BOISE, Idaho — The Idaho Steelheads continue to jockey to the top of the standings in the Mountain Division and the Western Conference in the ECHL with three-straight wins and winning five out six games during their last homestand.
Their homestand started by sweeping the Toledo Walleyes, before taking on the Allen Americans.
Idaho lost to the Americans 3-2 on Jan. 16. Kale Kessy led the Steelheads with two goals and A.J. White had assists on both goals.
The game was tied going into the third period, but Allen's Zach Pochiro scored what would be the game-winning goal eight minutes into the third on a power play.
The Americans scored quickly in their next matchup on Jan. 18, thanks to a goal by Curt Gogol in the first five minutes of the game.
Idaho wouldn't respond for the rest of the first period but Brady Norrish's goal would tie the game within the first minute of the second period. They would go onto take a 2-1 lead just over five minutes later with another goal by Elgin Pearce.
Allen went onto tie the game up at 2-2 early in the third period. The stalemate would continue through the third and into overtime.
Idaho forward Steve McParland would score the game-winning goal about three minutes into overtime, tieing the series with Allen at 1-1.
In their final game of the series, the Americans would jump out to a 2-0 lead early in the second period.
Idaho's Alexander Dalh would score the first goal for the Steelheads about six minutes into the second, bring Idaho to within one. Allen responded with a goal from Braylon Shmyr, his second of the game, near the halfway mark of the second.
The Steelheads would score two unanswered goals, one by Dalh and another by Mitch Moroz, within three minutes to tie the game at 3-3.
The third period was quiet for both teams, with the score remaining at 3-3 heading into overtime.
Brad McClure would score the game-winning goal with 39 seconds left in overtime, helping the Steelheads to a 4-3.
Idaho won the series with the Allen Americans 2-1.
On Monday, the Steelheads started their nine-game road trip in Utah to take on divisional rival Grizzlies.
McParland would strike first for the Steelheads in the first period before Utah scored two straight power play goals to take a 2-1 lead. Jeff King would score a minute after Utah's second power play goal to tie the game for the rest of the second period.
Idaho would score three-straight unanswered goals to jump out to a 5-2 lead in the first half of the second period, with goals from Spencer Naas, Clint Lewis and Nolan Gluchowski. Gluchowski was assigned to the Steelheads by the AHL's Texas Stars less than a day before the game.
The Grizzlies would two score goals in the last four minutes of the second to bring the game within one goal, including another power-play goal by Utah's Caleb Herbert.
In the third period, Idaho went on to extend their lead to 7-4 with McParland's second goal of the game and an empty-net goal by McClure.
With their three-straight wins, Idaho now leads the Mountain Division by three points ahead of the Tulsa Oilers and improve to 26-12 on the season.
In the Western Conference, Idaho inches closer to the Cincinnati Cyclones, who lead the Steelheads by five points.
In league standings, Idaho moves up to take fourth place at 55 points. The Florida Everblades remain atop the ECHL at 61 points, six points ahead of Idaho.
The Idaho Steelheads' next game is on Jan. 26 against the Witcha Thunder.
Idaho's next home game is on Feb. 13 against the Rapid City Rush.
