BOISE, Idaho – Facing elimination from the post season, the Idaho Steelheads had a number of questions needing answers for game four. Not least among them was their inept power play unit that had abandoned the club and especially their goalie, Jerry Kuhn. In fact, most of their offense has been absent this series with Anchorage.
One change in game four’s opening period was Idaho outshooting the Aces 10-8 through twenty minutes. But the same tune was played again on the power play. Through the first period, the Steelheads were 0-for-3 on with the extra skater.
In net, Kuhn did his part by stopping the eight shots he faced but certainly had to be thinking he needed to pitch a shutout to keep his team from hitting the links earlier than planned.
The lack offense bit the Steelheads hard early in the second period when Wes Goldie fed Scott Howes a nifty pass who converted for his second goal of the playoffs at 1:10.
Unable to break through, Idaho was unable to build any momentum and at 19:03 of the second Curtis Fraser heaped more dirt on the Steelheads when he converted for Anchorage giving the Aces a 2-0 lead heading into the third period. It was his third of the playoffs.
The power play problems continued for Idaho as they were unable to score off the single man advantage they had in the period.
The third period was played to a virtual stalemate as neither team was able to gin up enough offense to put pressure on the other.
Anchorage put the game and series away with their third goal of the game. Tyler Ruegsegger got the goal at 18:02 of the period and was scored in an empty net.
For good measure, Howes picked up his second of the game and third of the post season also into an empty net as Idaho pulled Kuhn in favor of an extra skater. Goldie picked up his third assist of the game on the final goal.
With the win, the Aces move on in the ECHL post season and the Steelheads are left to find out where their power play went to this off season.
Contact Lou.Lafrado@prohockeynews.com
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