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Steelies Don't Want to Risk Luck in Vegas: Idaho Can Win First-Round Series Tonight at Home

Posted on: Monday, 17 April 2006, 12:00 CDT

By Chris Langrill, The Idaho Statesman, Boise

Apr. 17--Idaho rookie Greg Rallo scored the game-winning goal in a 4-2 win Saturday night that gave the Steelheads a 3-1 lead in their first-round ECHL series against the Las Vegas Wranglers.

It was a big moment for the young man and his budding professional career. But he didn't get a whole lot of time to celebrate or reflect on his accomplishment.

"Our older guys came right in after the game and said the fourth game is the hardest to win," Rallo said. "They said, 'You can get there, but can you close the deal?' "

That's what the Steelheads will try to do in front of their fans at 7:10 tonight at Qwest Arena. Idaho can close out the series with a victory on its home ice.

But the Steelheads insist they aren't taking that fourth win lightly. After all, the Wranglers had the second-best record in the ECHL this season, and their 112 points were the third-highest in league history.

"They have shown great determination," Steelheads veteran Marty Flichel said. "They play hard every night. ... We just have to come out tonight and hopefully we can fight them off. But if not, we go back to Vegas and anything can happen."

It was two years ago in a playoff series between these two teams that anything did happen: Idaho was trailing Las Vegas 0-2 before winning three straight and taking the five-game series.

Now Las Vegas has a chance to win three straight to win this seven-game series after falling in a hole of its own. If that doesn't happen, then Las Vegas' Glen Gulutzan -- the ECHL coach of the year -- will have a career record of 0-2 in playoff series, with both losses coming against Idaho.

The winner of this series goes on to play the Alaska Aces. Alaska had the best record in the league this season and has already dispatched the Utah Grizzlies in a four-game sweep.

But Steelheads coach Derek Laxdal bristled at the idea that it would benefit his team to finish off this series quickly so it can be better prepared for the rested team that is waiting in the wings.

"We're not looking forward to the next round," Laxdal said. "We're not bothered by who's sitting there waiting. It's all about this round."

Note: The Steelheads are encouraging their fans to wear white clothing tonight to create a "whiteout" effect on the Wranglers.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Idaho Statesman, Boise

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Source: The Idaho Statesman, Boise

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