Idaho Steelheads Start Season 4-0
The Idaho Steelheads are off to a great start to the 2019-20 season at 4-0 after sweeping the Wichita Thunder at home over the weekend.
Idaho posted a 2-1 overtime win Friday and followed with a 5-2 victory Saturday.
Here is a wrap-up of the week and a look ahead:
LAST WEEK…
Friday, October 18 vs. Wichita Thunder: 2-1 W (OT)
Shots: Thunder 25, Steelheads 41
PP: Thunder 0-for-3, Steelheads 1-for-4
The Steelheads began their home schedule with a thrilling 2-1 overtime win from CenturyLink Arena. Forward Will Merchant (PP, 15:49 1st) netted the first home goal of the season on a one-time shot to take a 1-0 lead. After the Thunder forced overtime with a third period goal, the Steelheads capped the night on top thanks to defenseman Colton Saucerman (4:09 OT) in the 2-1 overtime victory. Tomas Sholl (3-0-0) halted 24 of 25 shots in the win.
Saturday, October 19 vs. Wichita Thunder: 5-2 W
Shots: Thunder 33, Steelheads 34
PP: Thunder 0-for-6, Steelheads 0-for-3
The Steelheads finished the weekend with a 5-2 win from CenturyLink Arena. After the Thunder began the scoring, forward Will Merchant (12:03 1st) scored the first home goal for the second-straight night to level the score, 1-1, before the Thunder added one more in the opening frame. Defensemen Brady Norrish (1:44 2nd) and Jeff King (5:06 2nd) quickly turned the scoreline around to jump ahead 3-2. Finally, Merchant (8:19 3rd) added his second of the night before defenseman Colton Saucerman (EN, 18:19 3rd) finished the night with the final insurance goal, securing the 5-2 victory. Colton Point (1-0-0) turned aside 31 of 33 shots in the win.
THIS WEEK…
Friday, October 25 @ Wichita Thunder – 6:05 p.m. MT
Saturday, October 26 @ Allen Americans – 6:05 p.m. MT
Sunday, October 27 @ Allen Americans – 3:05 p.m. MT
The Steelheads make their first Midwestern swing starting against the Wichita Thunder to conclude their three-game stretch and followed by a pair of meetings with the Allen Americans. The Steelheads have now won two-straight games against the Thunder after this weekend, winning both in overtime and regulation. With a win on Friday, the Steelheads can take the season series still with two games remaining of the five-game schedule ending in late March. The Steelheads are now even with the Thunder in their franchise series, owning a 7-4-3 record overall and 3-2-2 at INTRUST Bank Arena.
Additionally, this is the first of 11 meetings against the Americans this season after the Steelheads took last year’s series with a 4-2-0 record while earning a 2-1-0 record both at home and at Allen Events Center. This will be the largest number of games head-to-head in two years, and this is the first of four different stops in Texas. The Steelheads own a 14-7-3 regular season record in the franchise series while going 8-3-2 on the road.