IDAHO STEELHEADS (2-2-0) VS. RAPID CITY RUSH (2-1-0)

SATURDAY, OCT. 30, 2021 | 7:10 P.M. MTIDAHO CENTRAL ARENA | BOISE, IDTV: SPARKLIGHT CH. 72RADIO: 1350 KTIK-AM | STREAM: FLOHOCKEYTICKETS: CLICK HERECLICK HERE FOR GAME NOTES

Tonight’s Game: The Steelheads look for redemption on the back end of a two-game home weekend against the Rapid City Rush. 

Head-To-Head: The Steelheads dropped the first meeting in their 11-game season series with the Rush with four games remaining at Idaho Central Arena. The Rush have now won seven of 11 games since the outset of the 2019-20 season, a year in which the Rush earned their first season set since the two first met in the 2014-15 season. The Steelheads own a 42-19-5 record against the Rush and are now 20-9-4 at Idaho Central Arena.

Last Night: The Steelheads dropped a 5-4 heartbreaker to the Rush on Friday night at Idaho Central Arena. The Steelheads struck first for the first time this season early in the game on a one-time shot from forward Yauheni Aksiantsiuk (2:08 1st) for the 1-0 advantage. The Rush answered with back-to-back tallies to close out the opening period before the Steelheads found life in the second period. Steelheads forward Luc Brown (3:49 2nd) started the three-unanswered goal stretch early in the frame to level the score, 2-2, before forward Will Merchant (PP, 13:58 2nd; 0:31 3rd) notched his first two of the season to push the advantage by two. However, the Rush added three in the final frame while the Steelheads couldn’t come back in the 5-4 loss.

Up But Down: The Steelheads may have fallen in last night’s game against the Rush, but some storylines have continued from their opening weekend. The Steelheads have scored four or more goals in three of their first four games this season and own a share of the most goals in the ECHL with the Newfoundland Growlers. Additionally, the team scored on the power play in three of four games, helping them not only to third in the ECHL in conversion rate (31.6%) but also the most power play goals in the league, overtaking the Norfolk Admirals (5) in last night’s result.

Middle Sector: Though the Steelheads have only played four games, they are proving to be one of the strongest second period teams in the ECHL. In four games played, the Steelheads have scored eight goals in the second period with those tallies coming through three of those games. The Steelheads share the most goals in the second period with the Norfolk Admirals, and the frame is equal to their goal total from the first (3) and third (5) periods combined. Their goals for and against ratio (8:3 or 2.67:1) is the second best in the league, only behind the Orlando Solar Bears (3:1).

Strong Like An Aks: Steelheads forward Yauheni Aksiantsiuk earned yet another multi-point game, his third of the regular season in just four games. The Brest, Belarus native has notched a pair of points in all three of those games with one goal and one assist in his last two games with points: Friday against Rapid City and October 23 in Utah. He has already equaled his point total from last season with Yunost Minsk in Belarus (3-3–6) in 27 fewer games while also reaching one-third of his point total from his first pro year in 2018-29 with Shakhtyor Soligorsk. Aksiantsiuk sits tied for second in scoring across the ECHL with six points (2 goals, 4 assists) while sharing the lead among rookies.

Special Deliveries: Steelheads forward Luc Brown picked up another pair of points at home in last night’s loss, including one goal and one assist. The Napanee, Ont. native has multi-point games in both contests at home this season, and his goal in the second period set a new career-high in both goals and points followed by an assist that hit the trifecta of career marks. In just four games this season, Brown owns five points (3 goals, 2 assists) and sits second on the team in goals scored.

Bayling Them Out: Rush forward Stephen Baylis notched two goals in last night’s win over the Steelheads, including his second power play goal of the season. In his first three games, the Ottawa, Ont. native has stashed three goals with his first being the game-winner last week against the Tulsa Oilers. In just three games, he has equaled his goal total from his first season in Fort Wayne in 2019-20 while nearly halving his total from last season (7) in Rapid City. Baylis is eight games away from reaching 100 for his ECHL career and sits tied for fifth in goals across the ECHL.

2019-20 MOUNTAIN DIVISION STANDINGS:

Next Game: The Steelheads close their two-game home weekend against the Rapid City Rush on Saturday, Oct. 30 at 7:10 p.m. from Idaho Central Arena. Tickets are available at idahosteelheads.com or by calling 331-TIXS. Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on 1350AM KTIK as well as 7:00 p.m. on Sparklight Ch. 72 & FloHockey.