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ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Steelheads Playoff Game Preview: Idaho vs. Alaska; National Conference Quarter Finals, Game One

April 9, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


This National Conference Quarter Finals series pits the defending Kelly Cup Champion Idaho Steelheads (40-22-10) against the 2006 Kelly Cup winners, the Alaska Aces (41-26-5). The Steelheads are looking to become the first team in league history since the 1994 Toledo Storm to repeat as ECHL champs (Riley Cup Champions - 1993 & 1994). Furthermore, the Steelheads are looking to equal the now defunct Hampton Roads Admirals mark of three ECHL crowns (1991, 1992 & 1998). Meanwhile, the Aces attempted to capture their fourth consecutive West Division title during the regular season's final weekend, but they fell four points shy, which dropped them to the fifth seed in the National Conference. Having reached at least the conference finals in three straight years, the Aces will have to get through the club that ended their 2007 run if they want to become the second team in the last 12 seasons to appear in four conference finals series (Louisiana IceGators). Since entering the league in 2004, the Aces have won 226 regular season games and the Steelheads have won 207 contests.

SERIES SCHEDULE (all games listed in Mountain Time):

Game 1: Idaho vs. Alaska - Wednesday, April 9; 7:10 p.m.

Game 2: Idaho vs. Alaska - Thursday, April 10; 7:10 p.m.

Game 3: Idaho @ Alaska - Saturday, April 12; 9:15 p.m.

Game 4: Idaho @ Alaska - Sunday, April 13; 9:15 p.m.

Game 5: Idaho @ Alaska - Tuesday, April 15; 9:15 p.m. **

Game 6: Idaho vs. Alaska - Thursday, April 16; 7:10 p.m. **

Game 7: Idaho vs. Alaska - Sunday, April 20; 7:10 p.m. **

** If Necessary

STEELHEADS' NOTES:

The Steelheads ended the regular season on a season-best, seven-game unbeaten streak (6-0-1) allowing just 11 goals during that stretch...The Steelheads went 34-16-4 in their final 54 games after December 1...With a 2-1 win in their regular season finale, the Steelheads achieved 40 wins for the fifth consecutive season...The Steelheads have won seven straight home games and are 8-0-2 in their last 10 at Qwest Arena, having not lost on home ice since February 13...The Steelheads allowed just six power play goals in their last 10 games (89.5% PK)...Mark Bomersback ended the regular season on a four-game goal streak (4g) and a five-game point streak (4g, 5a)...Taggart Desmet enters the postseason collecting at least one point in 10 of his last 11 games...Goaltender Steve Silverthorn is 5-1-1 in his last seven ECHL decisions...The Steelheads enter the 2008 playoffs with a combined 362 games of professional, postseason experience...Marty Flichel, is one of nine returning members from last year's title run and his 68 career playoff games are the most of any active Steelheads' player.

ACES' NOTES:

The Aces lost their last two games of the regular season, scoring just one total goal to keep them from claiming their fourth straight West Division crown...The Aces have been to the ECHL's "Final Four" three consecutive times, winning the Kelly Cup in 2006...After losing two straight games to the Steelheads in mid February to drop their record to 22-19-5, the Aces went 20-7-0 to finish the season... Leading scorer Josh Soares earned at least one point in 18 of 19 games (12g, 17a) from 2/23 - 3/29, including a six-game goal streak...Veteran Kimbi Daniels finished second on the Aces in road scoring, grabbing 31 points in 35 outings...Bo Cheesman earned just two goals in his final 15 games to close out the regular season...Defenseman Derrick Martin finished the season with a +18 rating in just 27 games with the Aces...Peter Metcalf, the ECHL's top scorer among blue-liners, has two Kelly Cup rings, the most of any current Aces' player...Including goaltender Chris Beckford-Tseu and head coach Keith McCambridge, there are eight current Aces' members from their 2006 championship club.

STEELHEADS' RECENT TRANSACTIONS: - 4/08/07: DELETE Matt Craig (F) placed on the 7-day IR - 4/08/07: ADD Kellen Briggs (G) activated off the 3-day IR

ACES' RECENT TRANSACTIONS: - 4/09/08: ADD Ed Hill (D) activated off the 7-day IR - 4/08/08: ADD Marek Schwarz (G) reassigned from Peoria (AHL)

STEELHEADS' 2007 PLAYOFF LEADERS:

- Goals: Lance Galbraith (11)

- Assists: Lance Galbraith (16)

- Points: Lance Galbraith (27)

- +/-: Derek Nesbitt (+12) *

- PIM: Lance Galbraith (64)

- Wins: Steve Silverthorn (16)

ACES' 2007 PLAYOFF LEADERS:

- Goals: Julian Talbot (9) *

- Assists: Julian Talbot (11) *

- Points: Julian Talbot (20) *

- +/-: Peter Metcalf (+12)

- PIM: Zach FitzGerald (82) *

- Wins: Gustafson (9)

* No longer on team

REGULAR SEASON TALE OF THE TAPE:

Record: Idaho: 40-22-10 = 90 pts. (8th) / Alaska: 41-26-5 = 87 pts. (10th)

Offense: Idaho: 3.11 (15th) / Alaska: 3.40 (T-7th)

Defense: Idaho: 2.54 (4th) / Alaska: 3.18 (14th)

Shots For: Idaho: 31.7 (15th) / Alaska: 30.7 (20th)

Shots Against: Idaho: 29.6 (4th) / Alaska: 30.8 (10th)

Average PIM: Idaho: 20.7 (9th) / Alaska: 18.3 (16th)

PP: Idaho: 20.4% (6th) / Alaska: 19.3% (7th)

PK: Idaho: 84.8% (6th) / Alaska: 80.4% (19th)

1-Goal Games: Idaho: 15-11-10 (T-12th) / Alaska: 18-9-5 (T-6th)

HEAD TO HEAD:

The Steelheads finished the 2007-2008 regular season with a 5-3-2 mark against the Aces to give them a 20-17-5 record overall in five ECHL seasons. In their 10 regular season meetings this year, five were decided by one goal and there were 22 combined power play goals (IDH 14, AK 8). The former WCHL foes have hooked up twice in the Kelly Cup Playoffs, with the Steelheads winning both series (2004 & 2007) and eventually hoisting the Kelly Cup in both those campaigns. Last year in the National Conference Finals, the Steelheads took the best-of-seven, four games to one, while out-scoring the Aces 16-11. In 2004, the Steelheads downed the Aces in four games to take the best-of-five West Division Finals.

STEELHEADS' REGULAR SEASON LEADERS:

- Goals: Taggart Desmet (29)

- Assists: Marty Flichel (48)

- Points: Lance Galbraith / Marty Flichel (67)

- +/-: Blake Forsyth (+25)

- PIM: Lance Galbraith (282)

- Wins: Kellen Briggs (17)

ACES' REGULAR SEASON LEADERS:

- Goals: Josh Soares (36)

- Assists: Peter Metcalf (53)

- Points: Josh Soares (81)

- +/-: Derrick Martin (+18)

- PIM: Peter Metcalf (165)

- Wins: Derek Gustafson / Chris Beckford-Tseu (12)

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