Idaho guts out late road victory

Las Vegas, NV (12/30/12) ? David deKastrozza steered home a Sam Carrick centering pass with 1:38 left in regulation Sunday afternoon, propelling the Idaho Steelheads to a 3-2 road win over Las Vegas. Idaho improved its overall record to 20-7-4 (44 points). The team did not pick up its 20th win until January 27 last season. Both teams battled through adverse circumstances as both played road games the night before the Sunday-afternoon game at the Orleans Arena. Las Vegas struck first at 3:02 of the first on Eric Lampe's 12th goal of the season, the only marker of the first period as the Wranglers led, 1-0, after 20 minutes. Idaho would even things up in the second periodat the 4:12 mark when Jeremie Blain fed Justin Dowling into the offensive zone. Dowing would bring the puck to the edge of the left circle before snapping the puck past Mark Owuya to even the score at 1-1. The goal was Dowling's 11th of the season and his 42nd point overall, the top active total in the ECHL. Las Vegas bid for a go-ahead tally with five minutes left in the second was denied on a brilliant glove save by Josh Robinson, robbing Matt Carter from the left circle. The Steelheads took the lead early in the third period on a strange play. As several players collided behind the Wrangler net, Sam Carrick flipped the puck from the edge of the trapezoid out in front. The puck banged off a body in front and into the net for Carrick's seventh of the season at 4:22, giving Idaho a 2-1 lead. Steelheads forward Andrew Carroll was injured on the play and had to be helped from the ice. Carroll and James Isaacs were given assists on the goal, the first ECHL point of Isaacs' career. Las Vegas tied the game with less than five minutes to play on an Andrew Saurer goal before Idaho struck for the game-winner with less than two minutes to play. Carrick carried the puck in the right-hand wing, made a nifty move at the top of the circle to evade a Wranglers defender, and then feathered a pass across the slot to a streaking deKastrozza, who back-handed the perfect feed from Carrick inside the left-hand post at 18:22 of the third to put Idaho back on top. The Steelheads would have to weather a late storm, including a nice leg-pad save from Robinson inside the final 15 seconds, to hold on for the one-goal victory. Robinson picked up his 12th win of the season with a strong game in net, stopping 34 of 36 Las Vegas shots. Owuya was the loser, surrendering three goals on 29 Idaho shots. Idaho's power play converted one of four chances and the Steelhead penalty kill was a perfect 2-for-2. Idaho remains on the road Wednesday with a return visit to Bakersfield, a team the Steelheads defeated on Saturday night before traveling to Las Vegas. NOTE: Prior to the game, Idaho added forwards Sean Menton and Bryce Reddick to the roster. Neither factored in the scoring, but they did combine for four shots on goal. The Steelheads return home on January 4 to host Bakersfield at CenturyLink Arena. Tickets are available by calling the CenturyLink Arena box office at 208.331.8497 or by going online at www.idahosteelheads.com COORS OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME - Sam Carrick CENTURYLINK THREE STARS: 1) David deKastrozza (ID) 2) Justin Dowling (ID) 3) Eric Lampe (LV) 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.