ECHL Idaho Steelheads

STEELHEADS: Game Day Storylines- at Tulsa

January 22, 2017 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


Steel Reel

The Steelheads opened their five-game road trip with a resounding win on Saturday night, topping the Tulsa Oilers 5-2 at BOK Center and improving to 7-1-2 in their last ten games. On Sunday the two teams go right back at it with a late afternoon puck-drop for their last meeting of the regular season.

The Steelheads leap-frogged the Oilers in the Western Conference standings with their 5-2 effort on Saturday night, moving into the third seed just behind the Allen Americans. Travis Ewanyk opened the scoring for Idaho in the first period, and the Steelheads opened the game up with three goals in the second period from Joe Faust, Branden Troock, and Connor Chatham. Joe Basaraba's tally late in the third closed out the win for Idaho, with Branden Komm improving to 6-1-1 over his last eight starts with a 38-save showing.

Taking Advantage...

The Steelheads scored three power play goals on Saturday night, matching their season-high for a single game. It was the third time the Steelheads' power play converted for three goals this season, the first time since December 16th against the Rapid City Rush. Joe Faust's power play score was his fourth power play goal of the season and 11th overall, while Troock's power play goal gave him seven goals in 13 games this season. Joe Basaraba's 5-on-3 tally late in the third was his eighth goal in the last 11 games. Connor Chatham tallied short-handed, Idaho's fourth short-handed score this season and the ninth given up by the Oilers, tied for most in the ECHL.

Ten and Counting...

Anthony Luciani earned two assists Saturday, setting up the game's first goal by Travis Ewanyk and then finding Joe Basaraba for the game's final score. Luciani is now riding a ten-game points streak, the longest active streak in the ECHL. Luciani has collected six goals and 14 points during his current streak, which is tied for the longest points streak of his ECHL career.

Friendly Confines...

BOK Center has been a spot for success in the Steelheads recent history playing against the Oilers. Idaho is 3-1-0 at BOK Center since they first played in Tulsa on December 10th of last season, and they have won three in a row in Tulsa. The Steelheads win in Tulsa last season on December 11th could arguably be labeled the turning point of that season, with Idaho going 7-14-4 prior to that date and 31-10-6 after. The Steelheads also earned a win in Tulsa last season on February 23rd with a last minute goal by Rob Linsmayer, steadying the ship after a 1-1-1 run against Rapid City and Wichita. Saturday, the Steelheads again earned a win over the Oilers in Tulsa to get back in the win column after being winless in their prior two outings.

All-Star on Point...

Travis Walsh, the Steelheads representative in Wednesday's All-Star Game, did not have the benefit of extra rest like his teammates did this week, but he didn't seem to need it. Walsh notched two assists on Saturday night, giving the rookie defenseman a goal and four points in the last two games. Walsh has a plus-4 rating in his last 12 contests.

Idaho Leaders Oilers Leaders

Goals: Luciani (16) Goals: Clark (14)

Assists: Dahl (26) Assists: Brewer (18)

Points: Luciani (39) Points: Brewer (28)

Plus/Minus: Bell (+12) Plus/Minus: Pleskach (+15)

Power Play Goals: Merchant (7) Power Play Goals: Four tied (2)

Goals-Against Average: Komm (2.56) Goals-Against Average: Asmundson (2.62)

Check out the Idaho Steelheads Statistics



ECHL Stories from January 22, 2017


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