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Steelheads bounce back with dominating win
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After a very physical loss Friday night, the Steelheads bounced back with a big win against the Utah Grizzlies Saturday.
Although, carrying much of the momentum from the game the previous night, the Steelheads scored three unanswered goals in the first period posting a 19-3 shot total. The first period catapulted the home team into a 4-1 victory to take 2 games out of 3 in the series.
Getting the crowd engaged early was a fight involving Steelhead’s Craig Cescon and Grizzlies’ Will Bodine. Following the fight was a hooking penalty on Utah, which led to Idaho’s first goal by center, Matt McKnight assisted by Matt Stephenson and Garett Bembridge.
The next goal came unassisted at 17:36 from Kris Sparre from a tipped puck just a couple feet in front of the crease. That was Sparre’s fifth goal of the season. With only 15 seconds left in the first period, the Steelheads scored their second power play of the game from a wrist shot from the point by Matt Stephenson assisted by Bembridge and Bryan McGregor.
Following a very explosive first period, the second period involved several penalties by the Steelheads. Idaho was successful with their penalty killing with the exception of a five on three goal by defenseman Andy Sertich 8 minutes into
the period.
Going into the third period the Steelheads were leading 3-1 with a 33 to 15 shot ratio. After an early hooking penalty, Idaho scored their fourth goal of the game on a power play by Ben Nelson assisted by Steve Gainey and Marty Flichel.
Posting 5-3-2 record prior to Saturday’s game was goalie Rejean Beauchemin who stopped 27 of 28 shots. He only gave up one shot.
After the game Matt Stephenson was named Aquafina’s No.1 Star of the Game after scoring one goal and having one assist.
“We didn’t expect as many fights tonight, but we knew it would be a very physical game,” Stephenson said.
“It was important to come out quick and be physical to get good shots,” McKnight said, who scored the first goal of the game for the Steelheads.
Another notable point of Saturday’s game was the retirement of former Idaho Steelheads, Jeremy Mylymok’s No. 4 jersey during the first intermission.
Mylymok was a team captain on the Kelly Cup Championship team.
The Idaho Steelheads are now sitting in second place in the west conference with 26 points and a record of 12-8-1-1.
They travel to Utah to play a one game stand against the Grizzlies Tuesday, December 9.
JASON SWITZER
Special to The Arbiter
