Yes, the Idaho Steelheads are 1-6.  A purely barf-o-riffic start.

On this fine Monday, though, I’m here to tell you why it isn’t as bad as it may look on the surface.

 Let me start by saying that I’m not making excuses.  Head coach Hardy Sauter and the players are very aware that this town expects a winner.  Heck, they do, too.  No one moved to Idaho so they could play for a crummy team.

 First, consider this – the Western Conference’s two best teams, Alaska (5-2) and Utah (6-1) have combined to play eleven of their 14 games on home ice.  Idaho and Stockton, who have one and two wins, respectively, have combined to play three home games among their 13 total contests – with one of them being Stockton’s 4-3 win over Idaho on Saturday night.  Three versus eleven.

 Home ice matters.  It isn’t the be-all, end-all … but it matters.  And that factor isn’t in Idaho’s favor early in the season.  Fifteen of 21 away from the friendly confines of CenturyLink Arena to start the season.

 Secondly, consider this – 1, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1.  Those are the margins of defeat in the current losing skid.  Three by one goal, two by two goals.  It isn’t like the team is getting shelled on a nightly basis.

 October 15 vs. Utah – Two power-play opportunities in the third period while trailing by one.

 October 20 at Alaska – After a dreadful start, Matt Case’s game-tying goal erroneously disallowed in the third period.

 October 21 at Alaska – “Post Night in Anchorage,” as the Steelheads put at least three shots off the iron in a one-goal loss.

 October 22 at Alaska– Lost 3-0, didn’t deserve to win.  But also had a chance to get within one early in the third period when Gerald Coleman made a ridiculous glove save to take a goal away from Michael Neal.

 October 28 at Bakersfield – A bad turnover and a bad bounce give the Condors a 2-0 lead four minutes into the game … a game they win by (you guessed ) two goals.

 October 29 at Stockton – Tie game in the third period.  Then, a missed assignment defensively gives the Thunder a good shot that becomes the game-winning goal.

 So, yes.  Six straight losses.  No two ways around that one.  But the team could have (maybe should have) won at least three of those games, if not four.

 Negative Nancy looks at that and says, “See?  They’re finding ways to lose.”

 I look at it and say, “See?  If they can clean a few things up, they’ll be just fine.”

 Idaho hasn’t been out-talented on the ice yet this season.  Outplayed?  In certain instances, yes.  But there have been plenty of times this season – even in Alaska against the defending Kelly Cup champion Aces – where, for healthy stretches of time, Idaho was the superior team on the ice.  The ability is there, though, and that’s with (a) Steve Oleksy on assignment in the AHL, and (b) Marc Rancourt, one of the team’s most-gifted players, on the injured-reserve list.

 I look back at that disallowed goal on October 20 in Anchorage – a call that the ECHL has admitted was incorrect, the goal should have counted – and I remember thinking at the time that it could be the kind of call that could set the tone.  If that goal counts (which it should have), Idaho has tied the game and has all the momentum in the world.  No doubt in my mind that the team walks out of there with, at worst, one point for an overtime or shootout loss.

 You get that point … heck, maybe even a win … and, all of a sudden, you’re feeling pretty good about yourselves going into the rest of the weekend.  Who knows where we’re at if that happens.

 I know, I know … ifs and buts, candy and nuts, merry Christmas.  Yadda yadda yadda.  And you’re right.

 But, instead of getting a point (perhaps a win), the air went out of the balloon the minute that goal was disallowed and, to this point, the team hasn’t completely recovered.  To a man, the guys are battling.  They’re working hard.  And they’re close.  Painfully close.

 So stick with ‘em.  Be at the arena this week.  Be loud.  And let them know that you know how close they are to turning this thing around.

 Steelheads and Wranglers, Wednesday-Friday-Saturday this week at CenturyLink Arena.  Wednesday is Dollar Beer Night sponsored by Bud Light.  Friday is 4-for-$44 Night along with the first Rat Pack Night.  Saturday night is … well … Saturday.  That’s reason enough to buy a couple tickets and come down to the game.