PREVIEW: IDAHO STEELHEADS (36-17-7) VS. SOUTH CAROLINA STINGRAYS (43-13-4)

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

GAME NOTES: CLICK HERE

Tonight’s Game: The Steelheads close their three-game weekend against the South Carolina Stingrays from CenturyLink Arena.

Head-To-Head: The Steelheads have won five-straight meetings with the Stingrays dating back to Jan. 25, 2013 and have now claimed the season series with one game remaining. The Steelheads have shut out the Stingrays three times in their previous seven games and 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 5-2-0 against the Stingrays all-time and now 5-0-0 against South Division teams this season.

Last Night: The Steelheads swam past the Stingrays in a wild 4-1 win on Friday night from CenturyLink Arena. Stingrays defenseman Jesse Lees (10:53 1st) netted the opening goal to take the early 1-0 lead before the Steelheads went on a four-unanswered goal run. Forward Jonathan Charbonneau (PP, 17:32 1st) started the run to force the game into the next frame tied, 1-1. Forwards A.J. White (11:51 2nd) and Brett Supinski (19:57 2nd) continued the run for a 3-1 lead before a line brawl finished the frame. Forward Anthony Nellis (EN, 19:17 3rd) added the final insurance goal to seal off the 4-1 win. Tomas Sholl (28-8-5) stopped 29 of 30 shots in the win, while Parker Milner (20-5-3) saved 29 of 32 shots in the loss.

The Great 8: With last night’s win, the Steelheads now own an eight-game win streak heading into their final game of the homestand as well as 10-straight home wins. The Steelheads are one win away from tying their franchise record for consecutive wins (nine games) with their mark set from Feb. 20, 2015 through Mar. 7, 2015 en route to their second division title. In their run, the Steelheads have held opponents to three goals or less in all eight games while only allowing two goals in four contests, and three of their eight wins have come in overtime. Overall, the Steelheads have won 11 of their last 13 games since February 7 heading into their final game of the nine-game homestand.

All Things Clicking: The Steelheads have been brilliant on both sides of the ice during their eight-game win streak so far to own a plus-15 goal differential (26-11) in that time. Offensively, the Steelheads have pounced early more frequently, netting 18 of their 26 goals in the first two periods with eight tallies in the opening frame, and they’ve led heading into the final period in six of eight games. Defensively, the Steelheads are only allowing 1.38 goals per game while outscoring teams 10-2 in the second period. The Steelheads are even in goals during the third period at five goals each.

Fight Night: Despite the melee at the end of the second period last night, the Steelheads still did not suffer their largest penalty ridden game of the season. The Steelheads tallied 30 penalty minutes with 26 of those coming in the second period, falling short of their 31-minute game on December 13 against Fort Wayne (5-2 W), which included a 29-minute second period total. The Stingrays, however, posted 44 penalty minutes and 38 minutes in the second period, giving the Steelheads their most opponent penalty minutes for a game (44), a period (38), and combined (74). The Steelheads still sit in the bottom half of the ECHL in penalty minutes per game (12.30, 15th).

Char-izard: Steelheads forward Jonathan Charbonneau has found his scoring touch with the Steelheads with another power play goal and point in last night’s win. The St-Colobant, Que. native is on a four-game point streak with back-to-back games with power play points, posting four points (2-2–4) since February 28. After beginning his Steelheads tenure without a point in eight-straight games, Charbonneau now owns points in five of six contests since beginning the fourth quarter of the season. The Steelheads are 5-0-0 when Charbonneau boasts a point and now has 23 points (12-11–23) in 48 games this season between the Steelheads and Stingrays.

Stung Rays: For just the third time this year, the South Carolina Stingrays have lost back-to-back games and are now in jeopardy of losing their grip on the top spot in the ECHL. Their two losses this week joins their three-game losing skid from January 29 through February 1 in another three-game, four-day stretch but against three different teams: Greenville (6-2 L), Norfolk (8-6 L) and Florida (5-2 L). Unlike their previous stretch, the Stingrays have held the Steelheads to just 2.50 goals per game but have only mustered one goal in two contests. The Stingrays are now tied with the Everblades for the top spot in the ECHL at 90 points heading into tonight’s weekend finale.

MOUNTAIN DIVISION STANDINGS:

Next Game: The Steelheads begin a three-game road weekend against the Rapid City Rush on Friday, Mar. 13 at 7:05 p.m. from Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. Coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. on 1350 KTIK-AM "The Ticket" & ECHL.tv.