PREVIEW: IDAHO STEELHEADS (20-10-3) @ TULSA OILERS (17-12-6)

SUNDAY, JAN. 6, 2019 | 3:05 P.M. | BOK CENTER | TULSA, OKRADIO: 1350AM KTIK | STREAM: ECHL TV

Today’s Game: The Steelheads close their five-game road trip and pair of weekend games against the Tulsa Oilers from BOK Center.

Head-To-Head: After last night’s win, the Steelheads have leveled their season series with the Oilers to three wins each, splitting a 3-2-1 record between both sides. Today’s game is the final meeting in Tulsa before the series turns to Boise for the final three games. The Steelheads split their previous two meetings in Tulsa on October 13-14. Overall, the Steelheads are 13-5-1 against the Oilers in their franchise series.

Last Night: The Steelheads edged out the Oilers 4-2 on Saturday night from BOK Center. Steelheads defenseman Ondrej Vala (14:43 1st) opened the scoring to take a 1-0 lead into the second period, where Steelheads forward Reid Petryk (PP, 5:48 2nd) doubled the lead, 2-0. The Oilers scored two goals within one minute thanks to forwards Adam Globke (8:48 2nd) and Alex Pleskach (9:26 2nd), tying the game at 2-2. Petryk (13:37 3rd) earned a fortunate bounce to edge ahead, 3-2, and Steelheads forward A.J. White (EN, 19:58 3rd) sealed the 4-2 win with an empty net goal. Tomas Sholl (12-4-0) halted 44 of 46 shots in the win, while Devin Williams (10-8-4) saved 26 of 29 shots in the loss.

High Five: Thanks to last night’s win, the Steelheads stretched their win streak to five games, marking their longest streak of the season and breaking the previous record set from November 24 through December 7. The win was their first without at least six goals scored, but the Steelheads are still outscoring their opponents 32-12 while converting on 28.8% (32-for-111) of their shots during the run. The streak is the longest since the team’s eight-game win streak from Mar. 15, 2018 through Apr. 4, 2018. The Steelheads are now 15-3-0-0 since November 16 and also own a five-game road win streak.

Powered Up: The power play goal by the Steelheads last night ended a four-game streak of multi-power play goal contests but extended their overall run to five-straight games with goals on the man-advantage. In that time, the Steelheads have jockeyed to a 45.8% conversion rate (11-for-24), which is nearly double their season’s average. The goal puts this run above the previous season-high of four games set from November 21-30 (7-for-18, 38.9%) and keeps them in second place across the ECHL (23.5%) and first for road power play percentage (32.3%).

Al-Burning Up: Steelheads forward Reid Petryk picked up his second-straight multi-goal game and fifth-straight multi-point night to extend his point streak to five games. The three-point evening (2g, 1a) is his ninth multi-point game of the season and eighth in his last nine games. In that stretch, he owns 19 points (9g, 10a) as well as 13 points (5g, 8a) during his five-game point streak. In addition, he owns three power play goals in his last two games, and six of his eight special teams tallies have come in his last 10 games. Petryk is second on the team in scoring with 27 points (14g, 13a), leads the team in power play goals (8), and shares the team lead in goals.

Saved By The Sholl: Steelheads goaltender Tomas Sholl excelled in last night’s game, halting a season-high 44 shots en route to the win and extend his own win streak. Since December 15, the Hermosa Beach, Calif., native has wins in five-straight games, holding opponents to two or fewer goals in three-straight games and four of those five contests. Sholl also has wins in nine of his last 10 games since November 24, only allowing three or more goals just three times in that spread with his lone loss coming on December 8 against Utah (5-1 L). His 44 saves is his second game with 40+ saves this year, joining his 41-save shutout on November 24. He is 4-0-0 in games where he sees 40+ shots in his ECHL career with just five goals against and a .971 save percentage. Sholl leads the ECHL in save percentage (.937) and is second in goals-against average (1.98).

Difference Maker: Oilers forward Jared Thomas has been a focal point to the success of this year’s team despite not earning a point last night or seeing his team win. The rookie forward ended a five-game point streak in last night’s loss, finishing with seven points (2g, 5a) since December 1 despite missing 10 games with AHL San Antonio. The Oilers have done well when Thomas has been in the lineup, owning a 15-2-4 record with him in the lineup, and two of their six losses came against the Steelheads (Oct. 14 & Jan. 5). Without Thomas in the lineup, the Oilers are 2-10-2 this season.

MOUNTAIN DIVISION STANDINGS:

Next Game: The Steelheads return to CenturyLink Arena on Wednesday, Jan. 9 at 7:10 p.m. to open a three-game weekend against the Toledo Walleye. Tickets are available by calling 208-383-0080 or by going to idahosteelheads.com. Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on 1350AM KITK and at 7:00 p.m. on CableOne Ch. 72 and ECHL TV.