The Steelheads host the Las Vegas Wranglers on Friday and Saturday at CenturyLink Arena. The puck drops at 7:10 each night.
Idaho (15-12-3) heads into the games on a six-game winning streak, thanks in no small part to the play of ECHL goaltender of the week Jerry Kuhn. The rookie out of Western Michigan came up big in one overtime win and three shootout victories last week, as he stopped 12 of the 14 shots he faced in shootouts.
Las Vegas (18-9-4) sits atop the ECHL’s Pacific Division. It has won two in a row and seven of its past 10 games.
COMING AND GOING: Idaho lost two players, Kael Mouillierat and Ian Lowe, to call-ups this week and another, Brent Cornelius, to finalize a trade. But coach Hardy Sauter hopes to see some of his injured players returning soon.
Defenseman Matt Cowie and forward David Fredriksson are candidates to play this weekend.
“We’re optimistic that one or both will be in the lineup,” Sauter said.
IDAHO STAMPEDE: ROTATING ROSTER
Coach Randy Livingston continues to look for the winning formula for his NBA Development League team.
Thursday, the Stampede acquired Paul Carter and Terrico White.
Carter, a 6-foot-8 forward, attended the Utah Jazz’s training camp this month after averaging 14.7 points and 8.0 rebounds last season while playing for the University of Illinois-Chicago.
White, a 6-foot-5 guard, was selected by the Detroit Pistons in the second round of the 2010 NBA Draft, but missed all of last season because of a foot injury. He averaged 14.5 points and 4.0 rebounds in his two seasons playing for the University of Mississippi.
Willie Jenkins and Kevin Galloway were waived to make room on the roster for the two new players.
Jenkins was the only player to appear in all 50 of Idaho’s games last season. The forward started nine of the 11 games he appeared in this season before suffering a jaw injury.
Idaho selected Galloway in the second round of this year’s D-League draft. The guard averaged 4.3 points in 12 games with Idaho this season.
WHAT’S NEXT? The Stampede play at Tulsa on Thursday and at Iowa on Friday. Idaho’s next home game is Jan. 13 against the Los Angeles D-Fenders.
Chris Langrill: 377-6424
