ECHL Idaho Steelheads

STEELHEADS: Game Day Storylines- at Utah

Published on February 20, 2017 under ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


(28-17-5-2) (11-9-2-2 Road) (25-21-3-2) (14-8-2-2 Home)

Steel Reel

With wins in four of their last five games and three in a row, the Steelheads seek their first three-game sweep of the season when they meet the Utah Grizzlies for the final time this year. The Steelheads will hit the ice for a Monday matinee at Maverick Center, looking to improve on their 2-2-1 record this season in West Valley.

The Steelheads led 2-0 early in the third period on Saturday behind two goals from Bryce Van Brabant, but the Grizzlies fought back with goals from Michael Pelech and Jon Puskar to force overtime. The Steelheads prevailed in the shootout, with Jefferson Dahl netting the lone goal for Idaho while Landon Bow stopped all three Utah shooters for a 3-2 Idaho win. The Steelheads are 6-2 in the shootout this season.

BVB x 3...

Bryce Van Brabant beat Ryan Faragher twice on Saturday night, scoring 1:35 into the first period and then 21 seconds into the third period. Van Brabant now has a three-game goal scoring streak, netting four goals in that span. In four games since joining the Steelheads, Van Brabant has recorded five points and has a plus-6 rating, along with 14 shots on goal. Linemate Anthony Luciani remains hot as well, earning an assist Saturday night to give him five goals and nine points in his last seven games.

Killing it...

The Steelheads killed off all four power play opportunities for the Grizzlies on Saturday, including 1:20 of shorthanded time to finish off overtime. The Steelheads' PK is now perfect over the last five games, thwarting the past 21 shorthanded situations. In their last 13 games, the Steelheads' penalty kill has produced five shorthanded goals and is functioning at 92.2 percent.

End of the series...

The season series between these two rivals ends on Monday with their 11th meeting. The Grizzlies took seven of the first eight games in the series, but the Steelheads have taken the last two to improve their record against the Grizzlies this season to 3-4-3. The Steelheads entered this three-game set with just a five point lead over Utah in the Mountain Division, but they have extended that lead to eight points this weekend while outscoring the Grizzlies 11-4. The Steelheads have not finished a season series against the Grizzlies below .500.

Idaho Leaders Grizzlies Leaders

Goals: Luciani (23) Goals: Cuddemi (22)

Assists: Dahl (33) Assists: Bradford (32)

Points: Luciani (51) 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 (2.44) Goals-Against Average: Faragher (3.09)




ECHL Stories from February 20, 2017


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