Steelheads Game Day Storylines vs Rapid City
March 23, 2018 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release
Steel Reel
The Steelheads have a chance to clinch a playoff spot tonight when they continue their series against the Rapid City Rush at CenturyLink Arena. The Steelheads earned their third straight win on Wednesday night with a 2-1 shootout victory in the series-opener, while the Rush dropped their ninth game in the last ten. Idaho is 9-2-0 in eleven games with the Rush this season.
Charlie Dodero scored the only goal of regulation for the Steelheads on Wednesday. The Rush would answer to force overtime, with Alec Baer scoring his first professional goal in his pro debut. Idaho prevailed in the shootout, with Dodero and Justin Parizek both scoring goals while Tomas Sholl denied four of five breakaways.
Clinching a Spot...
The Idaho Steelheads can clinch a playoff spot on Friday night with a bit of help. Idaho's magic number is three points, and Idaho can secure a playoff berth for the 21st consecutive season with a win over Rapid City coupled with a loss for the Allen Americans or the Tulsa Oilers. Idaho also gets in with an overtime or shootout loss coupled with a regulation loss for Allen or Tulsa. The Americans are winless in three straight and host the Kansas City Mavericks, while Tulsa hosts last-place Quad City, losers of eight in a row. Dating back to the WCHL era, the Steelheads own the longest active streak of consecutive playoff appearances in pro hockey.
Extra Hockey...
The Steelheads' shootout win over the Rush on Wednesday was the fifth consecutive game at CenturyLink Arena to go beyond regulation, dating back to a shootout win over the Colorado Eagles on February 17th. The Steelheads have fared well in those five, winning four of them with a pair of shootout wins and two overtimes wins as well. Justin Parizek's goal in the third round of Wednesday's shootout extended the game before Charlie Dodero ultimately won the game in the fifth round to improve Idaho's shootout record to 7-3. Parizek is 6-for-9 in shootouts this year, his six goals leading the ECHL and Idaho's seven wins tied for the league lead.
Waiting For a Break...
The Steelheads have won three straight and have points in six of their last seven (5-1-1), often relying on late scoring in the past three weeks. The Steelheads scored their only goal of regulation on Wednesday at 15:18 of the third period, and scored their only goal on Friday in Charleston at 2:49 of the third. Idaho has not scored in the first period in four straight games, nor in six of the last seven. Over the same span, Idaho has scored only seven goals in the first 40 minutes of games, but outscored opponents 7-2 in third periods.
Idaho Leaders Rush Leaders
Goals: McParland (28) Goals: Sivak (23)
Assists: J. Dahl (36) Assists: Sivak (30)
Points: J. Dahl (56) Points: Sivak (53)
Plus/Minus: McParland (+21) Plus/Minus: Sherbinin/Lang (+3)
Power Play Goals: McParland (9) Power Play Goals: Three Players (3)
Goals-Against Average: Sholl (1.49) Goals-Against Average: Vay (3.24)
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