ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Steelheads Game Day Storylines at Allen

April 6, 2018 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Steel Reel

The Steelheads head to Allen Event Center for the final two games of the regular season schedule, still waiting to learn who their first-round opponent will be in the Kelly Cup Playoffs. It could very well be the Allen Americans, who are tied with the Wichita Thunder for third in the Mountain Division but still need to lock down a playoff berth in a tight three-team race. The teams meet for the ninth time this season on Friday, with the Steelheads coming off their eighth straight win in Tulsa on Wednesday and the Americans hoping to bounce back from a 2-1 loss in Wichita on Tuesday.

The Steelheads won their seventh consecutive visit to BOK Center on Wednesday to open their final road trip of the season with a 4-1 win over the Oilers. Rookies Eric Sweetman, Justin Parizek, and Max French all scored for Idaho, with Steve McParland netting his 31st of the season in the third to put the game away. Tomas Sholl won his ninth consecutive game with 44 saves.

Friday's Implications...

The Steelheads are officially locked into the second seed in the Mountain Division playoff picture after Colorado's win on Wednesday, but they still have plenty to play for heading into the final weekend of the season. Riding an eight-game winning streak, the Steelheads are one win shy of matching the team's ECHL record for consecutive wins that was set with a nine-game winning streak on March 6, 2015. The Steelheads can also tie the third-best season in the team's ECHL era with four points over the weekend, matching the 97 points posted in 2012-13. The Americans' magic number to clinch a playoff spot is two points, either gained by Allen or lost by Tulsa when the Oilers play the Rapid City Rush. Allen has never missed the playoffs in their first eight years in the ECHL and CHL.

French on Fire...

Max French spent nearly the entire month of March in Austin with AHL Texas, but it certainly did not affect his chemistry in the Steelheads lineup. French has scored in each of his first two games back with the Steelheads since being sent down by the Stars last Saturday. Dating back to February 19th, French has scored goals in six straight ECHL games, totaling eight goals and ten points during that span. Further, French has nine goals and 12 points in his last eight ECHL games. Brady Brassart looks to keep rolling as well, bringing a six-game points streak into Friday night's game with a goal and nine points.

Back-to-Back for Mak...

David Makowski has been among the best offensive defensemen in the ECHL for the last three seasons, and he has the hardware to prove it. On Thursday, Makowski earned All-ECHL First Team honors for the second consecutive year, his 53 points in 56 games ranked second among ECHL defensemen. Makowski has been away from the Americans since mid-March, having been called up to AHL San Jose, but he did have eight assists in seven games before his departure.

Idaho Leaders Americans Leaders

Goals: McParland (31) Goals: Guptill (27)

Assists: Parizek (32) Assists: Pierro-Zabotel (50)

Points: Parizek (59) Points: Pierro-Zabotel (69)

Plus/Minus: McParland/Brassart (+26) Plus/Minus: Pierro-Zabotel (+21)

Power Play Goals: McParland (9) Power Play Goals: Chouinard (8)

Goals-Against Average: Sholl (1.35) Goals-Against Average: Brodeur (3.15)

Check out the Idaho Steelheads Statistics



ECHL Stories from April 6, 2018


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