Off the Hook: Steelheads Update 3/16/09

The Steelheads embark on their final road trip of the season this week and it?s a big one! Idaho travels north of the border to take on the Victoria Salmon Kings for four games in five days in what could determine the Steelheads playoff position for the ECHL Kelly Cup playoffs. After losing three consecutive on the road over the weekend ? two in Las Vegas and one in Utah ? Idaho has fallen behind the Alaska Aces once again, but remain ahead of Victoria in the standings. Currently, Idaho sits seven points behind Alaska and two points ahead of Victoria, with three games in hand over each.2009 KELLY CUP PLAYOFFS FORMATThe Steelheads need two points to clinch a playoff berth. In the event that Phoenix wins out and finishes with 78 points and ties with Idaho, the Steelheads would move over to the Pacific Division and replace the fifth-place team there. (If the fifth-place team in the West Division has a greater winning percentage than the fourth-place team in the Pacific Division then the fifth-place team in the West Division will become the fourth seed in the Pacific Division.)Division Semifinals (Best-of-Seven Series) No. 1 Seed (Division Winner) vs. No. 4 SeedNo. 2 Seed vs. No. 3 SeedDivision Finals (Best-of-Seven Series) Semifinals Winner vs. Semifinals WinnerConference Finals (Best-of-Seven Series) Division Winner vs. Division Winner2009 Kelly Cup Finals (Best-of-Seven Series) National Conference Champion vs. American Conference ChampionSPEAKING OF THE PLAYOFFS?The Steelheads are offering a new ?Pay as we Play? ticket plan for the upcoming 2009 Kelly Cup Playoffs. Fans can catch all of the Steelheads playoff action ? and save up to 35% off the walk up ticket price. Call 383-0080 for more information. Stay tuned?possible playoff dates will be announced soon.IDAHO STEELHEADS AT-A-GLANCE76 Points; 2nd West Division, 2nd National Conference, 3rd OverallOverall: 36-21-2-2 (76 points) Home: 19-9-0-1 (home)Away: 17-12-2-1 (road)Streak: 0-3-0-0Past 10: 5-4-0-1ECHL NATIONAL CONFERENCE, DIVISION STANDINGS West GP W L OTL PTS PCTAlaska Aces 64 40 21 3 83 0.648Idaho Steelheads 61 36 21 4 76 0.623Victoria Salmon Kings 64 34 24 6 74 0.578Utah Grizzlies 64 25 23 16 66 0.516Phoenix RoadRunners 61 26 31 4 56 0.459 Pacific GP W L OTL PTS PCTOntario Reign 64 35 24 5 75 0.586Las Vegas Wranglers 63 29 26 8 66 0.524Stockton Thunder 63 29 29 5 63 0.500Bakersfield Condors 64 27 30 7 61 0.477STEELHEADS BITES• Bryan McGregor continues to be the Steelheads leading scoring, with 50 points (23g-28a) in 55 games. He also registered an assist in one game with Johnstown prior to joining Idaho, bring his 2008-09 ECHL season total to 51 points.? Kyle Radke is the leader in penalty minutes with 120 (behind Matt Stephenson?s 127 minutes, who?s currently on call up with the AHL?s Providence Bruins)? The Steelheads went 0-3-1 on their four-game road trip last week, including 2-1 SOW in Utah to start the trip - made possible by winning a 9-round shootout; the longest shootout for IDH this season? The Steelheads are coming off three consecutive losses, their worst losing streak of the season, including back-to-back shutouts; the Steelheads had not been shut out twice consecutively all season ROSTER TRANSACTIONS (3/11/09 ? 3/16/09)3/16/09 Delete Riley Weselowski, D placed on 3-day IR3/14/09 Add Bryan McGregor, F returned from Binghamton (AHL)3/11/09 Add Mike Kneeland, F signed amateur tryout agreementSTEELHEADS SCHEDULE THIS WEEKMonday, Mar. 16: Travel Day to Boise (from Utah)Tuesday, Mar. 17: Travel Day to Victoria (from Boise)Wednesday, Mar. 18: GAME NIGHT @ VICTORIA; 8:05 PM MTThursday, Mar. 19: TBDFriday, Mar. 20: GAME NIGHT @ VICTORIA; 8:05 PM MTSaturday, Mar. 21: GAME NIGHT @ VICTORIA; 8:05 PM MTSunday, Mar. 22: GAME DAY @ VICTORIA; 2:05 PM MTMonday, Mar. 23: Travel Day to BoiseSTEELHEADS AT HOOTERS!Join Voice of the Steelheads Doug Plagens and Will Hoenike at Hooters tonight and all Monday nights when the team is in town for the Bud Light Idaho Steelheads Hockey Show from 6pm-7pm. Also, stop by Hooters on Friday to catch the Steelheads in Victoria at the Watch Party.BROADCAST INFOListen to all 72 games with Doug Plagens calling the action. Doug is joined in the booth this season by Steelheads players who will provide color commentary. Tune in to ESPN Radio 1350 KTIK the Ticket on games nights as well as Monday though Friday at 6:00 pm for the Bud Light Idaho Steelheads Hockey Show as Doug and Will Hoenike talk all things Steelheads. All home and road games can be watched through a link on the Steelheads website provided by B2 Networks for $6 a game.TICKET INFOThe Idaho Steelheads offer a variety of ticket plans to fit any schedule or pocket book. Call (208) 383-0080 to find out more. For day of game tickets, visit idahosteelheads.com and use the print at home feature, or call (208) 331-TIXS or visit the box office at Qwest Arena.STEELHEADS GAME SCHEDULEThe following is a schedule of games left to be played in the 2008-09 season:OPPONENT DAY DATE62 at Victoria Wed 3/18/200963 at Victoria Fri 3/20/200964 at Victoria Sat 3/21/200965 at Victoria Sun 3/22/200966 Ontario Wed 3/25/200967 Ontario Fri 3/27/200968 Ontario Sat 3/28/200969 Phoenix Tue 3/31/200970 Phoenix Wed 4/1/200971 Phoenix Fri 4/3/200972 Phoenix Sat 4/4/2009- www.idahosteelheads.com -