PREVIEW: IDAHO STEELHEADS (12-9-3) VS. KANSAS CITY MAVERICKS (14-5-2)

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 12, 2018 | 7:10 PMCENTURYLINK ARENA | BOISE, IDRADIO: 1350AM KTIK | TV: CABLEONE CH. 72 | STREAM: ECHL TV

Tonight’s Game: The Steelheads welcome the Kansas City Mavericks for the first and only weekend at CenturyLink Arena this season to open a three-game weekend.

Head-To-Head: The Steelheads and Mavericks play a six-game season series this year after just two games last season at CenturyLink Arena, during which the Steelheads won back-to-back 3-2 overtime results. The two sides have played six times since the ECHL/CHL merger with the Steelheads taking a 4-2-0 record before doubling that game total this season.

Last Game: The Steelheads slipped 5-1 to the Grizzlies on Saturday night from CenturyLink Arena. Grizzlies forward Cole Ully (2:42 1st) opened the scoring to take an early 1-0 lead before Steelheads forward Reid Petryk (PP, 10:00 1st) tied the game, 1-1, with their lone goal of the night. Grizzlies forward Caleb Herbert (11:38 2nd; 0:42 3rd) scored the next two goals for Utah, taking back the lead at 3-1. Two more came across for Grizzlies forwards J.T. Henke (9:20 3rd) and Jake Marchment (12:14 3rd), sending the game to its 5-1 finish. Joe Cannata (8-3-3) halted 30 of 31 shots in the win, while Tomas Sholl (7-4-0) turned aside 31 of 36 shots in the loss.

D-D-D, D-Fence: Outside Saturday’s result, the Steelheads are playing a strong defensive game through the first third of the season. The team is keeping opponents to the third-fewest goals allowed per game at 2.71, only trailing Cincinnati (2.26) and Florida (2.52), who own the second-best and third-best records, respectively, in the ECHL. Additionally, the penalty kill has stopped 17-straight attempts through five-straight games as well as all attempts in nine of their last 10 games, going 36-for-37 (97.3%) since November 14. Because of this, the Steelheads have risen from 23rd to 4th in the ECHL in their last 10 games in penalty kill percentage.

Halfway There: With the loss on Saturday, the Steelheads picked up their first defeat during the home stand, ending a four-game win streak. The Steelheads are 3-1-0-0 heading into the midway game of the stand with wins in seven of their last nine games and points in nine of 11 contests, earning a 7-2-1-1 record in that time. During the stand, the Steelheads are averaging 35.50 shots per game and have scored three or more goals in three of their first four games. The Steelheads play teams all above them in the standings with a six-point swing against Kansas City (3 games), who sit one spot ahead with a three-point gap, and two more games against Utah, who sit five points ahead and atop the Mountain Division.

Right Reid: Steelheads forward Reid Petryk has been one of the most consistent players in the second quarter of the season, picking up another goal on Saturday night. The Edmonton native now has points in five of his last six games, posting six points (4g, 2a) during that time and leading the team in scoring in that span following just two points in his first 12 games with Idaho. His power play goal on Saturday is his third of the season, taking over the team lead in power play goals and sitting as the active leader in power play points (3+1=4), only trailing ECHL contracted loans Brady Norrish (2+3=5) and Colton Saucerman (1+4=5).

Double Trouble: Kansas City forwards and brothers Darian and David Dziurzynski meet up to be on the same team for just the second time in their professional careers and third since junior hockey. The pair of Alberta natives played together for their hometown Lloydminster Bobcats in 2007-08 before Darian moved up to join the Saskatoon Blades in the WHL before re-joining with the Binghamton Senators (AHL) in 2015-16. David has played 26 NHL games with Ottawa in 2012-13 and 2015-16, posting three goals and three assists for six points, while Darian has spent most of his career in the ECHL, now in his second stint in Kansas City. Both brothers sit in the top-six in team scoring with David (9+6=15) sitting second in goals and Darian (7+7=14) nestled one point behind his older brother.

MOUNTAIN DIVISION STANDINGS:

Next Game: The Steelheads and Mavericks play game two of their three-game weekend at CenturyLink Arena on Friday, Dec. 14 at 7:10 p.m. Tickets are available by calling 208-383-0080 or going to IdahoSteelheads.com. Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. MT on 1350-AM KTIK and ECHL TV as well as at 7:00 p.m. on CableOne Channel 72.