QUICK HITS: Cyclones at CenturyLink

Cyclones at CenturyLink: The Idaho Steelheads are back on home ice this weekend after a month on the road and their most successful road trip of the season, going 7-1-0 on a trek that took them through Utah, Missouri, and Rapid City. This weekend the Steelheads will host the Cincinnati Cyclones, the Cyclones’ first visit to Boise since the 2010 Kelly Cup Final. At 31-25-4, the Cyclones are hanging on in the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference’s South Division. Cincinnati has won eight of its last ten games, and comes into town on a three-game winning streak. The Steelheads have tied a season-high with four straight wins coming into the series, and have won nine of their last 11 overall.

Huge Nuge: Brian Nugent had an excellent road trip for the Steelheads with seven points in seven games. Nugent’s game-winning goal on Saturday night, his second of the game, gave him five goals in seven contests and two two-goal performances in his last four outings. Since coming off of the injured reserve list, Nugent has totaled six goals and eight points in 12 games. Nugent will face his former team this week, having played 81 games and 11 playoffs games with the Cyclones from 2013 to 2015.

Gung-Ho Goaltending: Landon Bow and Branden Komm both had big weeks for the Steelheads during the road trip. Landon Bow went 5-1-0 during the trip with two 1-0 shutouts, as the rookie remains second among ECHL goaltenders in goals-against average (2.15) and save percentage (.933). Branden Komm has won each of his last two appearances, serving as the bedrock for comeback efforts in Missouri and on Saturday night in Rapid City. Komm stopped 37 shots against the Rush, including all 31 shots over the final two periods to earn his 13th win of the year.

Faust Ties First: Joe Faust scored his 13th goal of the season on Friday, tying him for the Steelheads single-season ECHL record for goals by a defenseman. The record was first held by Jarad Bourassa, who scored 13 goals in 72 games during the 2005-06 season. Faust reached 13 tallies in 55 games, and he is tied for fourth among ECHL defensemen this season in goal-scoring.