ECHL Idaho Steelheads

Steelheads vs. Wranglers Game Preview: West Division Semi-Finals, Game 1

April 11, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Idaho Steelheads News Release


THE MATCHUP:

This best-of-seven series pits the 2nd seeded Las Vegas Wranglers against the 3rd seeded Idaho Steelheads. The first team to win four games in this semi-final round will advance to the West Division Finals and take on the winner of the other best-of-seven semi-final, which has the number one seeded Alaska Aces battling the 4th seeded Utah Grizzlies.

HEAD TO HEAD:

The Steelheads went 2-3-2 against the Wranglers in 2005-2006, while winning one of three contests on the road. Out of the seven games in the season series, the Steelheads and Wranglers played four, one-goal games. On January 27, the Steelheads thumped the Wranglers 9-5, which was arguably the most lopsided defeat the 2nd placed Wranglers suffered in 2005-2006. In ECHL play, the Steelheads hold a 14-8-4 regular season mark against the Wranglers. In their only playoff meeting back in 2004, the Steelheads ousted the Wranglers three games to two, in the best-of-five Pacific Division Semi-Finals. The Steelheads actually trailed in the series 2-0, before winning the final three games of the series, en route to the 2004 Kelly Cup in their inaugural ECHL season.

REGULAR SEASON TEAM LEADERS:

STEELHEADS
- D'Arcy McConvey: 39g, 47a = 86 pts.
- Garett Bembridge: 36, 39a = 75 pts.
- David Bararuk: 25g, 46a = 71 pts.
- Steve Silverthorn: 22-14-3, 2.90 GAA, 90.1%, 3 SHO

WRANGLERS
- Matt Dzieduszycki: 34g, 44a = 78 pts.
- Dan Tudin: 33g, 44a = 77 pts.
- Steve Crampton: 20g, 29a = 49 pts.
- Marc Magliarditi: 34-11-5, 2.47 GAA, 90.9%, 3 SHO


STEELHEADS' NOTES: After finishing the regular season unbeaten in five games (4-0-1), the club begins the postseason without their leading scorer and captain D'Arcy McConvey, who was recalled to Iowa (AHL) on 4/04/06...Winger, and second leading scorer, Garett Bembridge was returned from Portland (AHL) on 4/08/06, marking his return to the Steelheads' lineup for the first time since 2/19/06 @ STK...Goaltender Matt Yeats ended the regular season on a six-game unbeaten streak (5-0-1), which is a team-high for the campaign...Forward David Bararuk is in the midst of a season-high and team-high, 12-game scoring streak (16 points)...The Steelheads eclipsed several club marks in the regular season, notching the most wins (43), points (94) and road wins (23) in the team's three-year ECHL history...The Steelheads enter the playoffs 8-1-1 in their last 10 contests.

WRANGLERS' NOTES: The Wranglers battled until the finish line for the West Division title, before the Alaska Aces clinched the top seed in game number 71, relegating the Wranglers to second place...The Wranglers' gathered 112 points in the regular season, the third highest total in the ECHL's 18-year history...On April 9, Wranglers' head coach Glen Gulutzan was named the winner of the John Brophy Award, which is handed out to the ECHL Coach of the Year...The Wranglers enter the postseason on a three-game winning streak, outscoring their opposition 15-6...The Wranglers 28 home wins in the regular season were the third most in the ECHL this season...Dan Tudin is on a four-game scoring streak (3g, 1a)...Chris Neiszner (5 pts.), Matt Dzieduszycki (4 pts.) and Sean O'Connor (5 pts.) enter the postseason riding three-game scoring streak.

STEELHEADS' RECENT TRANSACTIONS:
4/10/06: DELETE Alex Dunn (D) - Transferred from the 7-day IR to the 30-day IR
4/10/06: DELETE Matt Reid (LW) - Placed on the 7-day IR
4/10/06: DELETE Mike Adamek (F) - Released from contract
4/09/06: ADD Justin Cox (RW) - Returned from San Antonio (AHL)
4/08/06: ADD Garett Bembridge (RW) - Returned from Portland (AHL)
4/04/06: DELETE D'Arcy McConvey (C) - Recalled to Iowa (AHL)

WRANGLERS' RECENT TRANSACTIONS:
4/11/06: ADD Dan Tudin (LW) - Returned from Omaha (AHL)
4/09/06: DELETE Marco Peluso (F) - Placed on the 7-day IR
4/09/06: DELETE Mike Kautz (D) - Placed on the 30-day IR

SCHEDULE (all times MST):

Game 1 @ Las Vegas - Tuesday, April 11 - (8:05pm) - Orleans Arena
Game 2 @ Las Vegas - Wednesday, April 12 - (8:05pm) - Orleans Arena
Game 3 @ Idaho - Friday, April 14 - (7:10pm) - Qwest Arena
Game 4 @ Idaho - Saturday, April 15 - (7:10pm) - Qwest Arena
Game 5 @ Idaho - Monday, April 17 (if necessary) - (7:10pm) - Qwest Arena
Game 6 @ Las Vegas - Tuesday, April 18 (if necessary) - 8:05pm) - Orleans Arena
Game 7 @ Las Vegas - Wednesday, April 19 (if necessary) - (8:05pm) - Orleans Arena

Check out the Idaho Steelheads Statistics



ECHL Stories from April 11, 2006


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