Idaho works OT for crucial win

Stockton, CA (5/8/13) - Austin Fyten's goal with less than two minutes left in overtime lifted the Idaho Steelheads to a critical ECHL Western Conference Finals victory Wednesday night, a 2-1 win over the Stockton Thunder to trim the Thunder's lead in the series to two games to one. Idaho has an opportunity to tie the series up in Stockton in Game 4 on Friday night at Stockton Arena. Game time is 8:30 PM (Mtn). The Steelheads had to dig deep early as the Thunder were awarded four power-play opportunities over the game's opening 22 minutes. Idaho's penalty-kill unit, headlined by goaltender Josh Robinson, came through each time to keep Stockton off the board into the third period. Idaho took the lead at 11:11 of the second period as Adrian Foster and Ben Ondrus won battles to get the puck in at the right-wing point. Ondrus delivered a pass to a cutting Andrew Carroll who skated down the right edge of the slot before beating Olivier Roy with a wrist shot past the blocker, Carroll's third of the postseason, to give Idaho a 1-0 lead. Stockton would knot the game early in the third period as Matt Reber worked the puck hard down the right wing toward the Idaho net. The initial shot was stopped, but the rebound stopped right in the middle of the crease behind Robinson after the initial save and a hustling Eric Hunter was on the spot to tap home the rebound at 2:51 of the third to tie the game at one goal apiece. Stockton pressured for the next several minutes, but Robinson came up with a pair of show-stopping saves to keep the game tied. Idaho came up empty on a power-play opportunity midway through the third as the game remain tied 1-1 through regulation. Idaho's overtime appearance was their seventh already, in just 15 games, of the postseason. Stockton was playing in extra time for the sixth time in 16 contests. In extra time, the teams would trade scoring chances as Roy and Robinson each came up with big saves. Stockton would get the first big break of overtime on a penalty against Idaho's Andrew Carroll, but the Steelheads' penalty-kill unit came through again. Then, as time wound down in the overtime session, Stockton's Matt Reber would take a penalty to put Idaho on the man-advantage. Within the first 20 seconds, Stockton failed on a clearing attempt that was held in by defenseman Gord Baldwin near the left point. Baldwin dumped the puck deep, where Austin Smith delivered it to Austin Fyten on the left-wing wall. Fyten walked into the circle before delivering a wrister past Roy on the blocker side at 18:19 of the overtime session - less than 30 seconds after Reber was sent to the penalty box - to give Idaho its fifth overtime win of the postseason. The goal was Fyten's fifth of the playoffs. Robinson was brilliant in net for Idaho, stopping 41 of 42 shots. Olivier Roy was also very good, but allowed two goals on 42 shots. Idaho's penalty-kill was a perfect 5-for-5 while the power-play unit was 1-for-3. Games 4 and 5 are Friday and Saturday in Stockton. Game time each night is 8:30 PM (Mtn). The Steelheads and CenturyLink Arena will once again host a free watch party inside the SportZone on the third floor of CenturyLink Arena. The party is open to fans of all ages with a limited food and drink menu available. Doors open one hour prior to game time. COORS OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME - Austin Fyten CENTURYLINK THREE STARS: 1) Josh Robinson (ID) 2) Austin Fyten (ID) 3) Olivier Roy (STK) 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.