Playoff Bound: Steelheads shut out Rush, extend pro hockey's longest playoff streak
March 24, 2018 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release
Idaho Steelheads Goaltender Tomas Sholl tips away a shot
(Idaho Steelheads, Credit: Creative Expressions Photography)
Boise, ID - Brady Brassart and Justin Parizek each had a goal and two assists and Tomas Sholl stopped 22 shots for his third shutout in four starts, as the Idaho Steelheads (39-20-7) skated to a 5-0 win over the Rapid City Rush (21-39-6) on Friday night in front of 4,473 fans at CenturyLink Arena to clinch a spot in the 2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs.
The Steelheads clinched thanks to their fourth straight win, coupled with the Tulsa Oilers' 3-2 loss to the Quad City Mallards at BOK Center on Friday night. The Steelheads have made the playoffs for 21 consecutive years (WCHL and ECHL eras combined), the longest active streak of consecutive playoff appearances in professional hockey.
Parizek opened the scoring 45 seconds into the game, netting his first goal in nine games and his 24th of the season. Steve McParland fed a pass out to the slot from the left-wing corner, finding Parizek for a wrist shot past the glove of Adam Vay.
At 14:26 of the first, Michael Neville extended the lead with his second goal of the season. Connor Chatham forced the turnover below the goal line and found Neville between the hash marks to give Idaho a 2-0 lead. [Tomas Sholl, 3/23; Creative Expressions Photography]
Will Merchant's 16th goal of the season made it 3-0 at 5:00 of the second period, taking a feed in the high slot from Jefferson Dahl to beat Vay. The Steelheads tacked on two more goals in the third period against new goaltender Christian Frey, Cole Ully burying his eleventh of the year from the right circle at 4:57 of the third and Brassart capping the scoring at 18:04 with his 22nd of the year from between the circles.
Brassart earned his second three-point game of the season, while Parizek earned his third.
Sholl improved to 10-0-2 this season, and 5-0-1 as a Steelhead. His goals-against average with the Steelheads is 0.64 and his save percentage is .976. The back-to-back Goaltender of the Week award winner has given up one goal in his last 270:14 of work.
The Steelheads have matched their longest winning streak of the season at four games, last achieved on November 18th. Idaho has won ten of twelve meetings with Rapid City this year.
The Steelheads look for the sweep of the Rush on Saturday night on Marvel Super Hero Night at CenturyLink Arena. Puck-drop is scheduled for 7:10pm MT. The game is available on 1350AM KTIK and seen on Cable One and ECHLTV.
STEELHEADS STATS: Goals: Parizek (24), Neville (2), Merchant (16), Ully (11), Brassart (22) Tomas Sholl: 22 saves on 22 shots Power Play: 0-for-3 Penalty Kill: 0-for-2
CENTURYLINK THREE STARS OF THE GAME
1. Brady Brassart IDH
2. Justin Parizek IDH
3. Tomas Sholl IDH
COORS LIGHT OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME Brady Brassart: Goal, two assists, 3 shots, plus-3
PLAY OF THE GAME: With the Rapid City Rush only dressing 13 skaters, the Steelheads wanted to pounce early. They did just that on their second shift, with Brady Brassart and Steve McParland providing pressure along the boards in the Rush zone. The puck rolled into the left-wing corner and McParland quickly snapped a pass to Parizek in the soft area of the high slot where he had time to fire a wrister past Adam Vay for a 1-0 Idaho lead.
Images from this story
 Idaho Steelheads Goaltender Tomas Sholl tips away a shot (Creative Expressions Photography) |
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