ECHL: Idaho Steelheads Put Up 50 Shots En Route To Game 2 Victory

For the first time since their first game of the Kelly Cup Playoffs, the Idaho Steelheads had a game that wasn’t decided by one goal as they defeated the Allen Americans by a score of 6-2 in Game 2. Idaho came out firing in the opening period as Zane Franklin got his stick on a shot from Jordan Kawaguchi to get the Steelheads on the board at the 14:40 mark of the opening frame; Idaho would lead 1-0 after the opening frame while outshooting the Americans 20-4. Coming into Wednesday’s game, Allen had killed off 17 of the 18 penalties they had taken in the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Idaho would finally convert on their fourth PP of the night as Matt Register took a shot from the point, and Wade Murphy would be in front to tip it in; Murphy would add another goal less than five minutes later to give Idaho a commanding 3-0 lead after 40 minutes of play.

Allen would make a goaltending change in the third as Chase Perry would take over for Kevin Mandolese, who was not seen on the bench in the third period. Ryan Dmowski would score the cleanest goal for the Steelheads just 1:49 into the third as he beat Perry five-hole to make it a 4-0 game. Colby McAuley would break Adam Scheel’s shutout with his second goal in as many games. Jack Becker would respond with a goal of his own just 1:12 after McAuley’s goal to re-gain the four-goal lead for Idaho. With the Steelheads up four goals, tensions were boiling over as Mikael Robidoux would cross-check an Allen player after the whistle, as he would get tossed; Robidoux has a reputation in the league, as he’s been suspended multiple times this season, including a 14 games suspension at the beginning of the season for an altercation with a fan and a seven-game suspension back in January for kneeing. Spencer Asuchak and Justin Ducharme would also be sent to the showers early. Owen Headrick and Jack Combs would exchange PP goals before the final whistle as the Steelheads won 6-2 and had 50 shots on goal as the Steelheads now lead the series 2-0. Game 3 will be Friday Night at 9:10 PM Eastern.