Steelheads Win Overtime Thriller over Grizzlies, 6-5

BOISE, Idaho – The Idaho Steelheads (2­-1-1) erased four deficits and pressed to a thrilling 6-5 overtime win over the Utah Grizzlies (2-0-1) on Friday night at CenturyLink Arena.

Grizzlies forward Brendan Harms opened the scoring at 7:44 of the first period on a deflection to take an initial 1-0 lead. Steelheads forward Spencer Naas answered back, 1-1, at 9:07 with a swinging shot between the hashes out of mid-air, which was one of the few highlight reel goals for the home side. The Grizzlies pushed back ahead on the power play at 12:09 with a tally from forward Josh Winquist to take a 2-1 lead.

Another power play goal for the Grizzlies, this time for forward Ryan Walters at 12:12 of the second period, doubled the lead to its largest of the night, 3-1. However, momentum favored the Steelheads for a majority of the period, leading to an explosion of scoring.

The Steelheads scored two goals in the first 75 seconds of the third period starting at 0:31 with a patient pass from forward Connor Chatham to forward Kyle Schempp while shorthanded followed by a backhanded shot from forward Steve McParland at 1:15, erasing the deficit, 3-3. Both sides went back and forth, and Grizzlies forward Cole Ully answered at 2:58 to open the lead to 4-3. Steelheads defenseman Brady Norrish leveled the score, 4-4, at 16:01 on the power play off a faceoff. Grizzlies forward Caleb Herbert gave Utah a 5-4 lead at 16:42, but Steelheads forward Brad McClure notched the game-tying goal at 19:17 with the extra attacker on the ice to send the game to overtime, 5-5.

In overtime, Steelheads forward Joe Pendenza created a breakaway at 0:43, and with his goal the Steelheads edged ahead with a 6-5 overtime win. Steelheads goaltender Ryan Faragher (1-1-0) halted 21 of 26 shots in the win, while Grizzlies netminder Joe Cannata (2-0-1) stopped 25 of 31 shots in the overtime loss.

The Steelheads finish the weekend against the Grizzlies on Saturday, Oct. 20 at 7:10 p.m. from CenturyLink Arena. Tickets are available by calling 208-383-TIXS or going to www.IdahoSteelheads.com. Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on 1350-AM KTIK and ECHL TV as well as at 7:00 p.m. on CableOne Channel 72.

Single-game tickets and season ticket packages are on sale, with full-season packages starting as low as $300 per seat.  Contact the Idaho Steelheads at 208-383-0080 for more information or log on to idahosteelheads.com.

CENTURYLINK THREE STARS OF THE GAME:1. Steve McParland (IDH) = 1G-1A2. Ryan Walters (UTA) = 1G-1A3. Brad McClure (IDH) = 1G-1A

COORS LIGHT OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME:Cole Ully (UTA) = 1+2=3, both goals on the power play

PEPSI PLAYER OF THE GAME:Joe Pendenza (IDH) = 1+1=2, scored the overtime-winner to complete the comeback