Steelheads stumble, fall just short of comeback

BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — They nearly had it. Those few words sum up the feeling in everyone’s minds Saturday night, as the Idaho Steelheads skated off the ice after a loss to the Florida Everblades.

Florida defeated Idaho 5-3 in Game 2 of the Kelly Cup Finals.

The win was particularly disappointing for fans in Idaho Central Arena, because the Steelheads came so close to a tie late. After Idaho got on the board early thanks to a blue-line snipe from Matt Register, Florida responded with four goals in a row.

Down 4-1 late in the 3rd period, Idaho morphed into the Brabham Cup-winning machine fans had seen all season. Justin Misiak scored on the power play, and Ty Pelton-Byce scored immediatley after. In 22 seconds, the score went from 4-1 Florida to 4-3 Florida.

The arena, already erupting in excitement, exploded once more when a penalty was called against the Everblades moments later.

Idaho launched everything they had. But it wasn’t enough. Florida repelled the Steelhead’s attacks, and put the dagger in Idaho’s heart with an empty-net goal to make it 5-3. Game over.

Following the loss, Steelheads head coach Everett Sheen gave a brief press conference. He gave praise to the Everblades’ efforts, admitting that their defensemen kept things though for Idaho.

“Honestly, credit to Florida,” Sheen said. “They did a pretty good job of minimizing the chances we were able to generate. A couple puck bounces off our stick in prime time, it’s unfortunate. It didn’t go for us tonight.”

The Steelheads are now down 2-0 in the Kelly Cup Finals. With the next three games all in Florida, Idaho must win two to send the series back to Boise. While a lot of focus will be on the two wins needed, Sheen mentioned that the first step is Game 3, where they’ll look to register their first victory over Florida.

“We’re gonna have to get two down there to bring it back here to Boise, but it’s going to have to start with one and you know, it’s not going to be easy,” Sheen said. “That’s a good Florida team so we’re going to have to be ready to go.”

Sheen did mention a positive from the loss, praising his team’s determination.

“We didn’t quit. We talk about a group, our execution wasn’t there tonight,” Sheen said. “But you know, the one big positive we take away from this is we didn’t quit on the game and we’re not quitting on the series.”

The 2-0 deficit is not completely unknown to the Steelheads. In their first round matchup, Idaho dropped the first two games at home to arch-rival Utah. Idaho responded by winning three-straight on the road, before finishing the series with a fourth-straight win in Game 6 in Idaho Central Arena.

Game 3 of the Kelly Cup Finals is Wednesday, June 7. Puck drop is at 5:30 p.m. MT (7:30 local).