Steelheads Game Day Storylines vs Utah
March 30, 2018 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release
Steel Reel
Two regular-season games remain at CenturyLink Arena this season, and the Idaho Steelheads welcome the Utah Grizzlies to Boise with the Grizzlies still fighting for a playoff spot. The Steelheads have already secured a playoff spot and home ice advantage for the first round of the playoffs, while the Grizzlies sit six points back of the Mountain Division's final playoff berth with two teams to leap past in order to get in. The season series also hangs in the balance, with the Steelheads holding a 6-5-2 record against Utah this season.
The Steelheads have not seen game action since Saturday, when they skated to a 5-2 win over the Rapid City Rush at CenturyLink Arena. Cole Ully scored twice for Idaho, and Will Merchant netted his third goal in four games. Tomas Sholl made 14 saves to extend his personal winning streak to six games and remain undefeated in regulation in 15 ECHL appearances.
Solid Streak...
While the Grizzlies are coming off a win in Colorado last Saturday that snapped a seven-game winless streak, the Steelheads are rolling with victories in five straight after their sweep of the Rush. It is the longest regular-season winning streak for the Steelheads since they won five in a row from March 15 to March 27, 2015. During the five-game run, the Steelheads have outscored opponents 16-3, with Tomas Sholl in net for all five. With two games left at CenturyLink Arena, Idaho has the sixth-best home record in the ECHL.
Taking Notice...
After Tomas Sholl earned ECHL Goaltender of the Week honors in consecutive weeks, it was Brady Brassart's turn this week when he earned Player of the Week accolades with 5 points in two games against the Rush. Brassart leads the Steelheads with 1.11 points-per-game, having a career season with 22 goals and 50 points in 45 contests. Brassart has five goals and 15 points in his last eleven games, and linemate Steve McParland may cash in alongside Brassart as he looks to crack the 30-goal mark over the final five games.
Strike It Rich...
The Grizzlies made a big splash at the trade deadline when they moved All-Star defenseman Cliff Watson to the Colorado Eagles, but they are still getting plenty of offense from the blue line courtesy of defenseman Taylor Richart. Richart has missed Utah's last two games but still leads all ECHL defensemen with 17 goals, ten more than he scored during his rookie season a year ago. Richart has recorded points in 12 of his last 15 games, totaling seven goals and 16 points in that time. He has four goals against Idaho this season.
Idaho Leaders Grizzlies Leaders
Goals: McParland (29) Goals: Walters (28)
Assists: J. Dahl (38) Assists: Walters (32)
Points: J. Dahl (58) Points: Walters (60)
Plus/Minus: McParland (+24) Plus/Minus: Ausmus (+8)
Power Play Goals: McParland (9) Power Play Goals: Walters (7)
Goals-Against Average: Sholl (1.42) Goals-Against Average: Rumpel (3.13)
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from March 30, 2018
- Wichita Comeback Falls Short in Front of 13,175 - Wichita Thunder
- IceMen Stung by Stingrays - Jacksonville Icemen
- Americans Get a Point in OT Loss to Colorado - Allen Americans
- Traffic Can't Stop Stingrays, Who Win Sixth Straight - South Carolina Stingrays
- Ratelle Buries OT Winner in Eagles 3-2 Win over Allen - Colorado Eagles
- Cyclones Collect Thrilling Overtime Win - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Swamp Rabbits Late Surge Held at Bay by Everblades - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Late Second Period Tallies Send Wings Past Admirals - Norfolk Admirals
- Royals Clinch Playoff Berth in Come-From-Behind, 5-4 Shootout Win over Monarchs - Reading Royals
- Third Period Comeback Falls Short in Worcester - Brampton Beast
- Railers Win 6th Straight Home Game with 3-2 Victory over Beast - Worcester Railers HC
- Toledo Tops Wheeling, 4-1 - Wheeling Nailers
- Martin, Wings Silence Admirals - Kalamazoo Wings
- Fuel Fly Past Mavericks, 6-3 - Kansas City Mavericks
- Monarchs Drop Shootout to Royals, 5-4 - Manchester Monarchs
- Thunder Clinch 2018 Kelly Cup Playoff Berth - Adirondack Thunder
- ECHL Transactions - March 30 - ECHL
- Grizzlies Share in Excitement of Two Hockey Announcements - Utah Grizzlies
- Mallards Game Day - Quad City Mallards
- Alex Wideman Reassigned to Fuel - Indy Fuel
- Komets Add Defenseman Campbell, Activate MacDonald - Fort Wayne Komets
- ECHL Announces Fine, Suspension - ECHL
- Walleye Sign Big-10 D-Man - Toledo Walleye
- Steelheads Game Day Storylines vs Utah - Idaho Steelheads
- Game Day Preview: Allen vs. Colorado - Allen Americans
- Nailers at Walleye Game Day Snap Shot, March 30 - Wheeling Nailers
- Worcester Railers HC Sign Forwards Dylan Willick and Maurizio Colella - Worcester Railers HC
- Rochester Recalls Kasdorf - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Swamp Rabbits End Season Series with Everblades - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Game Day: Admirals Look to Play Spoiler against Wings - Norfolk Admirals
- Monarchs Game Day Capsule, March 30 - Manchester Monarchs
- Gameday Report: Mavericks at Fuel - Kansas City Mavericks
- Mason Mitchell Re-Assigned to Stingrays - South Carolina Stingrays
- Royals Can Clinch a Playoff Berth Tonight on Pucks N' Paws Night - Reading Royals
- Game Preview: IceMen Host Stingrays - Jacksonville Icemen
- Collin Delia Makes NHL Debut for Blackhawks - Indy Fuel
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
