ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Steelheads Top Grizzlies, 5-4

Published on March 17, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


BOISE, ID- The Idaho Steelheads held on for a 5-4 win over the Utah Grizzlies at Qwest Arena tonight, earning Derek Laxdal his 300th win as a professional head coach. Five different players scored for Idaho, who tied the ECHL club record for wins in a season with their 44th. The victory was also the seventh consecutively for the Steelheads, which is a new season high. The Steelheads now have a seven-game winning streak to go along with two previous six-game winning streaks this season.

Kevin DeVergilio scored first to give Idaho a 1-0 lead at 6:03 of the first period. Ashton Rome marched up the right wing, leading a two-on-one, and found DeVergilio in the slot for a one-timer. The goal was DeVergilio's 16th.

Rome scored at 17:12 when he banged home a Steve Oleksy rebound to give Idaho a 2-0 lead. The goal was Rome's 17th of the season.

Tyler Spurgeon extended the Idaho lead to 3-0 when he capitalized on a scramble in front of Utah netminder Mitch O'Keefe for his 25th of the season.

At 17:25 of the second period, Ryan Kinasewich sent a point shot through traffic that beat Idaho's Richard Bachman to put Utah on the board.

At 4:34 of the third period, Matt McKnight took a pass in the slot from Steve Oleksy, and placed a wrist shot quickly behind O'Keefe to give Idaho a 4-1 lead. Rome also assisted on McKnight's 11th.

At 6:14 of the third period, Brandan Kushniruk skated on the right wing with the Steelheads down a man, turned the corner on Ryan Kinasewich, and scored top-shelf on O'Keefe to give Idaho a 5-1 lead.

Utah answered back with three goals, one coming in the final minute and the goalie pulled, but were unable to work back into a tie. Tom May, Brock Wilson, and James Sixsmith all scored in the final period for Utah, who leaves Qwest Arena after the two-game set empty-handed, missing on all four possible points.

Richard Bachman stopped 20 of 24 in the win, improving to 20-5-3 on the season. O'Keefe stopped 34 of 39 for Utah; he is now 18-12-4.

The Steelheads head on the road for games against the Reign in Ontario on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The Steelheads will play out the regular season home schedule on March 24th, 26th, and 27th when the Victoria Salmon Kings head to Boise.

TONIGHT'S AQUAFINA THREE STARS:

1. ASHTON ROME (IDH)

2. STEVE OLEKSY (IDH)

3. DUSTIN FRIESEN (IDH)

COORS LIGHT OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: ASHTON ROME (IDH)

TONIGHT'S BOX SCORE:

Utah Grizzlies 4 At Idaho Steelheads 5 - Status: Final Mar 17, 2010 - Qwest Arena

Utah 0 1 3 - 4 Idaho 2 1 2 - 5

1st Period-1, Idaho, DeVergilio 16 (Rome, Oleksy), 6:03. 2, Idaho, Rome 17 (Oleksy), 17:12. Penalties-Carroll Uta (boarding), 8:10; Huxley Idh (roughing), 8:10; Sorteberg Uta (delay of game), 11:13; Milnamow Idh (interference), 18:58.

2nd Period-3, Idaho, Spurgeon 25 (Friesen, Barlow), 3:39 (pp). 4, Utah, Kinasewich 39 (Galbraith, Hunter), 17:25 (pp). Penalties-Suda Uta (hooking), 2:36; Dawson Idh (interference), 5:24; Oleksy Idh (delay of game), 13:20; Dawson Idh (high-sticking), 15:09; Milnamow Idh (slashing ), 16:42; Ferguson Uta (boarding, fighting - major), 17:36; Rome Idh (fighting - major), 17:36; Wilson Uta (cross-checking, fighting - major), 19:22; DeVergilio Idh (slashing , fighting - major), 19:22.

3rd Period-5, Idaho, McKnight 11 (Oleksy, Rome), 4:34. 6, Idaho, Derlago 38 (Friesen), 6:14 (sh). 7, Utah, May 20 (Carroll, Ferguson), 9:02. 8, Utah, Wilson 3 (Sixsmith, Aston), 11:47. 9, Utah, Sixsmith 21 (Hunter, Aston), 19:18. Penalties-Swanson Idh (holding), 5:22.

Shots on Goal-Utah 6-7-11-24. Idaho 11-11-17-39. Power Play Opportunities-Utah 1 of 6; Idaho 1 of 3. Goalies-Utah, O'Keefe 18-12-1-3 (39 shots-34 saves). Idaho, Bachman 20-5-0-3 (24 shots-20 saves). A-3,724 Referees-Geno Binda (15). Linesmen-Scott DeBaugh, Nolan Rein (91).

Check out the Idaho Steelheads Statistics

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