ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Game Day Storylines- vs Rapid City

Published on December 14, 2016 under ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Steel Reel

After a three-game swing through Colorado, the Idaho Steelheads return home to CenturyLink Arena to host the Rapid City Rush for the first time this season. The Steelheads and Rush have met just once this year, a 5-3 Rush victory on November 2nd at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. The Steelheads come into the three-game series three points out of first place in the Mountain Division, while the Rush sit last in the division with 19 points.

Idaho hopes to bounce back from its first shootout loss of the season, falling 4-3 on Saturday night to the Colorado Eagles at Budweiser Events Center. Anthony Luciani scored twice for the Steelheads, and Jefferson Dahl netted a 5-on-3 power play goal. Philippe Desrosiers made 44 saves, but couldn't stop Matt Garbowsky's goal in the first round of the shootout.

Stop the Skid...

The Steelheads head into Wednesday's game without a win in their last three games, following an 0-2-1 visit to Colorado. The Rush can relate, going 0-2-3 in their past five games. For both the Rush and the Steelheads, each loss during their drought has been a one-goal game, with three losses coming in overtime or the shootout for Rapid City. The Rush have gone to overtime or the shootout in five of their last seven games. The Steelheads have gone to extra time in three of their last five, playing in five consecutive one-goal games.

Three Point Nights...

Jefferson Dahl and Anthony Luciani both put up three points on Saturday night in Colorado, Luciani's first three-point game of the season and Dahl's third. Dahl has recorded two goals and four points in two contests since returning from a two-game absence, his 27 points good for ninth in the ECHL. Luciani has three goals in the last three games, his nine tied for the team lead with Dahl and his 20 points ranked second on the team.

About the Rush...

The Rush are battling their way up from the bottom of the Mountain Division, but their play has improved since the beginning of the year. Rapid City was a one-win team when they first met Idaho, but they are 6-5-4 since. The Rush have one of the most dynamic trios in the league, with Lindsay Sparks (25 points), Ryan Walters (25 points), and Josh MacDonald (24 points) all averaging better than a point per game. MacDonald has a goal and an assist in each of the last two games. The team's production drops off somewhat after those three, and the Rush are just 5-2-4 when they score first. Rapid City boasts the league's fourth best penalty kill, which will take on Idaho's second-ranked power play.

Idaho Leaders Rush Leaders

Goals: Luciani/Dahl (9) Goals: Sparks/MacDonald (11)

Assists: Dahl (18) Assists: Walters (19)

Points: Dahl (27) Points: Sparks/Walters (25)

Plus/Minus: Linsmayer/Bell (+5) Plus/Minus: Mastrodicasa (+2)

Power Play Goals: Merchant (5) Power Play Goals: Walker/Sparks (3)

Goals-Against Average: Komm (2.65) Goals-Against Average: Morrison (1.98)

Check out the Idaho Steelheads Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



ECHL Stories from December 14, 2016


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central