West Valley City, UT – Goaltender Andrew Engelage stopped all four shooters he faced in a game-ending shootout Saturday night, allowing the Utah Grizzlies to sneak past the Idaho Steelheads, 5-4, in an entertaining affair in front of 3,822 fans in Utah.
Idaho (5-2-1) gains a point by taking the game to a shootout, meaning they have a six-game unbeaten streak. Utah improves to 5-1 on the season.
The Grizzlies jumped on Idaho with a pair of quick goals, with Paul McIlveen and Ryan Howse each striking in the opening 5:19 of play. Three minutes later, Idaho received two penalties on the same play, meaning a full two minutes of 5-on-3 power-play time, and the Steelheads cashed in quickly with a Jeremie Blain shot from the top of the left-hand circle, his third of the season, at 9:06 of the first to cut Utah’s lead to 2-1.
Idaho would even things on the scoreboard midway through the second period on a blistering Adrian Foster wrist-shot from the right-hand circle, his first goal as a Steelhead, at the 8:28 mark of the second. Then, the Steelheads would take a lead when defenseman Matt Case skated end-to-end on the power play, lifting a forehand shot over Engelage at 11:39 to put Idaho on top, 3-2. Utah would tie things up moments later when Bryan Cameron fed Trevor Glass, trailing a play down the slot, and Glass snapped a shot over Josh Robinson’s shoulder to even the score at three after two periods.
Once again, Idaho would draw blood first in the final frame. On the power play, Foster scored again at 3:12 of the third period to put Idaho on top, assisted by Blain and Gord Baldwin. Utah would even things up on the power play at 8:05 of the third when Cameron scored on a rebound to tie the game at four.
Neither team scored in the overtime session, sending the game to a shootout. After a Howse tally put Utah on top, Foster beat Engelage with a forehand, but watched as the shot clanged off the crossbar in the third round of the shootout. McIlveen would score on a shootout and then Engelage stopped Jacob Cepis to end the game.
Idaho’s power play was potent, going 3-5 on the evening. Utah was 1-6 with the extra attacker. Engelage gets the win, stopping 29 of 33 during regulation and overtime. Josh Robinson takes his first pro loss despite stopping 42 Grizzlies shots.
The Steelheads return home on Friday, November 2, to host the same Grizzlies at Boise’s CenturyLink Arena. Tickets are available by calling the CenturyLink Arena box office at 208.331.8497 or by going online at www.idahosteelheads.com
COORS OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME – Jeremie Blain
CENTURYLINK THREE STARS:
1) Adrian Foster (ID)
2) Collin Vock (UT)
3) Mitch Wahl (UT)
