New Look Bulls Kick Off Six Game Road Trip With Game Against Idaho: Game Preview
Images from the Idaho Steelheads vs San Francisco Bulls Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. CHRIS BUTLER — cbutler@idahostatesman.com
The new look Bulls head out on a six game road trip as they match up tonight with the Idaho Steelheads in Boise. The Bulls (19-27-7) still sit in the eighth spot as they sit two points behind the Utah Grizzlies, while the Steelheads (34-15-5) sit comfortably in third just four points behind second place Ontario. Idaho has already clinched a spot in the playoffs. The Bulls last game was on Sunday as they fell three to one to the Stockton Thunder. Since then, the Bulls have improved their scoring punch as they added two proven scoring threats. On Tuesday, the Bulls sent rookies Alex Tuckerman and Martin Lee to Utah for Calgary Flames prospect Bryan Campbell, who has 15 goals and 38 points on the season. In the next two days, the Bulls sent Rylan Galiardi to Idaho in exchange for future considerations, which turned out to be their active leading scorer Tristan King. King had 18 goals and 37 points in just 35 games. The Bulls took home a six to three victory with a four goal third period the last time these two teams played. Both teams are 2-2 on the season against each other.
The Bulls will be looking for their new acquisitions to acclimate quickly as the Bulls look to make a final push to improve their seeding heading into the final stretch of the season. The trades give the Bulls six legitimate scoring threats and create two solid lines. Adding the Bulls now have five players that have 15 goals or more. This will increase the Bulls chances at success as the move forward in the season as the pressure to drive the offense will be lifted off of Dean Ouellet and Peter Sivak. The influx of talent will also look to jump start a struggling power play unit. Thomas Heemskerk has looked great in his last two appearance as held made 48 saves on 50 shots in the two games against the Thunder.
Idaho has already locked up a spot in the Kelly Cup playoffs as they sit in third place. They are led offensively by Sam Carrick, who has 15 goals and 36 points, and David de Kastrozza, who has 18 goals and 34 points. Both players combined for four points in their last two games against the Bulls. In his last 10 games de Kastrozza has 14 points. Josh Robinson has been the man in between the pipes as Tyler Beskorowany was promoted to Texas in the AHL. The Bulls beat Robinson for five goals in their last meeting. In his last two game Robinson has stopped 67 of the 71 shots he faced, including 40 saves in his last game against Las Vegas.