PREVIEW: IDAHO STEELHEADS (2-1-1) vs. UTAH GRIZZLIES (2-0-1)

SATURDAY, OCT. 20, 2018 | 7:10 PM | CENTURYLINK ARENA | BOISE, IDRADIO: 1350AM KTIK | TV: CABLEONE CHANNEL 72 | STREAM: ECHL TV

Tonight’s Game: The Steelheads finish up their two-game home opening weekend against the Utah Grizzlies from CenturyLink Arena.

Head-To-Head: The Steelheads take the first of their 15-game schedule and head into the second of four-straight games over the next two weeks. The Steelheads have wins in three-straight meetings dating back to last season and now have half of their games (16) over the last two seasons separated by just one goal and five of those games in post-regulation play. The Steelheads are seven wins away from reaching 100 wins against Utah in the ECHL franchise series, now standing at 93-42-24 overall.

Last Game: The Steelheads fought through a tight game to claim a 6-5 overtime win over the Grizzlies on Friday night from CenturyLink Arena. Scoring began slowly starting with Grizzlies forward Brendan Harms (7:44 1st) then Steelheads forward Spencer Naas (9:07 1st) to tie the game, 1-1. Grizzlies forwards Josh Winquist (PP, 12:09 1st) and Ryan Walters (PP, 12:12 2nd) came back with power play goals to take a 3-1 lead, but Steelheads forwards Kyle Schempp (SH, 0:31 3rd) and Steve McParland (1:16 3rd) pressed back to knot the game, 3-3. Both sides went back and forth with Grizzlies forward Cole Ully (2:58 3rd), Steelheads forward Brady Norrish (PP, 16:01 3rd), Grizzlies forward Caleb Herbert (16:42 3rd) and Steelheads forward Brad McClure (EA, 19:17 3rd) all scoring to move the game to overtime, 5-5. Steelheads forward Joe Pendenza (0:43 OT) sealed the victory in the 6-5 win. Ryan Faragher stopped 21 of 26 shots in the win, and Joe Cannata halted 25 of 31 shots in the overtime loss.

Cardiac Kids: The Steelheads have yet to lead in regulation but have found a way to make the best with in-game situations. In four games, the Steelheads have been held away from a lead in all 250:43 minutes of play, only going ahead with a shootout goal (after timing ended) and in overtime to finish a game, and the team has specifically trailed in 159:40 minutes, which is over two and one half games. However, the Steelheads have earned points in three of their first four games and only trailed by two goals or less in all four contests.

Righty Tighty: For the fourth-straight game, the Steelheads have earned a result with a one-goal differential, staying on the positive side for the second-straight game. The Steelheads join the Florida Everblades (1-2-0) as the only teams in the ECHL with a one-goal differential for all of their games to begin the season but are the lone team with three post-regulation results (2-1). Last year, the Steelheads earned a 16-7-5-3 record in games separated by just one goal and 7-8 in post-regulation games (2-5 overtime, 7-3 shootout).

Slow Start, Fast Finish: In all four games this season, the Steelheads have conceded the game’s first goal and generally have heated up in the back end of games. The Steelheads have been outscored 7-2 in the first period while only being outshot 48-41, but the third period is where the team shines, outscoring opponents 6-2 while only allowing their first third-period goals last night and also outpacing teams 51-18 in shots, which is nearly a 3:1 ratio. For comparison, the Steelheads are level at 4-4 in the second period in goals scored.

Lethal Weapon: The Grizzlies have been deadly on the power play in their first three games, scoring in all three contests with multi-goal efforts. Utah went 2-for-5 against Idaho, bringing their season total to seven power play goals and a 38.9% conversion rate, and those seven goals account for nearly half (46.7%) of their goal total for the season (15). That places them only behind the Wheeling Nailers, who are 3-for-7 (42.9%) on the power play. The Grizzlies have drawn the second-most penalties in the ECHL, trailing only Orlando (20), who sit in 18th in the ECHL (15.0%).

Ull(y) Tide Cheer: Grizzlies forward Cole Ully produced comfortably in his former home rink, posting three points (1g, 2a) in last night’s overtime loss. The Calgary, Alb., native factored in by setting up both power play goals and scoring his own goal to edge ahead in the front end of the third period. With his three-point night, he improves to five points (1g, 4a) on the season and keeps his scoring success in the ECHL going. Ully now averages just over a point-per-game clip, earning 50 points (20g, 30a) over 48 games between Idaho and Utah.

Next Game: The Steelheads hit the road to begin a six-game road trip over the next two and a half weeks on Friday, Oct. 26 at 7:05 p.m. against the Utah Grizzlies from Maverik Center. Coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. on 1350-AM KTIK and ECHL TV.