Close loss ends Idaho's winning streak

West Valley City, UT (4/11/14) – Mitch Wahl's redirection skipped just inches wide of the right-wing post at the final  buzzer as the Utah Grizzlies snuck past the Idaho Steelheads, 3-2, on Friday night at the Maverik Center in West Valley City.

The loss snapped Idaho's five-game winning streak and also cemented the Steelheads into the fourth seed in the upcoming ECHL Western Conference playoffs.  Idaho (38-26-7) will open the playoffs at home next Friday night against either the Colorado Eagles or Bakersfield Condors.

Idaho struck first at the 8:19 mark of the first period as Tommy Grant and William Rapuzzi led a rush up the ice.  The two teamed up to get the puck to rookie defenseman Scott Czarnowczan - making his professional debut - for a tap-home goal at the left-wing post to put Idaho in front.  The Steelheads nearly grew the lead early in the second, but Tommy Grant's power-play shot from the hashmarks snapped just wide of the net.

The Steelheads took back-to-back penalties near the middle stages of the second period, shifting the momentum in favor of the home team.  Though Utah did not score on either power-play opportunity, the chances did wear Idaho down a bit, leading to goals from Danick Paquette (13:04, even-strength) and TJ Battani (16:08, short-handed) to give the Grizzlies the lead.

Idaho evened things up early in the third on the power play.  Czarnowczan passed the puck down the left-wing wall to Jason Bast, who found Justin Mercier across the ice at the right-wing post for his 17th goal of the season at 6:05 of the third to make it 2-2.  Utah took the lead back on another Paquette goal, this time on the power play at 13:05 of the third to make it 3-2. 

The visitors had one final chance in the closing seconds as Czarnowczan carried the puck up the left-wing wall before delivering a near-perfect cross-ice pass to Wahl at the right-wing post.  Wahl's redirect attempt behind a scrambling Aaron Dell and Utah defense missed the back of the net by the slightest of margins just before the final buzzer, ending the game.  Eight of the 13 games between Idaho and Utah have been decided by one goal.

Dell got the win for Utah, stopping 22 of 24 Idaho shots.  Josh Robinson was the tough-luck loser for Idaho despite making 34 saves.  Idaho was 1-5 on the power play while the penalty-kill unit was 5-6.

The two teams will wrap up the regular season Saturday night at the Maverik Center.  Game time is 7:05 and can be heard on KTIK (1350 AM) in the Treasure Valley.

Idaho will open the playoffs at home on April 18 and 19 at CenturyLink Arena.  The opponent is undecided at this point and tickets will go on sale Wednesday at the CenturyLink Arena box office or by calling 331-8497.

COORS OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME –  Scott Czarnowczan (1G/1A)

CENTURYLINK THREE STARS:1)    Danick Paquette (UT)2)    Charles Sarrault (UT)3)    David Vallorarni (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.