royals Offense Comes up Empty Again in Loss to Fort Wayne - Reading Royals
- Nailers Sweep Stingrays with 4-2 Win - Wheeling Nailers
- Kalamazoo defeats Greenville in game four 4- - Kalamazoo Wings
- Clermont, Tanski Push Solar Bears Past Cyclones 2-0 - Orlando Solar Bears
- Solar Bears Stave off Elimination, Beat Cyclones 2-0 - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Stingrays' Season Closes with 4-2 Loss to Nailers in Game 4 - South Carolina Stingrays
- Road Warriors Knocked off 4-1 in Game Four - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- ECHL Transactions - April 25 - ECHL
- Condors vs. Utah - Game 5 with Team Card Sets Tonight - Bakersfield Condors
- Gladiators Zamboni to Appear at Atlanta Motor Speedway - Atlanta Gladiators
- Game Preview: Road Warriors vs. Wings Friday, April 25, 2014 - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Game Preview: Solar Bears at Cincinnati Cyclones - April 25 - Orlando Solar Bears
- Nailers vs. Stingrays Game Day Snap Shot - Wheeling Nailers
- Cyclones Playoff Game Preview - Cincinnati vs. Orlando - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Countdown to Face-Off: Kalamazoo Wings at Greenville Road Warriors Game Four - Kalamazoo Wings
- Stingrays Playoff Game Preview: Stingrays and Wheeling Nailers Collide in Game 4 Tonight - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL Today - April 25 - ECHL
- Buzzer-Beating Condors Stun Utah in OT; Game 5 Is Friday at Home - Bakersfield Condors
- Bakersfield Again Ties Late; Beats Utah in Overtime - Utah Grizzlies
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Idaho Steelheads Stories
- Idaho vs. Allen Mountain Division Semifinals Series Preview
- Patrick Kudla Named ECHL Defenseman of the Year
- Idaho Steelheads Game One and Two Playoff Tickets on Sale Now
- Steelheads Announce Roster for 2024 ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs
- Steelheads Announce First-Round Schedule for ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs