Idaho slips by Vegas, 3-1

LAS VEGAS , Nev – The Steelheads and Wranglers had played to a stalemate for four games in their opening round series in the ECHL playoffs.   Those four games were more like a dozen if you consider the overtime sessions added in.   Regardless of the time spent on the ice the two teams returned to Vegas for the fifth and deciding match.
 
The Steelheads came out strong and notched the first goal of the game on a score from Tristan King, his first of the series.   The score came at 9:02 and took some of the starch out of the home crowd at the Orleans Arena.
 
But Blair Riley was quick to knot the score at one with his fourth of the post season at 10:10.  
 
The heroics for Idaho came early in the middle frame when King bagged his second of the game at 2:52.   The goal was eventually counted as the game winner as the Wranglers were unable to penetrate the Steelheads’ defense or Jerry Kuhn’s goaltending.
 
The game was iced late in the third when Evan Barlow potted his second of the series into an empty net at 18:43 of the third.
 
For Barlow, it was his third point of the game.   He assisted on both King goals.
 
With the win, the Steelheads move on and the Wranglers are left to clean out their lockers for the off season.
 
An announced crowd of 2622 witnessed the final home game of the season for Vegas.
 
Kuhn stopped 22 of 23 shots on the night for the series-clinching win.
  Contact Lou.Lafrado@prohockeynews.com