Steelheads rally past Grizzlies in OT; take series lead

West Valley City, UT (4/17/2015) – Defenseman Patrick Cullity buried a shot from the left point two minutes into overtime Saturday night, lifting the Idaho Steelheads over the Utah Grizzlies, 5-4, in Game 3 of the best of seven ECHL Western Conference quarterfinal series.

Idaho leads the series, two games to one, with Games 4 and 5 coming back to Boise next weekend.  Game 4 is Friday night at CenturyLink Arena and Game 5 is Saturday.  Tickets are available online at www.idahosteelheads.com.

The Steelheads drew first blood on a Wade MacLeod redirection of a Zack Kamrass point shot at 11:31 of the opening period.  Despite dominating the opening frame, Idaho saw Utah capture the lead by converting two scoring chances, with Ryan Hayes scoring from the slot 90 seconds after MacLeod put Idaho on top and Brenden Walker scoring inside the final minute of the period to give Utah a 2-1 lead after one period.  Utah scored at 7:21 of the second period to extend its lead to 3-1, but Idaho battled back.  James Livingston redirected a Colton Beck shot past Igor Bobkov at 11:22 of the second to make it 3-2 before a Wade MacLeod power-play snipe from the left-wing circle at 19:39 of the middle frame to tie the game, 3-3, going into the third period.

Neither team scored in the third until the final two minutes.  Idaho took a one-goal lead with just 1:47 remaining on a Beck goal from an impossible angle near the left-wing corner as his shot banked in off of Bobkov, but Utah tied the game with just under a minute left in regulation when Ryan Hayes slammed home a perfect centering feed from Michael Pelech with an extra attacker on the ice to send the game into overtime.

Utah had two glorious chances in the opening minute of overtime, most notably Walker's breakaway right down the slot, but Olivier Roy delivered two tremendous saves to keep the Steelheads alive.  Then, in Idaho's first prolonged trip into the Utah zone in overtime, Jefferson Dahl touched the puck from the slot back toward the left point where Cullity buried his third career playoff goal, this one a game-winner, at the 2:09 mark of the extra session to give Idaho the win.

MacLeod (two goals), Beck (goal, assist) and Brett Robinson (assist) each extended post-season point streaks to each of the three games.  MacLeod now has four goals in the playoffs.

Olivier Roy got the win in net with 32 saves, including the two critical stops in overtime.  Bobkov took the loss, allowing five goals on 41 shots.  Idaho's power play was 1-4, while the penalty kill was a perfect 4-4.

Game 1:  Idaho 3, Utah 2 (OT); Idaho leads series, 1-0Game 2:  Utah 3, Idaho 2; Series tied, 1-1Game 3:  Idaho 5, Utah 4 (OT); Idaho leads series, 2-1Game 4:  Utah at Idaho (Fri, April 24, 7:10 PM)Game 5:  Utah at Idaho (Sat, April 25, 7:10 PM) – IF NECESSARYGame 6:  Idaho at Utah (Mon, April 27, 7:05 PM) – IF NECESSARYGame 7:  Utah at Idaho (Wed, April 29, 7:10 PM) – IF NECESSARY

The scene shifts back to Boise for Game 4 on Friday, April 24 and Game 5 Saturday, April 25.  Fans can secure the same seat to all possible Steelheads’ home playoff games through the “Pay as We Play” program, call the Steelheads front office at 208-383-0080 for more information.

COORS OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME –  Colton Beck (G/A)

CENTURYLINK THREE STARS:1)   Patrick Cullity (ID)2)   Wade MacLeod (ID)3)   Ryan Hayes (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 chips with each ticket. Contact the Steelheads front office at 208.383.0080 or log on to www.idahosteelheads.com for more information.