PREVIEW: Idaho Steelheads (1-0-0) vs. Utah Grizzlies (0-1-0)

SATURDAY, OCT. 6, 2018 | 7:10 P.M. | CENTURYLINK ARENAUPDATES: @STEELHEADS (TWITTER)

Tonight’s Game: The Steelheads close a home-and-home preseason weekend against the Utah Grizzlies at CenturyLink Arena.

Head-To-Head: With last night’s win, the Steelheads have now won three-straight preseason games over the last two seasons and can make it a four-game streak for the first time in over a decade. The Steelheads and Grizzlies have enjoyed a two-game preseason schedule for over a decade as the closest geographic team in the Mountain Division for the Grizzlies. Since 2009, the Steelheads are 11-6-2 in the preseason series and 92-42-24 overall in the regular season. Last year, the Steelheads went 8-4-3 against the Grizzlies including wins in their final two games on March 30-31.

Last Night: The Steelheads opened the preseason with a 5-1 win over the Utah Grizzlies from Maverik Center. Steelheads defenseman Sean Campbell (PP, 6:35 1st) opened the scoring with a slap shot from the blue line to jump out early, 1-0, and forward Brad McClure (17:42 1st) doubled the advantage to 2-0 with an odd-angled goal. Steelheads forward Alex Dahl (13:02 2nd) tripled the lead, 3-0, in the second period before two tallies from Steelheads forward Kyle Schempp (1:59 3rd; 10:30 3rd) spread the lead to its largest of the night at 5-0. Grizzlies forward Tim McGauley (18:15 3rd) ended the shutout bid, but the Steelheads earned the 5-1 win. Tomas Sholl stopped 34 of 35 shots in the win, while Kevin Carr saved 20 of 25 shots in the loss.

What To Watch For: The Steelheads will have another opportunity to evaluate talent, mix the roster and begin the final preparations before the 2018-19 regular season begins next weekend. Notable players absent from last night’s game that could make an appearance are returners Mitch Moroz and Justin Parizek as well as AHL veteran Joe Pendenza. Lines and starters are expected to change throughout the weekend as part of the evaluation process and determining fits and styles during a game scenario.

Kickstarter: Steelheads forward Kyle Schempp had a strong preseason debut, opening the weekend with a three-point (2g, 1a) night while helping to factor into the eventual game-winning goal in the first period. The former Bridgeport Sound Tiger was one of four players with a multi-point night and is the first player with a 3+ point night and two-goal night in a preseason game since Emil Molin did the same on Oct. 9, 2015. Schempp was signed to an ECHL contract by the Steelheads on August 1 after playing 33 AHL games last season.

Brick House: Steelheads goaltender Tomas Sholl put out a strong display to open the weekend, holding a shutout for 58:15 minutes before the Grizzlies took away his bid. It’s the longest preseason shutout attempt since Ryan Zapolski held the Grizzlies off for 43:12 minutes on Oct. 6, 2012. The Steelheads have not shut out an opponent in the preseason in the last decade but were shut out once (Oct. 12, 2013: 2-0 L). Sholl has four shutouts in just 11 appearances last season with the Steelheads and comes into this season following a 9-0-1 record with a 1.24 GAA and .953 SV%.

Grizzled: The Utah Grizzlies have seven players returning to their preseason roster from the 2017-18 team. Former Grizzlies Matt Berry (‘15-’16) and Teigan Zahn (‘13-’14) also return to the roster after two and six years, respectively, playing throughout the ECHL and AHL. Only two of their top-six scorers make another appearance with the team: Jake Marchment (18+32=50) and Ryan Misiak (15+27=42). However, both goaltenders from last season (Kevin Carr & Brandon Wildung) begin the preseason with the Grizzlies.

Local Ties: Though he’s not playing for the Steelheads, Grizzlies goaltender and Boise native Chris Komma is at training camp to begin the year. After four seasons at the University of Utah, Komma gets the chance to tryout for the ECHL club following 75 games with the ACHA club. Komma is now 26 years old and played two years of junior hockey between the NAHL (Corpus Christi), WSHL (Boulder) and Kirkland Lake (NOJHL).

PRESEASON SCHEDULE:Friday, Oct. 5 @ Utah Grizzlies - 5-1 WSaturday, Oct. 6 vs. Utah Grizzlies

Next Game: The Steelheads open the 2018-19 regular season on the road against the Wichita Thunder on Friday, Oct. 12 at 6:05 p.m. MT from Intrust Bank Arena. Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on 1350-AM KTIK and ECHL TV.