STEELHEADS: Game Day Storylines- at Utah
February 18, 2017 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release
(27-17-5-2) (10-9-2-2 Road) (25-21-3-1) (14-8-2-1 Home)
Steel Reel
The Steelheads broke out the offensive fireworks in their series opener against the Utah Grizzlies on Friday night, scoring the game's first six goals en route to an 8-2 win in West Valley. The win extended Idaho's lead over Utah in the Mountain Division to seven points, and the two teams get right back at it on Saturday night with a rematch at Maverik Center for their tenth meeting this season.
Joe Basaraba got the action started for Idaho with the first two goals of the game to help launch a four-goal first period that also saw Anthony Luciani and Bryce Van Brabant find the back of the net. Connor Chatham and Aaron Harstad joined the party in the second period, while Brian Nugent and Will Merchant capped the scoring in the third period. Landon Bow earned the win, stopping 31 of 33 shots.
Offensive Outburst...
Idaho's eight goals on Friday matched their highest scoring total for a game this season, their other eight-goal performance coming on home ice back on October 21st, also against the Grizzlies. The Steelheads were 2-3-1 in February heading into Friday's game, but they still were averaging 3.2 goals per game during that stretch. Friday it was Joe Basaraba leading the way with a four-point night, but the Steelheads also got multi-point games from seven different players as well as seven different goal-scorers. The six-goal win was Idaho's largest margin of victory this season and largest since a six-goal win over the Colorado Eagles on January 2, 2015. The Grizzlies had not surrendered eight goals at Maverik Center since a 9-6 loss to the Stockton Thunder on November 12, 2012.
Power Play Pop...
The Steelhead power play got the better of the league's fifth-ranked penalty kill, going 3-for-8 against the Grizzlies. Aaron Harstad netted his first goal as a Steelhead with a one-timer during a second period 5-on-3, Idaho's tenth goal on a two-man advantage this season, and Will Merchant earned his tenth power play goal of the season to move into fourth place in the ECHL in power play tallies. Friday was the fourth time this season that the Steelheads netted three power play goals in a game, the power play ranked fifth in the ECHL at 22.7 percent.
Bow Knows
Landon Bow remains strong in net for the Steelheads after picking up his tenth win in his last 12 starts on Friday night, going 10-1-1 over that stretch with a 2.14 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage. The rookie netminder has given up two goals or fewer in five of his last six appearances and he is unbeaten in regulation in the ECHL since November 9th.
Idaho Leaders Grizzlies Leaders
Goals: Luciani (23) Goals: Cuddemi (22)
Assists: Dahl (33) Assists: Bradford (32)
Points: Luciani (50) Points: Bradford (44)
Plus/Minus: Glen (+14) Plus/Minus: Daly (+22)
Power Play Goals: Merchant (10) Power Play Goals: Cuddemi (7)
Goals-Against Average: Bow (2.48) Goals-Against Average: Faragher (3.15)
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