After recording a 4-0-0 record and registering a three game sweep of the ECHL leading and Defending Kelly Cup Champion Alaska Aces, Idaho goaltender Jerry Kuhn was named Reebok ECHL Goaltender of the Week for the week of Dec. 19-25
The 25 year old native of Southgate, MI. actually ended the previous week with back to back road wins in Stockton before beginning the award winning week with a 25 save performance on Monday on the road against the Utah Grizzlies. Kuhn also held the Grizzlies scoreless in the shootout to record his seventh victory of the season.
The 25 save performance was as close to a night off as Kuhn has seen in over a month since taking over the starting job after the call up of Jimmy Spratt to the Texas Stars on Nov. 28. Kuhn has routinely faced 40 plus shots and over 50 shots twice as he has twice set club records for saves in a game with a 49 save performance at the end of November and then followed that up with a 55 save effort Nov.2 against the Las Vegas Wranglers.
Kuhn and his teammates faced the league leading Aces on Wednesday Dec. 21 for the first game of a tough three game in three night series before their home fans at Century Link Arena. All three games were decided by a single goal and all three required extra time to settle. Game one, a 4-3 shootout victory, saw Kuhn face 44 shots in regulation and overtime and allow just a single goal in the shootout to record the victory.
Game two on Thursday was a little shorter night for Kuhn as Steelheads defenseman Derek Matheson scored the game winner with 52 seconds remaining in overtime for a 3-2 victory. Kuhn got the game to overtime by making 43 saves during regulation and sealed the victory with another four saves in overtime before Matheson netted the game winner.
The 4-3 Steelheads victory in the finale on Friday was another shootout victory for Kuhn. Regulation was a more evenly played game between the two teams and Kuhn faced just 31 shots through regulation however due to a power play Kuhn faced seven shots in the overtime to force the shootout. Kuhn allowed just a single goal in the shootout while his mates notched two to get Kuhn to the 10 win mark by the holiday break.
Kuhn’s career best six game winning streak has taken place at the end of an 11 game streak that Kuhn has played every minute of regulation and overtimes. The streak has also boosted Idaho from seventh to fourth in the Western Conference standings and given hope to the rest of the league that Alaska can be beaten after the Aces had taken a 10 point lead on the rest of the league before being swept by Kuhn and the Steelheads.
Kuhn and his teammates will look to continue their winning streaks when they hit the ice again at home against the second place Wranglers on the final two nights of 2011. Kuhn should be receiving some relief soon as Spratt may soon return to Boise with the return of Kari Lehtonen from injury to the Dallas Stars and if Andrew Raycroft clears waivers and suits up for Texas sometime this week.
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