BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — The Idaho Steelheads earned home ice throughout the playoffs and the team will retain it in their second-round matchup. However, they won't be starting at home.
After the Steelheads defeated the Utah Grizzlies in six games, the team progressed to the Mountain Division Finals in the Kelly Cup Playoffs, the quarterfinal round. Their opponent? The Allen Americans.
Typically, the higher-ranked seed in an ECHL playoff series gets games 1 and 2 at home. Then the lower-ranked team gets games 3, 4 and 5. Then the higher-ranked team also gets games 6 and 7.
The problem is the arena. Idaho Central Arena has a gymnastics tournament this weekend, meaning that the Steelheads will start the series on the road. The series is a 2-4-1. Here's what it looks like:
- Game 1 – at Allen Friday, May 5 at 6:05 p.m. (MT)
- Game 2 – at Allen Saturday, May 6 at 6:05 p.m. (MT)
- Game 3 – at Idaho Wednesday, May 10 at 7:10 p.m. (MT)
- Game 4 – at Idaho Friday, May 12 at 7:10 p.m. (MT)
- Game 5 – at Idaho Saturday, May 13 at 7:10 p.m. (MT) *If Necessary*
- Game 6 – at Idaho Monday, May 15 at 7:10 p.m. (MT) *If Necessary*
- Game 7 – at Allen Wednesday, May 17 at 7:10 p.m. (MT) *If Necessary*
Ultimately, this means that a game 7 would not be played in Idaho, but rather Allen, Texas.
The Matchup
Idaho is 8-0 versus the Americans this season, but the Americans boast the league's top 2 point-getters.
Firstly, Allen has Hank Crone, a rookie who led the league in goals and took home the league's MVP award. Second, the Americans have Jack Combs, who finished 3rd in the league in assists in the regular season.
Allen's big weakness is its defense. The Americans let in 263 goals in the regular season, 3.65 per game. That mark is the 6th worst in the league.
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