Robinsons rise to occasion in 4-2 win

Stockton, CA (3/26/14) – Brett Robinson scored a goal and added an assist in his return to the Idaho lineup and Josh Robinson turned aside all 13 shots he faced in the final frame as the Steelheads knocked off the Stockton Thunder, 4-2, Wednesday night.

With the win, Idaho (34-25-7) keeps pace with fourth-place Colorado and gains ground on third-place Utah in the ECHL Western Conference standings.  Idaho currently sits in fifth place in a tightly-bunched race for home-ice advantage in the first round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

Idaho took advantage of an early Stockton penalty as Luke Judson redirected a Charlie Dodero point shot past Brian Foster just 2:38 into the contest on the man-advantage to give the Steelheads a 1-0 lead.  Stockton tied the game on a Ryan Hayes tally, finishing off a rush at 14:53 of the period to square things up at a goal apiece after 20 minutes.

The visitors took the lead back at 6:39 of the second period when William Rapuzzi created a turnover in the offensive zone and quickly found Robinson alone in the slot for a twisting one-timer past Foster.  The goal was Robinson's 12th of the season and gave Idaho a 2-1 lead.  Hayes would again answer for Stockton, this time on the power play, at 10:47 of the second to make it 2-2.

Tommy Grant would net the eventual game-winner on assists from Robinson and Rapuzzi as he found himself all alone at the left-wing post to pound the puck past Foster at 14:36, his team-leading 20th of the season, to make it 3-2.  Idaho would pick up a big insurance goal at 17:56 as Gaelan Patterson and Andrew Conboy carried the puck in on a two-on-one rush.  Patterson looked to Conboy, opening a seam between Foster and the post, before quickly snapping his ninth of the season into the net to make it 4-2 Idaho after two.

Stockton brought pressure in the third period but Robinson, the goaltender, made a series of key, scrambling saves on loose pucks to keep the Thunder from inching any closer as the Steelheads rode out the final frame to victory.

Robinson's 24 saves gave him his first win in net for Idaho since December 21st, though a large portion of that time was spent at the AHL level with Idaho's affiliate, the Texas Stars.  Foster took the loss, allowing four goals on 22 shots.  Each team scored once on the power play, Idaho going 1-5 and Stockton going 1-6.

The same two teams meet again Friday with puck drop at 8:30 (Mtn) before wrapping up the road trip with another game in Stockton on Sunday.  Both games can be heard on KTIK (1350 AM) in the Treasure Valley.

The Steelheads have two home games left, April 4 and 5 against the same Colorado Eagles.  Tickets are available by calling the CenturyLink Arena box office at 208-331-8497.

NOTE: Earlier in the day, Idaho released rookie goaltender Kevin Kapalka.  Kapalka went 2-1 in his brief stint with the team after coming in at the end of his college season at Lake Superior State.

COORS OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME –  William Rapuzzi (2A)

CENTURYLINK THREE STARS:

1)    Brett Robinson (ID)2)    Ryan Hayes (STK)3)    Tommy Grant (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.