Steelheads Swim Up to a 5-1 Win

The Steelheads have arrived in town and unfortunately this 2 game series is looking quite a bit like the previous match up between these two fighting teams. Idaho ended the Maulers' 7 game hot streak that was ignited down in the hot desert of Las Vegas, Nevada. I do agree that the Missoula boys are willing to fight with everything they've got but sometimes there are teams that just can't be beaten. From what I watched last night, the boys were not playing as they had only a few weeks ago. Again they were getting too far apart from each other and the puck was being lost too often. I know I have said this before when they were playing Idaho in the last set, but if you want to win against a very high energy team that is built on the fundamentals of  rushing the puck, using physical aggression to push back opposing players, and a very strong goaltender, a team like Missoula must stick together in small packs and continuously keep the puck between each other if they want to get a shot on goal at all. Also these guys, and I know they don't like it, but they will have to keep their defenseman on the blue line at all costs. Teams like the Steelheads pick off the weaker players and challenge the more skilled ones to their breaking point. You have to put your strongest players out for as long you can that can keep the puck moving while attacking with a strong physical force and your defenseman need to be able to meet or even overcome the opposing players' physical forces and they need to stand their ground no matter what is thrown at them. Now with Gronborg out after an injury occurring last night to his knee, Mcdaniel and Janzen need to step up their playing as well to be able to withstand the numerous hard shots that Idaho will be producing. I know these boys are capable of this type of playing but I don't know if they know what they are capable of. If you can't overpower them with strength, pin point their weaknesses and use that against them. If these guys won't do that, they won't even have a shot. Sorry to be brutally honest but it's true.

At an outstanding 16 seconds after the start of the game, #24 Jano Blasko got a quick shot past Sebastian with an apple for #3 Victor Ivarsson. The second goal of the game for Idaho came at 2:46 from the stick of #26 Kyle Williams and an assist for #19 Macky Power. Tyle Zandhuisen scored the only Maulers goal on a power play at 11:18 that would go unassisted. This would be the first and last goal for Missoula and the last goal of the first period.

The first geno of the middle frame came on a power play at 12:41. #7 Ben Hull was credited with the goal and #21 Bryan Hodges picked up the assist. At 14:11, the Steelheads went up 4-1. #9 Luc Gensler was credited with the goal and #26 Kyle Williams recorded his 2nd point of the game.

There wasn't much action for the scoring department in the 3rd, but the final went up 5-1 on a power play at 19:31. #27 Zach Walden was rewarded the goal and #15 Parker Lewis had the last assist of the game.

Hopefully the boys will pick up the two points tonight at 7:30 in the Glacier Ice Rink. Make sure you don't miss out on the last game of January!

Statistics:

PENALTIES:

Period 1:

Idaho Jr Steelheads - Randy Patzner (Boarding) 2 Minutes, 6:42

Idaho Jr Steelheads - Parker Lewis (Too Many Men) 2 Minutes, 10:34

Missoula Maulers - Derek Griffin (Unsportsmanlike Conduct) (Misconduct) 10 Minutes, 16:22

Idaho Jr Steelheads - Ian Patrican (Unsportsmanlike Conduct) (Misconduct) 10 Minutes, 16:22

Period 2:

Missoula Maulers - Anders Nord (Too Many Men) 2 Minutes, 10:49

Idaho Jr Steelheads - Parker Lewis (Roughing) 2 Minutes, 18:48

Missoula Maulers - Corey Schafer (Roughing) 2 Minutes, 18:48

Period 3: 

Idaho Jr Steelheads - Nick White (Boarding) 2 Minutes, 3:58

Idaho Jr Steelheads - Bryan Hodges (Tripping) 2 Minutes, 6:17

Idaho Jr Steelheads - Victor Ivarsson (Fighting) (Instigator) 2 Minutes, 9:30

Idaho Jr Steelheads - Victor Ivarsson (Fighting) (Major) 5 Minutes, 9:30

Idaho Jr Steelheads - Victor Ivarsson (Fighting) (Game Ejection) 10 Minutes, 9:30

Missoula Maulers - Joey Sundgren (Fighting) (Major) 5 Minutes, 9:30

Idaho Jr Steelheads - Randy Patzner (Tripping) 2 Minutes, 12:29

Idaho Jr Steelheads - Randy Patzner (Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 2 Minutes, 12:29

Missoula Maulers - Derek Griffin (Cross Checking) 2 Minutes, 18:17

Missoula Maulers - John Anderson (Tripping) 2 Minutes, 19:31

SHOTS ON GOAL:

Missoula Maulers - 19 total

Idaho Jr Steelheads - 46 total

POWER PLAYS:

Missoula Maulers - 1 for 7

Idaho Jr Steelheads - 2 for 3

GOALTENDERS:

#1 Sebastian Gronborg for Missoula Maulers: 33:15 Minutes played, 27 shots on goal 24 saves

#30 Michael Mcdaniel for Missoula Maulers: 26:45 Minutes played, 19 shots on goal 17 saves

#1 Sean Healy for Idaho Jr Steelheads: 60 Minutes played, 19 shots on goal 18 saves