Bulls Look For Series Split Tonight Against Idaho: Game Preview
Idaho Steelheads defenseman James Isaacs (20) handles the puck vs San Francisco Bulls Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013 at Century Link Arena. Isaacs has pitched in offensively since joining the team. He has one goal and nine assists in 20 games so far with the team. CHRIS BUTLER — cbutler@idahostatesman.com
The Bulls are back in action tonight as they play the second of a two game series against Idaho. The Bulls (18-25-7) fell to the Steelheads (32-13-5) three to two on the heels of a bad second period, where Idaho scored three unanswered goals. Jordan Morrison was able to answer late in the third, but it just would not be enough as they could never find that final goal. The loss pushes their record to Idaho to 1-2 on the season. The Bulls will be short handed tonight as Marek Viedensky was recalled to the AHL affiliate the Worcester Sharks.
San Francisco was able to play well enough to give themselves a chance to win. Taylor Nelson played an instrumental role in keeping the Bulls in the game as he stopped 30 of 33 shots, including all 16 he faced in the opening period. He had a rough second period as he gave up three goals, but his did well to limit the damage and to keep it close enough for the Bulls to try and mount a comeback. Six different Bulls had points in this game. Newly appointed captain Scott Langdon opened tonight’s game with his second goal on the year. Jordan Morrison continues his run of good play as he added his 14th goal of the season, which was his third in his last four games. The Bulls also had their streak of successful penalty kills snapped at 22 when Brett Robinson scored on the first power play of the game.
The Steelheads rode outstanding goalie play to victory last night. Tyler Beskorowany saved 35 of the 37 shots he faced on the evening. He stopped 19 of the 20 his faced in the final period as he was under constant fire as the Bulls tried to mount a comeback. Tristan King led all scorers with two points as he added an assist on the Steelheads’ first goal and the scored their third goal as he gets credit for the game winner. The Steelhead’s defense did a good job of limiting the Bulls chances early on as they held to Bulls to just 17 shots in the first two periods before a 20 shot outburst in the third.
The Bulls will lose a little scoring punch with the loss of Viedensky, but they still posses their top four scorers. They just need to play full 60 minute and not take periods off as they have been lately, which leads to these hole they dig themselves into. If they can keep the intensity up for all three periods and can produce on the special teams then the Bulls should be able to pull off the split of the two game series.