The loner game

It’s a little hard to be excited after a 3-0 loss to Utah. Especially the when the loss follows on the heels of a 7-2 win in Utah the night before. Maybe the quick return trip to Boise, it can’t be easy to get good sleep on a bus. Maybe it's hard to amp up for a loner home game. Or maybe we are just sick and tired of playing Utah already. Including the pre-season games the two teams have already played 7 times and still have 9 more games against each other this season.

Back to the game. There were a few things to be excited about. Cody Lampl, the first Idaho boy to wear a Steelheads sweater made his home debut tonight. We saw two fights; Tousignant tried to generate a little momentum in the second period and dropped gloves with Utah’s Kotsopolous. Tousignant landed a few good punches, but I think Kotsopolous got the ‘w’ on that fight. You can’t win them all and you have to have some admiration for the scrappy 19 year old forward.

The second fight was a bit more exciting and took place as the game was winding down and patience was wearing thin. I’m not sure what led up to the fight, all I know is Ashton Rome and Utah’s Sixsmith were ready to go. The highlight of the fight, and the reason I’ll be watching the highlight video tomorrow, was the moment when Rome grabbed Sixsmith by the shoulders and slammed the guy down to the ice. And even after that another Utah player taunted Rome trying to egg him into another fight. The linesmen weren’t having any of that and sent Rome to the showers a bit early. The penalty calls that came out of the fight were a little uneven, Rome was called for elbowing (probably what started the scrum, but I missed it), fighting, instigating and a game misconduct. I have to disagree with the instigating call. Rome may have elbowed Sixsmith, but Sixsmith was definitely the instigator of the fight by pursuing Rome across the ice until Rome dropped his gloves. I’m sure Sixsmith was questioning his judgment in that a moment later when he found himself on his knees. Rome drew the game misconduct which means he may be wearing a suit next week in Stockton. It will be interesting to see what comes down from league.

I know I’ve mentioned how great our goalies are a few times, and I know you guys are going wonder about me if I mention it again after such a loss. But there was one moment early in the game where Bachman just blew me away. He blocked a shot that slid on the ice through the legs of one of our defensemen, and then almost immediately blocked a rebound from the other side, then the 2nd rebound deflected up off a stick and Bachs was suddenly on his feet, glove hand out to catch it. And when he thought he missed it he immediately dropped to the ice and blocked where he thought the puck had dropped. And the whole thing took place in less than 20 seconds. I don’t know how any goalie can keep track of the puck, especially with all the guys standing in front of him. I’m truly impressed, not that any of you could tell though.

Read the recap of the game and check for highlights here.

~Leah