Resilient Steelheads rally for 4-3 win

West Valley City, UT (1/20/14) - William Rapuzzi back-handed a defensive-zone turnover past Igor Bobkov at 2:38 of overtime as the Idaho Steelheads rallied past the Utah Grizzlies, 4-3, at the Maverik Center in West Valley City, UT, on Monday.

Idaho (20-14-4) rallied from three separate, one-goal deficits to get the game to overtime, picking up its third overtime win of the season.

Neither team scored in the first period but DJ Jelitto gave Utah a quick lead just 45 seconds into the second period. Idaho would answer at 14;20 of the second when Tommy Grantslammed a puck home from the right edge of the crease on the power play, his 12th of the season, to knot the game at one.

That score would hold until the third period when Jelitto once again put Utah on top at 2:48 of the third but Idaho's David deKastrozza would tie things up with a rebound goal from the slot at 4:25 of the third to once again even things up at two goals apiece. Midway through the third, Idaho would get a five-minute, major power play opportunity when Andrew O'Brien was ejected for a high elbow on Idaho's Tyler Elbrecht. The Grizzlies were able to kill off the major power play opportunity and, barely a minute after the power play expired, Utah re-took the lead on a David Vallorani goal at 14:39 of the third.

Idaho looked like it was in big trouble when Brett Robinson was whistled for interference with 2:36 to play and the Steelheads down a goal, but deKastrozza made the play of the night, breaking in on a short-handed breakaway and beating Bobkov with a backhand at the 17:48 mark of the third to tie the game and send it to overtime.

Early in overtime, Utah had possession in the Idaho zone but could not generate a scoring chance. Idaho would dump the puck deep and a hustling Mitch Wahl kept the play alive for Idaho. As the battle continued, Utah's Brendan Jamison turned the puck over to deKastrozza, whose quick centering pass was backhanded home by Rapuzzi at 2:38 of overtime to win the game for Idaho.

Pat Nagle got the win, stopping 37 of 40 shots for Idaho. The Steelheads penalty kill was a perfect 5-for-5 and the power play scored once on four opportunities.

Idaho returns home on Sunday, January 26, to host Bakersfield.

COORS OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME - David deKastrozza (2G/1A)

CENTURYLINK THREE STARS:1) DJ Jelitto (UT)2) David Vallorani (UT)3) Igor Bobkov (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 for more information.