IDAHO FALLS, ID – The Idaho Steelheads defeated the Utah Grizzlies 3-1 in their preseason finale at Mountain America Center in Idaho Falls on Saturday night. The Steelheads finish the preseason 2-0 and begin the regular season Friday, October 17 in Stateline, NV against the Tahoe Knight Monsters.
Despite quality chances at both ends, the teams were scoreless at the end of the first period, with Idaho outshooting Utah 13-10.
Things picked up in the middle frame, with the Grizzlies striking first at 9:32 as Luke Manning collected a loose puck and scored from just above the crease. The Steelheads found their response soon after, as a point shot from Aidan Hreschuk snuck through traffic and into the back of the net at 13:35 of the period. Just over 90 seconds later the Steelheads grabbed their first lead of the game after Mason Nevers found his way to the blue paint and jammed a puck into the net behind Utah goaltender Dryden McKay.
In the third period Danny Dzhaniyev extended the Idaho lead with a breakaway goal 6:08 into the frame. The Steelheads held their lead until the final whistle, finishing off the 3-1 effort.
Beni Halasz played the first 29:11 of the game for the Steelheads, stopping all 13 shots he faced. Colby Muise finished the game in net for Idaho, allowing just one goal on 18 shots against. Utah’s Dryden McKay suffered the defeat, allowing three goals on 25 shots.
GAME NOTES
- Idaho went 0-for-1 on the power-play while Utah didn’t earn a power play.
- Utah outshot Idaho 31-25.
- Danny Dzhaniyev and Mason Nevers each notched their second goals of the preseason in Saturday’s win.
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