Game Preview
Idaho Steelheads vs Utah Grizzlies
Opponent
Utah Grizzlies
Division: West
Conference: National
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Game Date: 3/17/2010 7:00 PM
Doors Open: 6:30 PM
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Matchup: Utah Grizzlies at Idaho Steelheads, Tuesday and Wednesday, 7 PM at Qwest Arena
Important for different reasons: More than 20 points separate the Grizzlies and the Steelheads in the ECHL’s West Division standings, but both teams have a lot on the line this week. First, Idaho continues its quest to lock down the no. 1 seed in the National Conference, which comes with a first-round bye in the playoffs. Meanwhile, Utah is involved in five-team dogfight to avoid eighth place – the eighth-place team is the only National Conference squad to miss the playoffs.
Beneficial Move: Back in January, Idaho acquired defenseman Dustin Friesen from Utah. The steady blue-liner had 11 points in 32 games with the Grizz at the time of the trade. Since the acquisition, the 27-year-old has blossomed as the team’s top defenseman. In his first 20 games with the team, he matched the 11 points he had in Utah and also carried a plus-10 rating, compared to the minus-3 he had with the Grizzlies.