The Idaho Steelheads defeated the Utah Grizzlies, 3-2 in OT, winning the series 4-2. It was the Steelhead’s fourth-straight overtime game, and their fourth-straight overtime win.
After going down 0-2 in Boise, the Steelheads rattled off three wins in a row in Utah, before taking the decisive game 6 in Boise.
To start things off, Idaho came out aggressive, getting on the board quickly. Ty Pelton-Byce worked behind Utah’s goalie, Trent Miner, sending the puck across the goal to Zane Franklin who slotted the puck into the net.
For much of the first period, Idaho worked with a three-pronged counterattack, scaring the Grizzlies a couple times but ultimately not finding the net. Utah was still able to get shots off, but their shot selection was limited due to Idaho’s strong first-period defense.
In the second period, Utah started to hold onto the puck more, building up their attacks in a more-composed manner. Idaho had their fair share of chances too, with the Steelheads coming close a few times, including a few shots that came on the team’s second power play.
Later into the period, Cameron Wright sent a puck to Kyle Betts, who scored to tie the game for Utah at 1-1.
The third period was where things got chippy. Idaho had a breakaway opportunity, and in the chaos in front of the net, Utah’s goal became dislodged. It was one of five times in the evening that the net dislodged.
What happened next sent Idaho Central Arena into a fit of rage.
Idaho’s players assumed that the game would be stopped, as it would for all other goals being dislodged, but it wasn’t. Grizzlies skater Dylan Fitze took the puck down the ice and fired in a shot to make it 2-1 Utah, the Grizzlies first lead of the night.
The goal was not reviewed; Idaho’s fans, players and coaches were incensed at the outcome, loudly proclaiming their frustrations with the referees.
The game wasn’t stopped for the goal being moved out of position, and three Steelheads players assumed a stoppage of play. In the ensuing chaos, Utah managed to send a skater free, and he scored on a breakaway of his own.
Fueled by the anger of what they viewed as an illegitimate goal, Idaho struck less than two minutes later, with A.J. White getting his stick on the end of the puck for a scrappy game-tying goal.
Both teams had several chances after this, but the game ultimately went into overtime as it had in the previous three contests.
A few minutes into overtime, Casey Johnson launched the attack, and Jack Becker sent a wrist shot past Miner, sending Idaho Central Arena into a frenzy of joy.
Idaho’s 4-2 series win, means that the team will advance to the next round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs. The next round is the Mountain Division Finals, where the team will come up against the Allen Americans. The Americans also won their series Friday, May 1, defeating Kansas City in the series 4-2.
