MOUNTAIN DIVISION SEMIFINAL:IDAHO STEELHEADS @ UTAH GRIZZLIESSeries: IDH leads 3-1

SATURDAY, APR. 20, 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 have a chance to clinch the playoff series in Game 5 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: With their win last night, the Steelheads have won five of seven games at Maverik Center in the Kelly Cup Playoffs, have won all five overtime meetings, and have the opportunity to eliminate the Grizzlies from the postseason for the second time in three series meetings. The Steelheads won their first series 4-0 in the 2010 Western Conference Semifinals but fell 4-2 in the 2015 Pacific Division Semifinals during their last series. 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 Night: The Steelheads came from behind to take a 5-4 overtime win over the Grizzlies in Game 4 on Friday night from Maverik Center. Grizzlies forward Tim McGauley (PP, 5:38 1st) opened the scoring with the lone opening period goal before Steelheads defenseman Keegan Kanzig (0:36 2nd) tied the game at 1-1. McGauley (1:54 2nd; 4:36 2nd) completed the hat-trick soon after, and Grizzlies forward Grayson Downing (PP, 5:41 2nd) expanded the lead to 4-1. The Steelheads began their comeback with a goal by forward Henrik Samuelsson (10:31 2nd) and forward Steve McParland (19:54 2nd) to cut the lead to one, 4-3. Samuelsson (15:15 3rd) scored the game-tying goal to force overtime, 4-4, and he set up Steelheads forward Brad McClure (8:05 OT) for the game-winner and the 5-4 victory. Tomas Sholl (3-1-0) saved 32 of 36 shots in the win, while Kevin Carr (1-0-3) turned away 36 of 41 shots in the overtime loss.

On The Brink: The Steelheads enter their first clinching scenario of the 2019 postseason while also attempting to avoid returning to Idaho for Game 6 on Monday. Last year, the Steelheads won their lone positive clinching game while going 4-1-0 when one team is facing elimination with all four wins coming in a reverse-sweep of the Allen Americans. Since 2007, the Steelheads have been able to put away series when in clinching scenarios, boasting a 15-5-1 record while only losing one series where an opponent had to come from behind: 2016 First Round against Allen (lead series 3-2). Overall, the Steelheads are 16-12-4 in games where one team can face elimination since 2007.

Heart Attack Hockey: For the first time in the ECHL era, the Steelheads played in three-straight overtime games while coming out on top in all three contests. Previously, the Steelheads have had five different sets of back-to-back overtime results since 2007, including three times in the 2013 playoffs and a double-overtime and triple-overtime pairing in 2011 against Las Vegas. The three overtime wins is also the first time in the ECHL era the Steelheads have won three overtime games in a single series. The most overtime wins in a single postseason came in 2013 with seven overtime games (5-2 record), three of which came in the opening round. The Steelheads are now 21-17 (.553) in playoff overtime games since 2004.

Firecrackers: The Steelheads have now recorded over 40 shots for the third-straight game while winning all three of those contests. It’s the first time this season the Steelheads have achieved this feat, overtaking their back-to-back 40-plus shot games on January 18 & 19 against Allen (45 and 41, respectively), and their stretch of three of four games with over 40 shots (42.75 per game) is averaging better than the same stretch from January 12-19 (39.50 per game). When the Steelheads post at least 40 shots, the team is 9-2-3 this season including 3-0-0 in the Kelly Cup Playoffs. The Steelheads have also recorded at least 10 shots in all 12 regulation periods.

Super Sammy: Steelheads forward Henrik Samuelsson notched a three-point night to help secure the win last night but did so in historic fashion. His second goal came as the game-tying goal for the third-straight game, which is the first time in Steelheads ECHL postseason history that one player has three-straight game-tying goals. In addition, his three-game goal streak now sits one shy of the record set by Gaelan Patterson in the 2014 Kelly Cup Playoffs, scoring four goals over four-straight games. With his offensive performance, Samuelsson now leads the Steelheads in goals (4) and scoring (5) through four games played, and his lone assist was on last night’s game-winning goal.

Hats Off To You: Grizzlies forward Tim McGauley recorded his first career hat-trick despite the loss while also grabbing the first hat-trick of the 2019 Kelly Cup Playoffs. The three-goal night was only his fourth career multi-goal game through 132 ECHL games but his second hat-trick in his hockey career with his only other occurrence coming on February 22, 2014 with the Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) in a 7-4 win over the Moose Jaw Warriors. McGauley has points in four-straight games dating back to his last two regular season appearances on January 29 and 30, posting six points (5g, 1a) in that stretch.

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 – IDH wins 5-4 (OT)Game 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 MavericksSeries tied 2-2Game 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 – Silverstein Eye Centers Arena • Independence, MOGame 6: Tuesday, Apr. 23 – BOK Center • Tulsa, OK*Game 7: Wednesday, Apr. 24 – BOK Center • Tulsa, OK(*if necessary)

Next Game: If the Steelheads do not win, they will return to CenturyLink Arena for Game 6 of the Mountain Division Semifinal against the Grizzlies on Monday, Apr. 22 at 7:10 p.m. Follow idahosteelheads.com for ticketing information should the series continue. If the Steelheads win, they will await their next round opponent until at least Tuesday night.