PREVIEW: IDAHO STEELHEADS (35-17-7) VS. SOUTH CAROLINA STINGRAYS (43-12-4)

FRIDAY, MAR. 6, 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 continue their three-game weekend against the South Carolina Stingrays from CenturyLink Arena.

Head-To-Head: The Steelheads have now won four-straight meetings with the Stingrays dating back to Jan. 25, 2013 and became the first team in the franchise series to win a home game. The win on Wednesday also marked the third-straight shutout of the Stingrays with the second-consecutive 1-0 scoreline. The Steelheads and Stingrays are in the midst of their first weekend in Boise since the 2003-04 season when the Stingrays won back-to-back games. The Steelheads are 4-2-0 against the Stingrays all-time and now 4-0-0 against South Division teams this season.

Last Game: The Steelheads needed just one tally in a 1-0 shutout win over the Stingrays on Wednesday night from CenturyLink Arena. At the tail end of nearly silent two full periods, Steelheads forward Diego Cuglietta (PP, 19:54 2nd) put home the game’s lone goal on a rebound off the right post to take the 1-0 edge. Despite physical play stepping up late, the Steelheads came out victorious. Tomas Sholl (27-8-5) halted all 25 shots in the win, while Logan Thompson (22-11-4) stopped 22 of 23 shots in the loss.

Best of the Year: The Steelheads extended their win streak to seven games and nine-straight at CenturyLink Arena on Wednesday night, marking their best win streak of the season. The stretch surpasses their six-game win streak from December 13-27 and is now two wins away from tying the team’s best win streak (nine games) set from Feb. 20, 2015 through Mar. 7, 2015 when the team began with seven-straight wins on the road before adding two more at home en route to their second division title. The Steelheads have two games remaining in the homestand and have now won 10 of their last 11 games since February 7.

Shutting Down: For the first time this season, the Steelheads earned back-to-back shutout wins also with back-to-back 25-save efforts from Colton Point and Tomas Sholl. It’s the first back-to-back shutout performance by the Steelheads since Mar. 15-16, 2018 against South Carolina (3-0 W, 1-0 W) and just the fourth time since 2006-07 that the Steelheads accomplished this feat. The team’s most-consecutive shutouts came from Apr. 1-7, 2017 with three-straight shutouts between Branden Komm (3-0 W vs. COL; 2-0 W @ AK) and Landon Bow (1-0 W @ AK). Defensively, opponents have been shut out three times during their nine-game home win streak and have been held to three goals or less in all nine games.

Kill Counter: The Steelheads penalty kill also extended their perfect stretch to a seven-game total after a 5-for-5 performance on Wednesday. The unit has halted 22-straight power play attempts by opponents since February 19 while knocking down over five power plays in a game three times in that stretch. Overall, the Steelheads penalty kill is perfect in 16 of their last 17 games since January 20 (50-for-52, 96.2%) and has only allowed seven power play goals since December 18 (30 games). For their efforts, the team has surged from 16th in the ECHL to a share of second place (87.9%) with 13 games remaining.

Shollshank: Steelheads goaltender Tomas Sholl recorded his fifth shutout of the season and second in five weeks with a 25-save performance over South Carolina. Now in three career games against the Stingrays, the Hermosa Beach, Calif. native has not allowed a goal through 85 shots including a 3-0 win and 1-0 victory on Mar. 15-16, 2018 in South Carolina to record his first two shutouts of his professional career. Overall, Sholl is also on a five-game win streak, matching his season-high set between December 13-31, and his 27th win of the season sets a new career-best over last year’s 26-win season in one fewer game. Sholl leads the ECHL in wins and minutes (2,405), and he’s the active leader in GAA (2.17) through 40 games. He sits six wins from tying Steve Silverthorn (2005-08) on the Steelheads ECHL era all-time wins list set with 68 wins.

Stung Rays: For just the second time this year, the South Carolina Stingrays were shut out by an opponent while earning just their 12th regulation loss of the season. The other shutout against came on January 3 against Florida (1-0 L) in a 29-save performance also opposing Logan Thompson (28 of 29 saved). The Stingrays own 10 shutouts on the season with three of those coming in the 2020 calendar year and last done a month to the date on February 6 in Orlando (4-0 W). The Stingrays are in the midst of a seven-game road trip and have won two of three games. Against non-divisional opponents so far, the Stingrays own a 4-2-0 record with four games to go while only losing to Brampton (3-1 L) on February 10 and the Steelheads (1-0 L) on Wednesday.

MOUNTAIN DIVISION STANDINGS:

Next Game: The Steelheads and Stingrays finish their weekend set on Saturday, Mar. 7 at 7:10 p.m. from CenturyLink Arena. Tickets are available by calling 208-331-TIXS(8497) or going to idahosteelheads.com. Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on 1350 KTIK-AM "The Ticket" as well as 7:00 p.m. on Sparklight Ch. 72 & ECHL.tv.