MOUNTAIN DIVISION FINAL:IDAHO STEELHEADS @ TULSA OILERSSeries: Tied 0-0

FRIDAY, APR. 26, 2019 | 6:05 P.M. MTBOK CENTER | TULSA, OKRADIO: 1350 AM KTIK |STREAM: ECHL TV | WATCH PARTY: SPORTS ZONE

Tonight’s Game: The Steelheads begin the next round of the 2019 U.S. Bank Kelly Cup Playoffs, presented by SmileDirectClub, with Game 1 of the Mountain Division Final against the Tulsa Oilers from BOK Center.

Head-To-Head: This is the first meeting in franchise history for the Steelheads and Oilers in the Kelly Cup Playoffs. The two sides met 10 times during the 2018-19 regular season and split their decisions down the middle, going 5-4-1 each during the run with one overtime result for the Oilers and one for the Steelheads. The Steelheads are coming off four-straight overtime wins in the first round and now own a 79-57-17 record all-time in the Kelly Cup Playoffs with a 17-13 series record. The Oilers are just 1-3-1 in the Kelly Cup Playoffs, losing their lone series in the 2015 Division Semifinals.

Last Game: The Steelheads claimed the series with a 2-1 overtime win over the Utah Grizzlies on Saturday night from Maverik Center. Grizzlies forward Joey Ratelle (10:17 2nd) scored the opening goal in the second period before Steelheads forward James Phelan (16:33 2nd) tied the game, 1-1, to force overtime. Steelheads forward Kyle Schempp (12:37 OT) earned his second winning goal of the series, securing the 2-1 overtime win and the series victory. Tomas Sholl (4-1-0) saved 23 of 24 shots in the win, while Kevin Carr (1-0-4) halted 44 of 46 shots in the overtime loss.

#PushingOn: The Steelheads advanced to the Mountain Division Final for the second-straight season and third time in the last six seasons. The Steelheads took down the Utah Grizzlies in five games during the opening round, their best opening round result since sweeping Utah in the 2010 Western Conference Semifinals despite their goals scored being the lowest in a first round win since the 2014 Western Conference Quarterfinals, which was also the last time the Steelheads trailed in shots but won a series. The last time the Steelheads advanced to the Western Conference Final was in 2013 after beating the Colorado Eagles (4-2) and Stockton Thunder (4-2).

New Cardiac Kids: For the first time in ECHL history, the Steelheads set a new mark with four-straight overtime victories to take the series over the Grizzlies while also reaching more historic markers. While the record for number of consecutive overtime games is uncertain, the Steelheads became the third team in ECHL history to play in four overtime games during a single series, joining the 2015 Western Conference Final (South Carolina Stingrays vs. Toledo Walleye) and the 1993 First Round (Hampton Roads Admirals vs. Raleigh IceCaps). Their four overtime wins is the second-most in Steelheads ECHL history for a single postseason, sharing that with the 2007 Kelly Cup Champion squad (4-0 record) and only trailing the 2013 postseason team (5-2 record). Overall, the Steelheads are 22-17 (.564) in overtime results since 2004.

Leaders of the Pack:  The Steelheads finished the first round of the 2019 postseason with a few league-leading categories heading into the next round. The Steelheads netted four-straight games with over 40 shots for the first time this season and are the only team averaging over 40 shots per game (43.40) despite having the second-lowest shot pct. (6.45%) of teams advancing to the second round and 13th out of 16 in total playoff performances. The Steelheads also lead the ECHL in penalty minutes per game (26.80) with the next-highest team with 17.60 minutes per game (South Carolina). Forward Henrik Samuelsson also sits second in the league in shooting pct. (44.4%), only trailing Manchester forward Kevin Dufour (45.5%).

Greased Lightning: The Tulsa Oilers head to just their second Kelly Cup Playoff appearance thanks to a 4-3 series win over the Kansas City Mavericks while winning their final two games. The Oilers last appeared in the 2015 Central Division Semifinals against the Allen Americans, falling 4-1 in the series while only being outscored 18-14 with one overtime loss. The Oilers claimed their first division title since the 1975-76 season with the former Central Hockey League. The Oilers reached the playoffs 11 times from 1993-2014 in the CHL but has missed in 13 of their last 18 years.

Mr. Perfectto: Oilers forward Stephen Perfetto has been on a scoring tear in 2019 including both the regular season and the postseason. So far, he owns points in all seven postseason games while also boasting a 14-game point streak dating back to Nov. 20, 2018 in the regular season, tallying 28 points (9g, 19a) between call-ups to AHL San Antonio throughout the year. Perfetto is second in the ECHL in scoring with 12 points (4g, 8a) in the playoffs, only trailing teammate Alex Dostie with 13 points (9g, 4a). Perfetto earned three points in 21 games in the AHL this season.

MOUNTAIN DIVISION FINAL:

#1 Tulsa Oilers vs. #2 Idaho SteelheadsGame 1: Idaho at Tulsa – Friday, April 26 • 6:05 p.m. • BOK CenterGame 2: Idaho at Tulsa – Sunday, April 28 • 3:05 p.m. • BOK CenterGame 3: Tulsa at Idaho – Tuesday, April 30 • 7:10 p.m. • CenturyLink Arena (Game C)Game 4: Tulsa at Idaho – Wednesday, May 1 • 7:10 p.m. • CenturyLink Arena (Game D)*Game 5: Tulsa at Idaho – Friday, May 3 • 7:10 p.m. • CenturyLink Arena*Game 6: Idaho at Tulsa – Sunday, May 5 • 3:05 p.m. • BOK Center*Game 7: Idaho at Tulsa – Monday, May 6 • 6:05 p.m. • BOK Center* - if necessary (all games in Mountain Time)

MOUNTAIN DIVISION SEMIFINALS:

#2 Idaho Steelheads vs. #3 Utah GrizzliesIDH wins 4-1Game 1: Friday, Apr. 12 – UTA wins 7-1Game 2: Saturday, Apr. 13 – IDH wins 3-2 (OT)Game 3: Wednesday, Apr. 17 – IDH wins 3-2 (OT)Game 4: Friday, Apr. 19 – IDH wins 5-4 (OT)Game 5: Saturday, Apr. 20 – IDH wins 2-1 (OT)

#1 Tulsa Oilers vs. #4 Kansas City MavericksTUL wins 4-3Game 1: Thursday, Apr. 11 – KC wins 6-4Game 2: Sunday, Apr. 14 – TUL wins 3-2 (OT)Game 3: Wednesday, Apr. 17 – KC wins 3-2Game 4: Friday, Apr. 19 – TUL wins 4-3Game 5: Saturday, Apr. 20 – KC wins 4-3Game 6: Tuesday, Apr. 23 – TUL wins 4-2Game 7: Wednesday, Apr. 24 – TUL wins 6-2

Next Game: The Steelheads and Oilers meet in Game 2 of the Mountain Division Final on Sunday, Apr. 28 at 3:05 p.m. MT from BOK Center. Coverage begins at 2:45 p.m. on 1350 KTIK-AM & ECHL.TV. The Steelheads Official Watch Party begins at 2:30 p.m. in the Sports Zone (3rd floor, CenturyLink Arena).