STEELHEADS POWER RANKINGS: Home Point Streaks

This is the weekly edition of Idaho Steelheads Power Rankings, where we at IdahoSteelheads.com will see where the Steelheads and their players rank among the best of the best in the ECHL.

The Steelheads have been blessed with a heavy home schedule to wrap up the regular season, with 12 of the season’s final 17 games played at CenturyLink Arena. Of course, that only helps if you’re taking advantage and earning points in front of your fans. The Steelheads have been doing just that of late, but just how successful have they been? Let’s see where the Steelheads rank among the league’s active home points streaks!

*All Statistics current as of 3/22*

5) Orlando/Elmira/Tulsa; 2-0-0

There are five ECHL teams that earned points in their last two home games, not necessarily a tremendous feat, but the Solar Bears, Jackals, and Oilers all grabbed four points as they wrestle to secure playoff positioning. The Jackals hold the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, with the Solar Bears four points behind them on the outside looking in. The Oilers are one point out of a playoff spot in the West. Tulsa’s home record is vastly better than their performance on the road, while Elmira and Orlando are both better road teams. All three teams will play the majority of the rest of their schedules away from home.

4) Wheeling Nailers; 3-0-1

The Nailers have earned points in their last four home games, earning wins over Brampton, Kalamazoo, and Norfolk, along with a shootout loss to Toledo. The Nailers have outscored opponents 11-5 over their last four home games, despite having a minus-5 differential for the season. The Nailers are just two games over .500 on home ice for the season, but they’re getting important points as they scratch their way to the finish line, just 5 points clear of the Eastern Conference playoff bubble.

3) Missouri Mavericks; 3-0-1

The Mavericks have been the best home team in the ECHL this season, going 27-3-0-1 on home ice this year. The Mavericks have the season’s longest home winning streak and home points streak, both 14 games, and they have had four separate home points streaks of at least four games. On their current four game run, the Mavs have earned two wins over the Oilers, a win over Rapid City, and a shootout loss to the Wichita Thunder. The Mavericks are actually 1-1-1 against last-place Wichita in March. The Steelheads will wrap up the season with a home series against Missouri.

2) South Carolina Stingrays; 5-0-2

The Eastern Conferences second-best team is closing in on a playoff spot thanks to a very strong week on home ice. The Stingrays went 4-0-1 on a five-game home-stand with wins over Florida, Atlanta and Greenville, as well as a shootout loss to the Everblades. The Stingrays have points in seven straight home games, and 12 of the last 14. The Stingrays play only three of their final eight games at home, but they are a strong road team as well with 19 wins.

1) Idaho Steelheads; 5-0-2

There was a time this season when a game at CenturyLink Arena might mean trouble for the Steelheads. On December 15th, the Steelheads were 2-5-2 on home ice, surprising both because of the low win total but also because of how few games they had played in Boise in the season’s first two months. As the Steelheads played more home games, they had more success. The Steelheads are in the midst of a seven-game points streak thanks to wins over Alaska, Rapid City, and Utah, with two shootout losses. They have earned at least a point in ten of their last 12 games (8-2-2) at CenturyLink Arena. Idaho has three games remaining on their current five-game home-stand, and five of their final eight games this season will be played in Boise.