ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Ully Leads Steelheads to Seventh Straight Win

Published on April 1, 2018 under ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Eric Sweetman of the Idaho Steelheads vs. the Utah Grizzlies
Eric Sweetman of the Idaho Steelheads vs. the Utah Grizzlies
(Idaho Steelheads, Credit: Creative Expressions Photography)

Boise, ID - Cole Ully scored two goals on Saturday night, including the game-winner, as the Idaho Steelheads (42-20-7) closed out the home portion of their regular-season schedule with their seventh straight win, topping the Utah Grizzlies (26-28-15) 4-2 in front of a sell-out crowd of 5,128 at CenturyLink Arena.

The Steelheads' seven-game winning streak is their longest in the regular season since they won nine in a row during the 2014-15 season, a streak that ended on March 6th of that year. The Steelheads also closed out the regular season at CenturyLink Arena by winning their final seven home games, their longest home winning streak since they closed out the 2007-08 season with seven straight home wins.

With the score tied 2-2, the Steelheads netted their second power play goal of the night when Ully cashed in the rebound of a Will Merchant shot for his second of the game at 13:44 of the third period. Merchant wheeled above the right circle and fired the puck back on goaltender Brandon Wildung, who made the save through a Jefferson Dahl screen. While the Grizzlies converged on Dahl, Ully found the loose puck at the far post to jam in his 16th of the season.

The Grizzlies had a 2-1 lead midway through the second period when Ully netted his first of the game to tie the [Eric Sweetman, 3/31; Creative Expressions Photography] score. Jefferson Dahl's shot from the left point was deflected and came up into the face of Utah defenseman James Melindy. The puck came to rest in the right wing circle and Ully got there first to spin a shot along the ice and through Wildung's legs at 14:58 of the second period.

Ully has goals in four straight games for Idaho, netting six goals in that span.

The Steelheads opened the scoring on the power play at 1:53 of the first period when Merchant fed a pass down low deflected under the crossbar by Max French for his ninth of the year and a 1-0 lead. It was French's first game back in the lineup since February 27th after being reassigned by AHL Texas. Dating back to February 19th, French has goals in five straight ECHL games and seven goals during that streak.

Travis Howe netted both goals for Utah, his fourth and fifth goals of the season. Howe tapped a centering feed past Tomas Sholl at 8:40 of the first period to tie the game 1-1. He gave Utah their only lead at 10:26 of the second when he used one hand on his stick to steer a rebound around an outstretched Sholl to make it 2-1.

Justin Parizek capped the scoring with his third goal in four games and 26th of the season, taking a Merchant feed and hitting the empty net with three seconds left in regulation. Merchant finished the night with three assists.

Tomas Sholl stopped 27 shots for his eighth consecutive victory to improve his personal record to 13-0-2 this season.

The Grizzlies have officially been eliminated from playoff contention. They last missed the post-season in 2006-07.

The Steelheads finished the season with 18 sell-out crowds, selling out eleven of their last 15 home dates. The 18 sell-outs doubled last year's total and were Idaho's most in a season since the 1999-00 season.

The Steelheads finish the regular season on a three-game road trip, starting on Wednesday night against the Tulsa Oilers at BOK Center. Puck-drop is scheduled for 6:05pm MT. The game is available on 1350AM KTIK and on ECHLTV.

STEELHEADS STATS: Goals: French (9), Ully (15,16), Parizek (26) Tomas Sholl: 27 saves on 29 shots Power Play: 2-for-5 Penalty Kill: 3-for-3

CENTURYLINK THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1. Cole Ully IDH

2. Max French IDH

3. Will Merchant IDH

COORS LIGHT OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME Cole Ully: 2 goals, 6 shots

PLAY OF THE GAME: Cole Ully found the game-winner off of a net-mouth scramble on the power play late in the third period. With Jefferson Dahl stationed in front of the Utah net, Will Merchant fired a shot that Brandon Wildung fought off. Dahl attracted the attention of both Grizzlies defenders in front of the net, while Ully went undetected to jam home his second of the game.

Check out the Idaho Steelheads Statistics




Images from this story

Eric Sweetman of the Idaho Steelheads vs. the Utah Grizzlies
Eric Sweetman of the Idaho Steelheads vs. the Utah Grizzlies
(Creative Expressions Photography)		   



ECHL Stories from April 1, 2018


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