IDAHO STEELHEADS (19-13-1) VS. UTAH GRIZZLIES (21-12-2)

MONDAY, JAN. 17, 2022 | 1:10 P.M. MTMAVERIK CENTER | WEST VALLEY CITY, UTRADIO: 95.3FM/1350AM KTIK | STREAM: FLOHOCKEY

Tonight’s Game: The Steelheads and Grizzlies conclude their three-game weekend from Maverik Center as well as their six-game stretch.

Head-To-Head: The Steelheads leveled off the three-game weekend series with one win apiece but now has earned not only three of five games in the six-game stretch but also wins in five of eight games as the 16-game season series heads into the second half. The Steelheads broke the trend of back-to-back wins by one of the teams in this series, and no team has won three-straight games. The Steelheads own wins in 14 of 19 contests since the 2019-20 season series. Overall, the Steelheads are 111-54-26 all-time against the Grizzlies as well as 51-30-13 at Maverik Center.

Last Game: The Steelheads routed the Grizzlies in a 6-0 win on Saturday night from Maverik Center. The Steelheads got out in front early in the first period thanks to a one-time shot from captain A.J. White (PP, 3:54 1st) on a 4-on-3 power play to stretch ahead 1-0. White (3:46 2nd) then added his second goal of the night on a rebound pushed through a scrum to double the lead before forward Yauheni Aksiantsiuk (8:46 2nd) scored on a breakaway exactly five minutes later to eventually send the game to the third period, 3-0. The Steelheads blew the game open in the final frame with a shorthanded strike by forward Zack Andrusiak (SH, 4:59 3rd) as well as a second from Aksiantsiuk (PP, 9:05 3rd) and a second shorthanded goal coming from forward Shawn McBride (SH, 12:03 3rd) in the 6-0 victory.

Shutout No. 5: The Steelheads earned their biggest win of the season in the rout of the Grizzlies. The six-goal output is tied for the second-most in a game this season with their six goals in last Friday’s 6-3 win at home and only trails their seven tallies on Opening Night, also against the Grizzlies. The shutout for Colton Point is the largest goal-differential in a shutout for the Steelheads since Nov. 24, 2018 when Tomas Sholl stopped 41 shots against the Rapid City Rush in a 6-0 win. The Steelheads have earned a 6-0 shutout now 10 times in the ECHL era with the most goals in a shutout coming at seven tallies on Dec. 21, 2005 in Phoenix as well as Feb. 24, 2007 against Utah.

Short to Short: On top of their six-goal night, the Steelheads bursted open with two shorthanded goals for the first time this season. It’s the first time the Steelheads have had a multi-shorthanded goal game since their two tallies by Anthony Nellis and Marc-Olivier Roy on Dec. 21, 2019 in Norfolk (4-1 W) and ties the team’s ECHL era record for most shorthanded goals in a game. The two tallies also doubled the team’s shorthanded goal production in one game. The Steelheads have scored four shorthanded goals this season though have allowed five total including two shorthanded goals on Friday.

Double Trouble: Steelheads forwards Yauheni Aksiantsiuk and A.J. White each earned a two-goal game in Saturday’s win while continuing to lead the lamp lighting this season. Aksiantsiuk’s tallies are his first goals since December 11 though only spans four games, and it’s the third multi-goal game of his season. White earned only his second multi-goal game of the year but both have come against the Grizzlies with the first coming on Opening Night as part of his first hat-trick. White leads the Steelheads in all scoring categories (13-21–34) and is seventh in the ECHL among active players in scoring, while Aksiantsiuk slid into second on the team in goals (11) and tied for sixth among ECHL rookies in goals.

Man On Point: Steelheads goaltender Colton Point has impressed over his last two weeks and continued that run of form in Saturday’s win. His 25-save shutout is not only his first of the season but also his second of his career with the first one coming on Feb. 29, 2020 at home also against the Grizzlies in another 25-save effort. The North Bay, Ont. native has played 87-straight minutes of shutout hockey extending from the third period and overtime of the 4-3 shootout win in Boise over Utah. Point has won back-to-back games and held opponents to three goals or less in four of five contests, improving his stat line to 2-3-0 with a 2.38 GAA and a .921 save pct. with one shutout. He becomes the third different Steelheads goaltender with a shutout this season, joining Matt Jurusik (2) and Jake Kupsky (2).

Summer & Winter: Much like other ECHL teams, the Grizzlies have gone up and down following their return to play from the holiday break. With the loss last night, the Grizzlies have dropped three of their last four contests as well as five of nine games since the break, posting a 4-4-1 record while being shut out twice and held to one goal or less in three of their four regulation losses. The Grizzlies split their first four games against Rapid City and can match that tie with their six-game streak against the Steelheads. Prior to the break, the Grizzlies earned wins in six-straight games in an 11-day span.

2021-22 MOUNTAIN DIVISION STANDINGS:

Next Game: The Steelheads continue their six-game road trip and open a three-game weekend on Friday, Jan. 21 at 7:05 p.m. from Monument Ice Arena. Coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. on 95.3FM/1350AM "The Ticket" & FloHockey.