Idaho Steelheads | IDAHO STEELHEADS WEEKLY – WEEK 22

IDAHO STEELHEADS WEEKLY – WEEK 22 – 3/19/24

The Idaho Steelheads returned to Boise Sunday from a six-game Canadian road trip collecting seven out of a possible 12 points with a (3-2-0-1) record and kick-off a three-game home stand against the Tulsa Oilers this week beginning on Wednesday. Last Wednesday the Steelheads picked up their second straight overtime win which secured a spot into the ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs while veteran defenseman Matt Register skated in his 600^th career ECHL game on Friday becoming one of just 14 players to hit that mark.

Idaho (40-17-2-2, 84pts, 0.689) enters this week second place in the Mountain Division, Western Conference, and third in the entire ECHL trailing the Kansas City Mavericks by 10 points with 11 games remaining (8 home, 3 away).

THIS WEEK’S GAMES
Wednesday, Mar. 20 vs. Tulsa Oilers | 7:10 p.m.
Friday, Mar. 22 vs. Tulsa Oilers | 7:10 p.m.
Saturday, Mar. 23 vs. Tulsa Oilers | 7:10 p.m.

THE WEEK AHEAD
Idaho is back at the Idaho Central Arena on Wednesday for the first time since Mar. 2 after wrapping up a six-game Canadian road trip collecting seven out of a possible 12 points posting a (3-2-0-1) record with three games going beyond regulation.

Idaho is 3-3-0-0 vs. Tulsa this season with all six meetings coming at the BOK Center in January and February. The Steelheads traveled to the Oilers late in January for a three-in-three weekend and picked up a 4-2 win on Jan. 26 highlighted by a goal and two assists performance form both Lincoln Erne and Will Merchant before falling the next two days by final scores of 5-2.

Idaho then went back to Oklahoma for another three-in-three weekend about a month later notching a 4-3 overtime win on Feb. 23 with Trevor Zins burying the ot winner at 3:30. The Oilers stomped the Steelheads the following night by a score of 10-4 before Idaho bounced back Sunday with a 4-2 win.

In the head-to-head series the Oilers have outscored the Steelheads 27-20. The 10 goals from the Oilers on Feb. 24 are tied for the most goals produced by a team this season while the 14 goals combined is second most in a game this season across the league. The six-goal losing margin for Idaho is their biggest of the year while the 10 goals allowed is the most given up in a single game in franchise history. The five goals allowed in the second period is the second time Idaho has allowed five goals in a period.

Idaho has scored four goals in four of six games while giving up three or more in four of those six decisions. The Steelheads are a combined (4-for-16, 25%) on the power-play having scored on the man advantage in four games from A.J. White (2), Willie Knierim, and Francesco Arcuri. Meanwhile, the Oilers have gone (4-for-18, 22.2%) on the man advantage.

In the first six meetings Tulsa is averaging 38.83 shots for producing 40 or more shots in four outings. Meanwhile, Idaho has generated an average of 10.17 shots for but have been held to under 25 in three games.

Idaho’s A.J. White (2G, 3A) and Will Merchant (1G, 4A) are tied for the head-to-head series lead with five points while White, Parker Aucoin, Jade Miller, Willie Knierim, and Trevor Zins each have a pair of goals. Bryan Thomson is (2GP, 1-1-0, 3.06 GAA, .927 SV%), Jake Kielly is (3GP, 2-1-0, 4.17 GAA, .893 SV%), and Jared Moe (2GP, 0-1-0, 5.05 GAA, .844 SV%). For Tulsa, Dante Sheriff paces the way with nine points (2G, 7A) while Blake McLaughlin leads the way with four goals all coming in the 10-4 win on Feb. 24. Gage Alexander is (2GP, 1-1-0, 3.08GAA, .927 SV%) and Julian Junca is (4GP, 2-1-1, 3.49 GAA, .859 SV%).

The Oilers (27-28-5, 1, 60pts, 0.492) hold third place in the Mountain Division but are just (3-7) in their last 10 games dating back to Feb. 25. During the stretch they have been outscored 35-28 having been shutout twice. Six of the 10 games have been decided by two or fewer goals. The Oilers dropped two of three games last week; Wednesday 5-3 win at Wichita, Friday 3-0 loss at Indy, and Saturday 4-3 loss at Indy. Tulsa is led by Eddie Matsushima who leads the team with 48 points and 24 goals in 40 games while rookie forward Kyle Crnkovic is second on the team with 45 points (15G, 30A) in 49 games.

MOUNTAIN DIVISION STANDINGS

X - Kansas City Mavericks (44-10-4-2, 94pts, 0.783)
X - Idaho Steelheads (40-17-2-2, 84pts, 0.689)
Tulsa Oilers (27-28-5-1, 60pts, 0.492)
Utah Grizzlies (28-30-3-0, 59pts, 0.484)
Allen Americans (26-30-2-1, 55pts, 0.566)
Wichita Thunder (23-29-7-1, 54pts, 0.450)
Rapid City Rush (23-34-3-0, 49pts, 0.408)

TEAM NOTES

WRAPPING UP THE CANADIAN ROAD TRIP
The Steelheads returned to Boise Sunday after 12 days on the road in Canada which began on Mar. 6. Idaho flew on Mar. 6 to Saint John’s, Newfoundland (4,108 miles) making stops in Denver and Montreal to make it there. Idaho collected four out of a possible six points on trip and flew to Montreal on Tuesday from Newfoundland (1,506 miles). The club landed at the Montreal airport Tuesday morning and then bused to Trois-Rivières, Quebec (91 miles). The Steelheads picked up three out of a possible six points against the Lions and bused to Trois-Rivières to Montreal Sunday morning then flew from Montreal to Boise (2,609 miles). Across the 12 day road trip the Steelheads picked up a (3-2-0-1) record traveling a combined 8,405 miles.

LOCKING UP A PLAYOFF SPOT
Last Wednesday night Francesco Arcuri scored 81 seconds into overtime handing Idaho a 2-1 overtime victory in Trois-Rivières clinching a playoff spot for the Steelheads. It was the 59^th game of the season as Idaho improved to (40-16-2-1) and to put things into perspective last year the team locked up a playoff berth on Mar. 10 in Game 56 with a record of (44-9-1-2). Idaho and Kansas City are the lone teams to officially have clinched a berth into this year’s playoffs.

GOING BEYOND REGULATION
Idaho has played three of their last four games beyond regulation falling in a shootout last Saturday at Trois-Rivières 5-4 after winning in overtime 2-1 Wednesday and 5-4 last Monday in Newfoundland.

Idaho improved to 7-2 in overtime this season notching their second straight overtime victory last week just the sixth time since joining the ECHL since 2003-04 they have accomplished that feat. On average the team has won in overtime in 83 seconds with six of seven wins coming 83 seconds or fewer. A list of overtime winning goals this year below:

Nov. 3 (5-4 vs. WIC, Barteaux, 1:23)
Dec. 8 (5-4 at KC, Pelton-Byce, 0:14)
Dec. 13 (5-4 vs. RC, White, 1:06)
Jan. 31 (3-2 vs. ALN, Pelton-Byce, 0:58)
Feb. 23, (4-3 at TUL, Zins, 3:30)
Mar. 11 (5-4 at NFL, Kudla, 1:15)
Mar. 13 (2-1 at TR, Arcuri, 1:21)

PLAYING IN CLOSE GAMES
Idaho is 14-4-2-2 in one goal games this season having played three of their last four games decided by one goal and six of the last 14 with a record of (5-0-1). 11 of the last 14 games have been decided by two or fewer goals with a record of (9-1-0-1) since Feb. 16.

GOAL SCORING AT A PREMIUM
Idaho is second in the league averaging 4.20 goals for per game having scored 256 goals through 61 games… Kansas City leads the league at 4.32 goals for per games (259 in 60 games). The Steelheads have scored four or more goals in 44 of 61 games including 14 of their last 20 games while posting a record of 38-3-1-2 when doing so.

SHOOTING GALLERY
Idaho is second in the league averaging 36.00 shots for per game this season. They’re 25-10-1-2 when outshooting their opponent and 13-6-1-0 when being outshot. They have tallied 40 or more shots in 20 of 61 games while only not hitting 31 shots 15 times this year. Idaho has been outshot in four of their last five games and 11 of their last 14 games. Defensively speaking Idaho is 18^th in shots against allowing 32.41 shots against per game having given up 30 or more shots in 13 straight games.

TOP OF THE RANKS ON THE POWER-PLAY
Idaho has the second ranked power-play in the ECHL (25-for-101, 24.8%) and first on the road (32-for-105, 30.5%). Idaho has failed to convert on the man advantage in back-to-back games (0-for-10) for the first time since Jan.5/6.

HOME COOKING
Idaho is tied for fourth with a 17-8-2-1 record. They have sold out in 27 of 28 games including 25 straight having scored four or more goals in 19 outings. They have won five of their last seven games (5-1-1) dating back to Jan. 31.

SCORING FIRST
Idaho is tied for first in the league with 35 first goals posting a record of (29-3-1-2). On Saturday in Trois-Rivières the Steelheads took a 1-0 lead but lost 5-4 in the shootout, the first loss when scoring first since Jan. 12 losing 4-3 vs. Kansas City Mavericks, 13 consecutive games.

STILL IN THE AHL
Jack Becker (Texas), Mark Rassell (Texas), Cody Haiskanen (Texas), Dawson Barteaux (Manitoba), and Dylan Wells (Tucson) all remain in the American Hockey League.

Becker has appeared in 20 games with Texas totaling five points (4G, 1A). In 39 ECHL games this year he has totaled 37 points (16G, 21A).

Rassell has appeared in 12 games with Texas scoring four goals while tallying three points (2G, 1A) in eight games with Calgary earlier this season. In 39 ECHL games this year he has collected 43 points (29G, 14A).

Haiskanen has appeared in a combined 26 AHL games this year totaling five points (2G, 3A). He played 18 games with Ontario notching a goal and two assists, four games with San Jose, and currently four games with Texas adding a goal and an assist. In 28 ECHL games this year he has tallied 13 points (2G, 11A) with a +14 rating.

Barteaux has appeared in 31 games for the Manitoba Moose collecting eight points (5G, 4A) with a +11 rating. In 15 ECHL games this year he has totaled 13 points (3G, 10A) with a +19 rating.

Wells has appeared in 14 games with the Tucson Roadrunners posting a (8-4-2) record with a 3.22 goals against average and .897 save percentage with one shutout. With Idaho this year he has won all seven games he’s appeared in with a 3.27 goals against average and a .894 save percentage.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

#1 Jared Moe made 37 saves at Newfoundland on Mar. 11 in a 5-4 overtime win after posting 29 saves the night before in a 4-2 win. The rookie has appeared in 16 games for Idaho this season posting a (9-4-1) record with a 3.40 goals against average and a .897 save percentage.

#2 Trevor Zins has appeared in 25 games for Idaho totaling eight points (3G, 5A) with a +10 rating since being acquired from the Indy Fuel on Jan. 11 for future considerations. His last goal came nine games ago which was the overtime winner on Feb. 25 at Tulsa. The rookie defender has appeared in every game for the Steelheads since joining the club in January.

#3 Nick Canade picked up his team leading fifth fighting major of the season last Friday, Idaho’s ninth of the season, first since Feb. 23 (eight games). He is two games shy of 100 as a Steelhead having logged 29 points (9G, 20A) with eight fighting majors dating back to last season.

#6 Wade Murphy is still the club’s leader with 56 points (22G, 34A) in 46 games having missed the last 13 games with an upper body injury.

#7 Jack Jensen was placed on the injured reserve list on Mar. 5 and did not make the trip with the team to Newfoundland and Trois-Rivières.

#8 Keaton Mastrodonato scored his 21^st goal of the season 72 seconds into a 5-4 shootouts loss on Saturday. He was re-called from his loan assignment by Texas on Jan. 14 and scored his first AHL goal on Jan. 26 in a 4-3 overtime win at Coachella Valley. The 6-foot, 205lb right-handed shooter scored four goals in 19 games with the Stars before being returned last Friday. Prior to his re-call assignment, the Powell River, BC native was leading all ECHL rookies with 20 goals while his 35 points were third in 36 games. His five power-play goals were tied for third while his nine power-play assists, and 14 points were tied for second.

#10 Romain Rodzisnki has appeared in 35 games since signing a contract out of Concordia University (Sports) on Dec. 19 producing nine points (3G, 6A). He has appeared in 22 straight games having missed just one game this year back on Feb. 26 at Tulsa. He is pointless in his last seven games and goal-less in his last 15 games dating back to Feb. 10.

#11 Parker Aucoin is pointless in three straight games after notching a point in his first eight games with Idaho (3G, 7A) signing with the club on Feb. 15 from Carleton University (USports).

#13 Francesco Arcuri scored his first career overtime winner last Wednesday in a 2-1 win at Trois-Rivières securing a playoff spot for Idaho. He had a three-goal streak from Mar.10-13, the second time he has found the back of the net in three consecutive decisions: Nov. 15-Nov.18. The Dallas Stars prospect is tied for first amongst Idaho rookies in points (36) and is second in goals (18) having played in 53 games.

#17 Ty Pelton-Byce is 10 games shy of 100 as a Steelhead totaling 104 points (42G, 62A) in his first 90 games. Across parts of three seasons in the ECHL he has accumulated 104 points (36G, 68A) in 107 career games. The Madison, WI native has played six AHL games this season (2 Texas, 4 Henderson). This season he is fourth on the Steelheads in scoring with 49 points (14G, 35A) in 47 games.

#18 A.J. White is one point shy of 300 as a Steelhead (405GP, 108-191-299) looking to join Marty Flichel (2004-11, 436GP, 148-260-408) as the only Steelhead ECHL player to hit the 300-point plateau. Cal Ingraham collected 381 points (175G, 206A) in the WCHL days with Idaho from 1998-02. White has notched 100^th goal as a Steelhead on Jan. 19 joining Marty Flichel (181), Cal Ingraham (175), and Scott Burt (111) as the only four skaters to reach that milestone in franchise history. He played in his 400^th game as a Steelhead on Mar. 2 becoming just one of three players to do so; Marty Flichel (497G)) and Scott Burt (403GP) which account for both the ECHL and WCHL. The sixth year Steelhead, fifth year Captain, ranks second all-time in franchise history in games played (405), third in points (299) and assists (191), and fourth in goals (108). This season he is the Steelheads second leading scorer with 55 points (22G, 33A) missing his first game of the season last Saturday. His 22 goals are tied for second on the club while his 12 on the power-play are tied for third in the ECHL. He leads Idaho this season with 22 power-play points. During the calendar year of 2024 White has registered a point in in 17 of 30 games (9G, 14A) including a seven-game point-streak (4G, 7A) from Feb.10-25.

#19 Lynden McCallum snapped a six-game goal less drought scoring his fourth goal of the season on Saturday night and now has eight points (4G, 4A) in 12 games this season after signing with the Steelheads on Feb. 5. He made his season debut at Tulsa on Feb. 23 playing in his first game since Jan. 13, 2023 after dealing with a season ending injury last season. The third-year pro netted his second professional hat-trick on Mar. 1 while also tallying two assists in an 8-7 win vs. Utah.

#21 Jake Murray played in his first game with Idaho last Friday since Dec. 2 after being returned on loan to the Steelheads last Friday. He was re-called from his loan assignment by Texas on Dec. 7 making his AHL debut on Dec. 15 and appearing in 19 games. The Steelheads acquired the playing rights to the Oakville, ON native from the Cincinnati Cyclones on Oct. 16 and then the following day he signed a one-year contract with the AHL’s Stars.

#23 Demetrios Koumontzis snapped a six-game goal less skid scoring his eighth goal of the season on Saturday and has totaled 18 points (8G, 10A) in 41 games this year. The rookie who joined the club last season after his collegiate career at Arizona State has a point in 10 of his last 17 games (6G, 7A) since Feb. 9.

#24 Lincoln Erne has been a healthy scratch the last two games. The rookie defenseman has played 26 games for Idaho recording 11 points (3G, 8A) with a +4 rating since being acquired from the Newfoundland Growlers for cash considerations on Jan. 3.

#26 Jade Miller is six games shy of 100 as a Steelhead and seven games shy of 200 career ECHL games. In 95 games as a Steelhead he has collected 45 points (22G, 23A) after having spent his first two pro seasons with South Carolina. In 193 career ECHL games he has recorded 79 points (34G, 45A).

#28 Will Merchant is one game shy of 350 career ECHL games and six goals shy of 100. Since returning to Idaho on Jan. 2 after having spent the last year and a half playing overseas he has collected 22 points (5G, 17A) in 31 games. He has an assist in five of his last six games and since Feb. 3 has a point in 14 of 18 games (3G, 11A). In the Steelheads ECHL era he ranks sixth in games played (195), fourth in goals (84), sixth in assists (111), and fourth in points (291) having played parts of six seasons in Boise.

#29 Willie Knierim has four goals in his last 10 games and five points during that stretch. He scored a goal in his 100^th game as a Steelhead back on Mar. 1 and in parts of three seasons with Idaho has totaled 57 points (34G, 23A) in 107 games. He scored four goals for his first professional hat-trick Jan. 19 joining Tristan King and Mark Derlago as the only three skaters to accomplish the feat in the Steelheads ECHL era.

#30 Bryan Thomson started in his first game Sunday in Trois-Rivières since Feb. 10. In the 5-4 shootout loss he turned aside 30 of 34 shots allowing two goals on two shots in the shootout session. The rookie was re-called from his loan assignment by Texas on Mar. 6 after being activated from the injured reserve list, he was placed on the injured reserve list on Feb. 11 missing nine games before heading to the Stars. In 29 games for Idaho this season he has posted a (16-7-1-2) record with 2.87 goals against average and .907 save percentage including win seven of eight starts from Jan. 19-Feb. 9. His 16 wins are third amongst ECHL rookie goaltenders.

#34 Colton Kehler was placed on the injured reserve list Friday (Mar. 15) having missed the last four games.

#35 Jake Kielly appeared in three games during the six game Canadian road trip posting a (1-2-0) record. In his victory he made 35 saves on 36 shots Wednesday in a 2-1 overtime win at Trois-Rivières. Since joining Idaho on Feb. 11 from overseas fifth year pro has appeared in 10 games posting a (7-3-0) record with a 3.86 goals against average and a .895 save percentage.

#43 Matt Register played in his 600^th career ECHL game last Friday becoming just one of 14 players in ECHL history to hit that mark, just the second defenseman now just 59 games shy of tying Kyle Bushee (660GP) for most all-time in ECHL history amongst a defensemen. The 34-year-old has played parts of 11 seasons in the league with six different teams: Ontario, Atlanta, Allen, Colorado, Toledo, and Idaho accumulating 480 points (109G, 371A). Across his 11 seasons in the league he has been named Defenseman of the Year three times (2014, 2017, 2018) and a First All-Star Team selection six times (2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2023). In addition, he is one of just six individuals to have won three Kelly Cups (Allen 2016, Colorado 2017-18) while also reaching the finals with Toledo in 2019 and Idaho 2023. He is the ECHL all-time career postseason leader in games played (146) and assists (87) while ranking second in points (114). He is the only defensemen to have been named Most Valuable Player of the Playoffs, doing so with Colorado in 2017. This season he is second amongst league defenders with 54 points and 45 assists while his assists total is tied for third amongst all ECHL skaters while being the only Steelhead skater to play in all 61 games. After scoring a goal and adding two assists on Saturday he set a Steelheads ECHL record for most assists in a single season by a defender (45) and tied Owen Headrick’s 54 points from last season, most ever by a Steelheads ECHL defenseman in a single season. Scott Swanson holds Idaho’s all-time single season record in points by a defender with 69 (9G, 60A) in 66 games back during the 2002-03 season in the WCHL.

#44 Ben Zloty has gone point-less in his last three games after a season long five-game point-streak (1G, 5A) from Feb. 16-Mar.11. Since Jan. 13 the rookie defenseman has tallied a point in 12 of 19 games (4G, 10A). Under an AHL contract with Texas he has skated in four games with the Stars this season.

#47 Patrick Kudla is tied for third amongst ECHL defenseman with 47 points and 38 assists appearing in 49 games. The second-year Steelhead has a point in eight of his last nine games (3G, 8A) since Feb. 10 and has totaled 97 points (17G, 80A) in 108 career games with Idaho. The 27-year-old has played six games in the AHL this season (4 Syracuse, 2 Calgary).

#77 Jordan Kawaguchi has a point in in 12 of 19 games (5G, 13A) since joining Idaho on Jan. 17 and making his season debut on Feb. 2. He was last year’s Team MVP finishing second in goals (26) and third in points (52) appearing in 57 games.

ACTIVE STATISTICAL LEADERS
Goals: Wade Murphy (22)
Assists: Matt Register (45)
Points: Wade Murphy (56)
Plus/Minus: Wade Murphy (+28)
PIMs: Nick Canade (87)
PPGs: A.J. White (12)
GWGs: Wade Murphy (5)
Shots: Wade Murphy (176)
Wins: Bryan Thomson (16)
GAA: Bryan Thomson (2.87)
SV%: Bryan Thomson (.907)

IDAHO STEELHEADS WEEKLY – WEEK 22 – 3/19/24

IDAHO STEELHEADS WEEKLY – WEEK 22 – 3/19/24

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