PREVIEW: IDAHO STEELHEADS (23-13-5) VS. TULSA OILERS (17-21-4)

SATURDAY, JAN. 18, 2020 | 7:10 P.M. MTCENTURYLINK ARENA | BOISE, IDTICKETS: CLICK HERETV: SPARKLIGHT CH. 72 | RADIO: 1350 KTIK-AM | STREAM: ECHL TV

Tonight’s Game: The Steelheads (Spider-Man) close their three-game weekend on Marvel Super Hero™ Night against the Tulsa Oilers (Hulk) at CenturyLink Arena.

Head-To-Head: While the Oilers have a chance to clinch the season series in one of their final two meetings of the season, the Steelheads have won two of their last three contests and improved to 2-3-1 last night. A sweep of the final two games in regulation would level the season set for back-to-back seasons, and tonight is the final meeting at CenturyLink Arena between the two sides. The Steelheads are 17-10-2 all-time against the Oilers in the regular season as well as 7-5-1 at home.

Last Night: The Steelheads edged out the Oilers in a 2-1 overtime win on Friday night from CenturyLink Arena. After a scoreless first period that included a called-off tally for the home side, the Steelheads later found the opening tally on a one-time tip by forward Kyle Schempp (5:28 2nd) to take the initial 1-0 lead. Oilers defenseman Cam Knight (9:41 2nd) leveled the score, 1-1, on a net-front scramble and eventually led to overtime. In the extra frame, Steelheads forward Brett Supinski (1:26 OT) sealed off the extra point in the 2-1 win. Jake Kupsky (1-1-0) earned his first ECHL win while stopping 28 of 29 shots, and Olle Eriksson Ek (6-9-2) halted 32 of 34 shots in the overtime loss.

Marvel-ous End: After a rockcy early portion of the season, the Steelheads have been cruising when finishing games in overtime, marking their seventh win in the extra frame. After dropping two of their first three overtime games, the Steelheads have waken wins in six of their last seven dating back to November 2 while now owning a 5-1 record in overtime at home. The Steelheads have played the second-most post-regulation games (13) and now sit at 7-3 in overtime, only trailing the Allen Americans in wins (nine) and games played (17). Since the start of their 12-game homestand in November, the Steelheads have won six of their last seven games that end in either overtime or a shootout.

The Avengers: The Steelheads penalty kill unit was once again lights out in last night’s win, remaining during this home stretch and for the third-straight game. In their last three, the Steelhaeds have killed off nine-straight attempts while also not allowing a power play goal in nine of their last 12 games since not allowing an attempt on December 18 in Norfolk, going 43-for-47 (91.5%) in that time. Since that game, the Steelheads have risen from 16th in the ECHL at a 82.4% conversion rate up to fifth in the league at a 85.2% rate, all while keeping opponents to four chances or less in eight of 12 contests.

Super Man?: Steelheads forward Brett Supinski netted his second game-winner of the season and first in overtime during last night’s overtime win, continuing a strong rookie season. Despite missing time due to injury throughout the year, the Collegeville, Penn. native has goals in two of his last three games and points in 13 of his 22 games played while also sharing second on the team in goals along with co-rookie Anthony Nellis. He is averaging nearly a point per game during the stretch of the season, boasting 18 points (11-7–18) through 22 games played, sitting in second in points per game (0.87), plus-minus rating (plus-7) and game-winning goals (two).

Web Slingers: Steelheads goaltender Tomas Sholl returns to the Steelheads roster following a brief stint with the Texas Stars in his first AHL call-up. The Hermosa Beach, Calif. product returns to the Steelheads  still leading the ECHL in wins (17) while boasting the fourth-best goals-against average (2.26) and fifth-best save percentage (.921). This comes following the first ECHL win for goaltender Jake Kupsky in last night’s overtime win, and the rookie netminder also has allowed just four goals in two games this week heading into the rubber match of the weekend.

Hulking Out: Even though the Tulsa Oilers lost last night in overtime, the team extends their point streak to three games over the last week, moving to 2-0-1 in that time. The streak is the team’s second-best since a four-game streak stretching through the end of October into November with a 3-0-1 record that also included their only three-game win streak. Recently, the Oilers have kept opponents to two goals or less in three-straight games for the first time this season despite averaging only 2.00 goals per game in that time. The Oilers enter the third game of a stretch that sees eight of 11 contests come away from the BOK Center, and the Oilers are now 4-9-4 away from home.

MOUNTAIN DIVISION STANDINGS:

Next Game: The Steelheads hit the road for a Martin Luther King Jr. Day meeting against the Utah Grizzlies on Monday, Jan. 20 at 1:10 p.m. from Maverik Center. Coverage begins at 12:45 p.m. on 1350 KTIK-AM "The Ticket" and ECHL.tv.