ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Steelheads on top! Idaho tops Utah to move into first in West Division

Published on February 12, 2016 under ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Boise, ID - The Idaho Steelheads (26-19-4) won for the seventh time in nine meetings this season against the Utah Grizzlies (27-19-2), a 3-1 win at CenturyLink Arena on Friday night that pushed Idaho one point ahead of Utah in the standings and into first place in the West Division for the first time since late October.

For the fourth straight time, the Steelheads found a way to win after surrendering the game's first goal. Mike Ratchuk's power play wrister at 11:35 of the first period zipped over the left shoulder of Jack Campbell and into the net to give the Grizzlies a 1-0 lead in Ratchuk's Grizzlies debut.

That was the only scoring for the rest of the tightly contested first period, but the Steelheads wasted little time in the second. Andrew Carroll held a puck in at the right point in the Utah zone and flipped it over the oncoming Grizzlies players and into the right-wing face-off circle. Andre Morrissette picked it up and found Carson McMillan driving the net out of the right-wing corner. McMillan's initial shot was stopped by Grizzlies goaltender Ryan Faragher, but McMillan stayed with it and jammed the rebound under Faragher for his 11th goal of the season.

Morrissette now has two goals and three assists during a four-game points streak.

At 16:06 of the second period, Idaho capitalized on another Utah turnover when Joe Basaraba's dogged forecheck on Brent Gwidt in the neutral zone forced a loose puck and a 2-on-1 for Rob Linsmayer and Kyle Jean. Jean beat Faragher for his ninth of the season and a 2-1 Idaho lead.

The Steelheads were already 19-1-1 when leading after two periods, and they locked down on the Grizzlies with a tight-checking third period. The Steelheads surrendered just five shots in the final frame, which included two penalty kills. Jack Campbell made 17 saves on the night in earning his 12th win of the year.

The Steelheads got some insurance on Carroll's seventh tally of the year with 1:49 to go in regulation. After blocking a shot in the defensive zone, Carroll stayed on the ice and followed the play into the Utah zone. After Jefferson Dahl received a stretch pass from Shawn Boutin into the offensive zone, Dahl curled to the boards and flipped a shot towards the Utah goal. The shot was blocked but came right to a charging Carroll. With Faragher playing the initial attempt from Dahl, Carroll had an empty net to cement the Idaho win.

The Steelheads are 9-2-0 in their last 11 games.

The Steelheads and Grizzlies will finish off their home-and-home series at Maverik Center tomorrow night with puck-drop scheduled for 7:05pm MT. The game is available on 1350AM KTIK, and ECHLTV.

Check out the Idaho Steelheads Statistics

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ECHL Stories from February 12, 2016


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