MOUNTAIN DIVISION SEMIFINAL:IDAHO STEELHEADS @ UTAH GRIZZLIESSeries: IDH leads 2-1

FRIDAY, APR. 19, 2019 | 7:05 P.M. MTMAVERIK CENTER | WEST VALLEY CITY, UTRADIO: 1350 AM KTIK |STREAM: ECHL TV | WATCH PARTY: SPORTS ZONE

Tonight’s Game: The Steelheads continue their three-game week with Game 4 of the Mountain Division Semifinal against the Utah Grizzlies from Maverik Center in the 2019 U.S. Bank Kelly Cup Playoffs, presented by SmileDirectClub.

Head-To-Head: The Steelheads broke a five-game losing skid at Maverik Center dating to the regular season and met in back-to-back overtime games for the first time in their playoff histories head-to-head. This is the third postseason meeting between the Steelheads and Grizzlies in the ECHL era, with their last meeting coming in the 2015 Pacific Division Semifinals when the Grizzlies took the series 4-2. Their first meeting was in the 2010 Western Conference Semifinal, and the Steelheads swept the series 4-0 en route to a Kelly Cup Final appearance. The Steelheads are 77-57-17 all-time in the Kelly Cup Playoffs with a 16-13 series record, while the Grizzlies are 47-63-17 in the Kelly Cup Playoffs with a 10-18 series record.

Last Game: The Steelheads battled to edge ahead of the Grizzlies in a 3-2 overtime win on Wednesday night from Maverik Center. Grizzlies forward Josh Dickinson (SH, 6:39 1st) opened the scoring shorthanded to take a 1-0 lead before Steelheads forward Brad McClure (19:53 1st) evened the score, 1-1, before the end of the opening frame. Grizzlies forward Tim McGauley (2:52 3rd) and Steelheads forward Henrik Samuelsson (5:50 3rd) continued the back-and-forth to send the game to overtime at 2-2. In the extra frame, Steelheads forward Kyle Schempp (11:38 OT) deflected a blueline shot, securing the 3-2 overtime result. Tomas Sholl (2-1-0) halted 38 of 40 shots in the win, while Kevin Carr (1-0-2) turned aside 45 of 48 shots in the overtime loss.

Déjà Vu: For the second-straight game, the Steelheads not only won in overtime but earned the same end scoreline en route to the victory. The Steelheads have won back-to-back games in overtime since the 2014 Kelly Cup Playoffs against Colorado (Apr. 28, 2014, 3-2 4OT) and Alaska (May 1, 2014, 1-0 OT) as well as the first win in back-to-back overtime results in the same series for the first time since 2015, which was the end of a six-game winning streak in overtime dating from May 5, 2013 to Apr. 18, 2015. The Steelheads are now 20-17 (.541) in playoff overtime games in the ECHL era. The Grizzlies, however, have lost now 13-straight playoff overtime games and slump to 8-17 (.320) overall in postseason overtime results.

Go, Skipper, Go: Steelheads captain A.J. White extended his point run in Wednesday’s win with an assist, becoming the first player to earn a three-game point streak this postseason. The tally sets a new single-postseason high for White in assists and points in eight fewer games compared to last year, showcasing his string of playmaking from the regular season into the playoffs. The longest point streak in Steelheads postseason history since 2007 came courtesy of Lance Gailbraith in the 2007 Kelly Cup Playoffs, slashing 16 points (9g, 7a) in nine games from Apr. 10, 2007 through Apr. 26, 2007. White now owns five points (2g, 3a) in 14 playoff games with three points (1g, 2a) in three games this year.

Sammy Strong: Steelheads forward Henrik Samuelsson has come up with key goals in back-to-back games, sending each of the last two results into overtime with his game-tying goals. After going scoreless in seven-straight games and goalless in nine-straight to end the regular season, the Pittsburgh, Penn. product now has nearly half of his 23-game total in goals through just three contests, doing so on only five shots (40.0% shot pct.). While this is his first Kelly Cup Playoffs appearance, Samuelsson boasted five points (2g, 3a) in nine games of the Calder Cup Playoffs (AHL) with the Portland Pirates (2015) and Rockford IceHogs (2018), though notching all five points in five games with solely Portland.

Leader of the Pack: Grizzlies forward Josh Dickinson has rocketed to the top of the scoring list across both the Grizzlies roster as well as the ECHL, grabbing his second multi-point game on Wednesday with two points. The Georgetown, Ont. native is on his own three-game point streak, boasting six points (3g, 3a) and leading the ECHL in postseason scoring while factoring in on six of the team’s 11 goals (54.5%) thus far against the Steelheads.  Dating back to the regular season, he owns a five-game point streak with nine points (4g, 5a) and multi-point efforts in four of seven games since March 2, just prior to his recall to the Colorado Eagles (AHL). This is Dickinson’s first postseason of his professional career following just one season at Clarkson University in 2017-18 (15-11–26, 40 games).

MOUNTAIN DIVISION SEMIFINALS:

#2 Idaho Steelheads vs. #3 Utah GrizzliesIDH leads 2-1Game 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 – Maverik Center • West Valley City, UTGame 5: Saturday, Apr. 20 – Maverik Center • West Valley City, UT*Game 6: Monday, Apr. 22 – CenturyLink Arena • Boise, ID*Game 7: Tuesday, Apr. 23 – CenturyLink Arena • Boise, ID(*if necessary)

#1 Tulsa Oilers vs. #4 Kansas City MavericksKC leads 2-1Game 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 – Silverstein Eye Centers Arena • Independence, MOGame 5: Saturday, Apr. 20 – Silverstein Eye Centers Arena • Independence, MO*Game 6: Tuesday, Apr. 23 – BOK Center • Tulsa, OK*Game 7: Wednesday, Apr. 24 – BOK Center • Tulsa, OK(*if necessary)

Next Game: Game 5 of the Mountain Division Semifinals between the Steelheads and Grizzlies begins on Saturday, Apr. 20 at 7:05 p.m. from Maverik Center. Coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. on 1350 KTIK-AM "The Ticket" and ECHL.TV. Fans can join the Steelheads Official Watch Party at the Sports Zone, located on the 3rd floor of CenturyLink Arena, beginning at 6:30 p.m.