Steelheads squander opportunities aplenty in 4-2 loss

(West Valley City, UT) - The Idaho Steelheads came up empty on 13 of 15 power-play chances Saturday night, letting opportunities slip away in a 4-2 loss to the Utah Grizzlies in West Valley City, Utah. The fifteen power play chances is the most for Idaho in a game this season by a wide margin. The team's previous high for power play chances in a game was seven on two separate occaisions. Idaho struck first on the power play at the 4:50 mark of the first period. Chad Nehring's shot from the bottom of the right-hand circle went over the shoulder of Utah's Andrew Engelage and into the net for his seventh of the season, giving Idaho a 1-0 lead. Utah scored twice before the first period expired, a power-play goal by Logan MacMillan and an even-strength goal from Riley Emmerson to take a 2-1 lead after twenty minutes. Idaho would tie the game up just over four minutes into the second period on a goal that was a near mirror-image of Nehring's first period tally. Patrick Kennedy received a pass at the bottom of the right-hand circle and, like Nehring, lifted it over Engelage's shoulder to tie the game at two. Kennedy's third of the season was assisted by Jacob Cepis and Andrei Plekhanov. Utah scored twice in the span of 2:30 early in the third period to take a 4-2 lead. The Steelheads would have multiple opportunities to draw closer, including a 5-on-3 power play and a five-minute major power play, in the final ten minutes of the hockey game but could not convert. Engelage robbed Cepis from the doorstep in the final three minutes, keeping Idaho (16-17-3) from getting back into the game. There were a total of 27 penalties whistled in the contest, 19 on Utah leading to the 15 Idaho power plays. Engelage finished the night with 42 saves on 44 shots for Utah. Jerry Kuhn stopped 34 of 38 before giving way to Jimmy Spratt, who had two saves in the final 11:23 for the Steelheads. 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 - Jacob Cepis AQUA FINA "3 STARS" - (1) Paul McIlveen (UT) (2) Mitch Fadden (UT) (3) Andrew Engelage (UT) 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.