A look at the three games on Monday's ECHL schedule.
There’s nothing like watching hockey on a holiday. Afternoon hockey on a holiday is even better.
Three games were on the ECHL slate on President’s Day, and all three had the distinction of one-point outcomes. Here are takeaways from each one.
Steelheads 5, Grizzlies 4 (OT)
Gaining a point in the standings in an overtime loss is better than no point at all, but still doesn’t take away the sting of heartbreak.
Each time the Utah Grizzlies would grab a lead, the Idaho Steelheads would come right back and pull even. In the end, Idaho finally prevailed, winning in overtime and breaking the hearts of the Grizzlies and their home fans at Maverik Center.
Idaho got the scoring started 7:51 into the opening period on a power-play goal by Ty Pelton-Byce, one of two goals on the night for him.
The Grizzlies would answer with a Cooper Jones tally 31 seconds later, then Mick Messner gave them the lead 2-1 at the 15:19 mark.
Pelton-Byce netted another power-play goal to tie the score 16:04 into the middle frame. Utah regained the lead on a Cole Gallant penalty shot at 18:55, the Grizzlies’ third penalty shot in a four-game stretch.
Idaho tied the score again at 6:38 of the third period, but the Grizzlies retook the lead once again 4-3 just 30 seconds later. A Brendan Hoffmann power-play goal tied the score 4-4 at 9:47.
The game headed to overtime, and Connor MacEachern scored unassisted 3:09 into the extra session for a 5-4 Idaho victory.
The Steelheads took five out of a possible six points in the series.
Swamp Rabbits 2, Nailers 1
In one of two contests that finished 2-1 on the afternoon, Greenville got the upper hand over the Nailers after scoring two goals in the span of 1:15.
One-goal games have mostly been in the Swamp Rabbits’ favor, going 13-3-6 in those situations following Monday’s win.
After a scoreless first period, Quinn Olson fired in a one-timer into the right side of the net from the right circle on a power play, and the Swamp Rabbits gained a 1-0 lead.
Just 1:15 later, Carter Savoie made the score 2-0 from the slot just inside of the left post. In all, Greenville put 20 shots on net in the middle frame.
Wheeling’s only goal came in the third period, as Kyle Jackson put in a slap shot from the left circle at 2:58 of the third period.
It was Jackson’s 100th game as a pro, but his goal was the only one the Nailers could muster as the Swamp Rabbits came away with the 2-1 victory.
Solar Bears 2, Gladiators 1
Atlanta Gladiators right winger Randy Hernandez was hoping for a victory against his former team. He did his part, scoring a goal late in the second period.
Unfortunately for him and the Glads, it would be their only tally, as they ran into a hot Anthony Bardaro, who had three goals in his last five games coming into Monday.
Make that five in his last six. Bardaro scored the only two goals the Solar Bears would need in a 2-1 home triumph over the Gladiators at the Kia Center. After Atlanta fell behind 2-0, Hernandez potted his ninth of the season on a wrister past Orlando goaltender Ryan Fanti.
Despite outshooting the Solar Bears 14-11 in the third period, Atlanta was unable to put any more shots past Fanti, who stopped 29 of 30 to pick up the win. Drew DeRidder took the tough loss, saving 33 of 35.