Bulls Bounce Back To Win Hard Fought Battle In Shoot Out: Game Recap
Images from the Idaho Steelheads vs San Francisco game Saturday Feb. 23, 2013. CHRIS BUTLER — cbutler@idahostatesman.com
The Bulls were able to bounce back with an impressive victory of the Steelheads in overtime. They were led by former Steelhead Tristan King with a two point night, which included his first goal as a Bull. King also had the put away goal in the shoot out to defeat his former team. Bryan Cameron and Simon Denis-Pepin both added their first goals as a Bull. Taylor Nelson was impressive with 40 saves on the night. He also was perfect in the shoot out as he stopped all three attempts.
First Period:
The Bulls came out flat in the first period as the game looked like it was going to be similar to the game last night. The Steelheads had all the jump in the first as they piled up the shots. Each team had one power play but they came as bookends to a four on four. The Bulls almost survived the first period barrage, but Mike Towns was able to beat Nelson with 41 seconds remaining in the period to give the Steelheads a one goal lead. Taylor Nelson was spectacular as he stopped 17 of 18 in the frame. The Steelheads out shot the Bulls 18 to seven.
Second Period:
The Bulls find their legs as they picked up the tempo and battled back. The Bulls would strike early in the period shortly after getting back to even strength after an Idaho penalty. Simon Denis-Pepin would score his first Bulls goal as he sniped a wrist shot past Robinson to tie the game. Dean Ouellet picked up the only assist on the goal. The Steelheads would regain the lead midway through the period as the teams just got back to even strength following a too many men on ice penalty for the Bulls. The Bulls would even things back up capitalizing on a power play chance. Bryan Cameron would net his first as Bull and his 16th on the season with assists from Rob Kwiet and Tristan King. The Steelheads out shot the Bulls 18 to 17.
Third Period:
The third period would see the Bulls take charge in the offensive momentum. The Steelheads would get the first chance with the Bulls taking a penalty mid way through. The Bulls penalty kill bounced back nicely in this game as they killed off every power play they faced in the game. The Bulls would take the lead right after the teams got back to even strength. Tristan King would come back to bite his old team by stuffing in his own rebound to score his first San Francisco goal and his 19th on the season giving the Bulls their first lead of the game. The Steelheads would tie the game with a minute to play as Tyler Gron would score his 13th of the season sending the teams into overtime. The Bulls out shot the Steelheads 11 to seven in the period and the Steelheads out shot the Bulls 43 to 35 in regulation.
Overtime:
Neither team was able to mount much of an attack in the extra period. The Bulls managed to get off two shots, while the Steelheads did not record a single shot. Both teams go to the shoot out.
Shoot Out:
*San Francisco Shoots First
- Bryan Cameron – Goal; Tyler Gron – No Goal
- Dean Ouellet – Goal; Sam Carrick – No Goal
- Tristan King – Goal; Brett Robinson – No Goal
The Bulls had a much better performance tonight especially after the sluggish start this game. The Bulls out shot the Steelheads 28 to 25 over the final two frames as they pushed up the offensive tempo. They were able to get contributions from both of their newcomers as Tristan King made his old team pay with two points, including his 19th goal of the season, and he also had the put away goal in the shoot out to clinch the victory. Bryan Cameron had the game tying goal at the end of the second for his first as a Bull and his 16th on the season. Simon Denis-Pepin had the Bulls’ first goal of the game with his first goal as a Bull at the beginning of the second. Taylor Nelson had a big game as he recorded 40 saves on 43 shot faced. He also was perfect in the shoot out as he stopped all three attempts faced to earn his first ever shoot out victory. The Bulls penalty kill bounced back with a vengeance as they shut down all five of the Steelheads’ power play chances. The Bulls improve their record to 20-28-7 and pull to within two points of Utah, while the Steelheads fall to 35-15-6 and drop to five points behind Ontario. On Tuesday, The Bulls will travel to Utah to take on the Grizzlies in a battle for the seventh seed.
Three Stars:
- Tyler Gron – Idaho
- Tristan King – San Francisco
- Mike Towns – Idaho