Utah Grizzlies vs Idaho Steelheads 1/13/10

We just want to say that Mitch O'Keefe is a rock star.

O'Keefe ended the night with 38 saves, and most of those were pretty damn incredible. Other highlights from the game included random goals by Kinasewich and Crowder (we'll take it), and a nice wrap around goal from May. Not to mention the luckiest 1st for the Grizzlies who spent the period playing defense, but still kept their lead intact.

The official post game is up at the Utah Grizzlies site, the gamesheet at ECHL.com and there are some highlights (and lowlights) at the Idaho Steelheads site. Our post game is below.


FIRST PERIOD

Utah goes on the power play a minute in; May comes from behind the net with a wrap around goal. Perry picks up the only assist. Then, the boys spend the rest of the 1st in their own end. Between penalty kills and a lackluster 5-on-5 performance, O'Keefe and company spend the rest of the period defending their one goal lead. 12 SOG for Idaho compared to Utah's 3. Utah gets a power play at the end of the period, but the aggressive work by Idaho on the penalty kill gives them no chances before time runs out.

End of first. 1-0, Grizzlies.

SECOND PERIOD

Grizzlies start the 2nd still on the power play. Randomly, Kinasewich scores from behind the blueline :26 in; the puck bounced off the goalie and went in, 2-0. Hand and Huxley drop the gloves and dance. Huxley got a few more punches in, but Hand gets the takedown. You can see the replay on the ISH site. Idaho scores off of their first shot this period. Pavli gets called for boarding, then Parnham joins him giving Idaho the shortest 5-on-3 ever. The Grizzlies kill the first penalty, but Idaho scores on the second to tie it up. By the end of the period, the Grizzlies looked like they could use the intermission to break up Idaho's momentum.

End of second. 2-2.

THIRD PERIOD

Idaho takes the lead a minute in. With no SOG for Utah 6:40 in, it doesn't seem like the boys showed up to play this period. Then, Crowder hacks it toward the net and ties it up. We didn't expect that; he looked like he was about to trip. The boys are re-energized and push it into OT. Some of the best play of the game came as a result of the Crowder goal. The Grizzlies pick up a point.

End of third. 3-3.

OVERTIME

Both teams are going all out for this one. Grizzlies get a penalty with 30 seconds left, and Idaho takes a time out before the 4-on-3. O'Keefe makes some awesome saves, and time runs out.

End of overtime. 3-3.

SHOOT OUT

Idaho gets two, Grizzlies get none.

Game.

4-3, Steelheads.