Game Day Storylines- vs Rapid City
Published on March 15, 2017 under ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release
(34-19-5-2) (18-9-3-0 Home) (22-30-8-0) (12-13-4-0 Road)
Steel Reel
The Rapid City Rush appeared more than any other team on the Steelheads' schedule this season, and this week they will play their final three contests of the year at CenturyLink Arena. The Steelheads sit comfortably in third place in the Mountain Division, six points up on fourth-place Alaska. The Rush sit at the bottom of the division, 17 points shy of the final seed. Idaho has won ten of its last 13, while the Rush are 5-5-0 in the last ten.
The Steelheads' defensemen led the offensive charge in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Cincinnati Cyclones at CenturyLink Arena. Travis Walsh, Brandon Anselmini, and Aaron Harstad all found the back of the net against Joel Rumpel, while Jefferson Dahl and Joe Basaraba scored in the first period to overcome a Shawn O'Donnell goal in the opening minute. Branden Komm made 32 saves to earn his third straight victory.
Harstad Has It...
Aaron Harstad netted a power play goal and an assist on Saturday, giving him a three-game points streak heading into this series. In eight games since his arrival from Norfolk, Harstad has collected seven points and scored both of his goals on two-man advantages. Harstad also has a plus-7 rating in a Steelheads uniform.
Dahl About It...
Jefferson Dahl has scored the Steelheads first goal in each of the last two contests, with the captain carrying a four-game points streak into Wednesday night with two goals and two assists in that span. Dahl has three goals and seven points in his last seven games, a stretch that has pushed him to a new career-high with 54 points. Linemate Rob Linsmayer has helped that climb, with nine points over that stretch. Six of those have been assists, with two of them coming on Dahl goals.
About the Rush...
The Steelheads have won seven of ten and five in a row against the Rush this season, but this is Rapid City's first visit to Boise since December 17th. After suffering a sweep at the hands of the Steelheads in Rapid City to start March, the Rush split a pair with the Alaska Aces and now begin a seven-game road trip. Ryan Walters leads the way offensively with 60 points in 60 games, the captain riding a three-game points streak. Hunter Fejes and Mark Cooper have been the supporting cast on offense, but both are without a point in five games. Adam Morrison has made 11 consecutive starts in net. He's given up just 11 goals in his past five games, but has a 1-4-0 record in that span.
Idaho Leaders Rush Leaders
Goals: Luciani (25) Goals: Walters (27)
Assists: Dahl (37) Assists: Walters (33)
Points: Luciani (55) Points: Walters (60)
Plus/Minus: Glen (+14) Plus/Minus: Weselowski (+6)
Power Play Goals: Merchant (11) Power Play Goals: Walters (7)
Goals-Against Average: Bow (2.24) Goals-Against Average: Morrison (2.84)
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