ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Steelheads in Must Win Situation

April 21, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Boise, ID - The Idaho Steelheads are bringing it back to Boise for Game Six, and they hope - a Game Seven. After losing three consecutive games to the defending Taylor Cup Champion Fresno Falcons and facing elimination in Game Five, the Steelheads pulled out a 5-2 win in Sunday's matchup in Fresno to bring the series to 3-games-to-2 in Fresno's favor.

Game Six will be played at the Bank of America Centre Tuesday night, with a 7:05 p.m. puck drop. Should the Steelheads win, Game Seven will be played Wednesday night; same time, same place.

Good seats are still available and tickets may be purchased at the Bank of America Centre Box Office, at any Select-A-Seat outlet, by calling 331-TIXS (8497), or by logging on to www.idahosteelheads.com.

The winner of the Idaho/Fresno Series will face off against the San Diego Gulls on Friday, April 25th. If the Steelheads win this series, San Diego will come to Idaho to play the first game of the Taylor Cup Championship Round. If Fresno wins this series, they will begin the next series in San Diego.

IDAHO/FRESNO THROUGH 5 PLAYOFF GAMES....

SCORING LEADERS (3 POINTS OR MORE):

IDAHO:
Flichel (2 goals, 2 assists)
Rybar (2 goals, 2 assists)
Swanson (4 assists)
Copeland (3 goals)
Morgan (2 goals, 1 assist)
Brar (1 goal, 2 assists)

FRESNO:
Kris Porter (2 goals, 4 assists)
Embley (3 goals, 1 assist)
Gulutzan (1 goal, 3 assists)
Bonneau (2 goals, 1 assist)
Weaver (2 goals, 1 assist)
Both (1 goal, 2 assists)
Haupt (3 assists)
Dewaele (3 assists)

POWER PLAY:

IDA - 6 power play goals in 33 chances (18.2%)
FRE - 4 power play goals in 32 chances (12.5%)

PENALTY KILLING:

IDA - allowed 4 in 32 opportunities (87.5%)
FRE - allowed 6 in 33 opportunities (81.8%)

GAME RECAPS:

GAME #1 RECAP- IDAHO: Idaho Wins 3-2; Leads Series 1-0 The opening face

off set the tone for Friday night's Taylor Cup playoff opener between the Idaho Steelheads and defending West Coast Hockey League champion Fresno Falcons at the Bank of America Centre. Idaho's Adam Copeland deflected Jeremy Mylymok's shot with :58 left in the game to give the Steelheads the 3-2 win and a 1-0 lead in the best of seven series that created a roar from the crowd of 3,918 in attendance. Colin Embley started the scoring at 4:51 when he got one past Idaho netminder Blair Allison on a rebound. The next two tallies came from Idaho. With a man-advantage, Idaho's Joe Rybar got a pass across Fresno's crease to Marty Flichel who lit the lamp. Rybar set up Idaho's next goal when he stole the puck in Fresno's corner, passed to Derek Paget who fed Martin Vasut. Vasut's pass to Cory Morgan at 15:53 resulted in Morgan's ninth career playoff goal. At 2:59 of the second period Fresno's starting goaltender Terry Friesen appeared to have been injured and was replaced in net by Mark Gowan. Fresno knotted the score at two just :14 into the final period when Bonneau outworked Petr Suchanek for the puck and put a wraparound through Allison's pads. The game was headed for overtime when Mylymok wound up from just inside the right point and put a low blast through traffic. The puck deflected off Copeland's skate and past Gowan for the game winner. Fresno's Haas received a 5-game suspension; Bonneau, Prosofsky, and Gowan each received a game misconduct; and Landry received a gross misconduct. Idaho's Brar received a 2-game misconduct; Mylymok received a game misconduct and a gross misconduct.

GAME #2 RECAP - IDAHO: Fresno Wins 5-2; Series Tied 1-1 The Fresno

Falcons rallied from a two-goal deficit and evened the best-of-seven Larry Miller Subaru Mitsubishi WCHL first round playoff series at one game apiece with a 5-2 win over the Idaho Steelheads at the Bank of America Centre Saturday night. The Steelheads jumped out to a 1-0 lead on the power play near the midway point in the first period as Cory Morgan tipped a feed from Joe Rybar past Falcon goaltender Mark Gowan. Idaho tallied their second power play goal at 11:11 as Rybar took a pass from Scott Swanson and ripped one past Gowan to increase Idaho's lead to 2-0. Fresno got on the board late in the frame when Idaho couldn't clear the puck from its own zone and a wide-open Kris Porter made two moves and put the puck high over a sprawling Blair Allison. Fresno dominated play in the second period, thanks in large part to Idaho's nine penalties, which resulted in five power play opportunities for the Falcons. Fresno converted two of those chances, both on 5-on-3 advantages. Cory Murphy and Jason Weaver each cashed in and beat Allison to give the Falcons their first lead, 3-2. Allison left at the 11:30 mark with an apparent injury and was replaced by Jason Cugnet. Fresno stretched its lead to 4-2 with an even-strength goal by WCHL Rookie of the Year Colin Embley, who rolled a puck through Cugnet's pads at 13:56. The second frame ended with the Falcons on top, 4-2. Blair Allison returned to the Idaho net for the third period, but the Steelheads were unable to capitalize, as Fresno tallied the only goal of the frame, an empty-netter by Rob Bonneau at 17:33. Idaho put pressure on Fresno's Gowan late in the period, but the Falcon netminder was equal to the task in recording his first career playoff victory.

GAME #3 RECAP- FRESNO: Fresno Wins 2-1 OT; Fresno Leads Series 2-1

Fresno's Kris Porter was the hero of this game when he beat Blair Allison at 3:01 in overtime to win the game and give the Falcons a 2-1 round one series lead. Porter was also the hero of the 2001-02 Taylor Cup Championship when he scored the championship game-winner in double-overtime against the Steelheads at the Bank of America Centre. The two teams played a tight defensive game, allowing only one goal apiece in regulation. Both Idaho and Fresno skated scoreless though the first frame until the Falcons got on the board at 18:31 of the second on a tally by Jason Weaver. Marty Flichel knotted the game on a power play goal at 12:26 of the third period. Both Fresno goals were even-strength. Mark Gowan gave a stellar performance in net for the Falcons as Idaho outshot Fresno 32-20.

GAME #4 RECAP - FRESNO: Fresno Wins 3-1; Fresno Leads Series 3-1

With their third win of the series, the Fresno Falcons took an imposing lead over the Idaho Steelheads. Fresno got an early lead at 4:01 of the first period with a goal by WCHL Rookie of the Year Colin Embley, and another by Brad Both at 10:56. Idaho came to within one goal a minute and a half later when Adam Copeland scored a power play goal on Fresno's goaltender Mark Gowan off of a rebound. However, that was all Idaho would tally in this game. Fresno finished off the scoring with a man-advantage seven minutes into the second period from Scott Borders. The Steelheads had a five-minute power play in the third when Cory Murphy received a major penalty and an automatic game misconduct; however, Idaho could not capitalize on the opportunity. Blair Allison stopped 25 of 28 shots, while Gowan allowed only one on 27 shots.

GAME #5 RECAP - FRESNO: Idaho Wins 5-2; Fresno Leads Series 3-2

The Steelheads were victorious with a convincing 5-2 win over the Falcons in a "do or die" game Sunday night. Fresno showed their prowess and held a one-goal lead through most of the first period on a tally by Glen Gulutzan at 5:39. Dampy Brar notched the equalizer, a power play goal, at 17:27. Fresno took a one-goal lead again early in the second period on a goal from Tyler Prosofsky, but that was all they would score in the game. A.J. Begg tied the game at two apiece, followed by Martin Vasut who gave the Steelheads the lead (for the first time since game two) at 14:01 of the second. Adam Copeland and Joe Rybar each tallied a point in the third. Brar garnered 3 points in the game. The Steelheads outshot the Falcons 35-15. The series turns back to Boise now for Game 6 and, if needed Game 7.

Check out the Idaho Steelheads Statistics



ECHL Stories from April 21, 2003


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