Kuhn keys shutout win over Utah

(West Valley City, UT) - Jerry Kuhn turned aside all 40 shots he faced en route to his second shutout of the season as the Idaho Steelheads defeated the Utah Grizzlies, 2-0, in West Valley City, UT, Friday night. The shutout was Kuhn's second of the season and marks the seventh time the rookie netminder has turned aside at least 40 shots in a game this season. After a scoreless first period, the action really picked up in the second frame. With Utah on the power play, Idaho (16-16-3) had back-to-back shorthanded breakaway opportunities. Chad Nehring's backhand just missed the top corner of the net and Utah's Andrew Engelage made a nice save to deny Derek LeBlanc to keep the game scoreless. Idaho would get on the board moments later during a 4-on-4 opportunity. Utah turned the puck over in the neutral zone and David Fredriksson picked the puck up, heading into the offensive zone. Fredriksson snapped a wrister from the top of the right-hand circle, beating Engelage over the shoulder at the 5:01 mark. His sixth of the season, an unassisted goal, gave Idaho a 1-0 lead. The Steelheads seemed prime to build on that lead with a prolonged 5-on-3 power play, but the Grizzlies were able to kill off the Idaho opportunity and hold Idaho's lead to just the single goal going into the third period. In the third, an efficient Idaho team was able to hold Utah at bay, including a big penalty kill inside the final five minutes, before Nehring sealed the win with a nice empty-net goal. Under pressure, Nehring won a race to a loose puck in the neutral zone. He was able to pick up the puck, spin, and fire a long shot into the empty Grizzlies net at 19:30 of the third to send most of the Friday-night crowd of 5,158 to the exits. Kuhn was a perfect 40-for-40 in save opportunities for Idaho, picking up his 11th victory of the season. Andrew Engelage also played well, picking up the tough-luck loss despite stopping 32 of 33 Idaho shots before being pulled from the ice during the final seconds for an extra attacker. Neither team could cash in on the power play. Idaho was 0-6, Utah was 0-7. The team returns home on Tuesday, January 24, to host the Stockton Thunder. Tickets are available by calling the CenturyLink Arena box office (208.331.TIXS) or by logging on to www.idahosteelheads.com. COORS OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME - Chad Nehring AQUA FINA "3 STARS" - (1) David Fredriksson (ID) (2) Derick Martin (UT) (3) Jerry Kuhn (ID) Group outings at a Steelheads game are a great way to gather friends, colleagues, or co-workers for a fun night out in downtown Boise. Ticket prices are discounted and you can get a Pepsi, Double-R Ranch Hot Dog, and bag of Tim?s Cascade Chips with each ticket. Contact the Steelheads front office at 208.383.0080 or log on to www.idahosteelheads.com for more information.