Steelheads Come Back in Ontario, Win Fifth Straight

The Idaho Steelheads (30-11-2) extended their winning streak to five games with a 5-2 comeback win over the Ontario Reign (17-21-7) at Citizens Business Bank Arena. Former Cornell stars Evan Barlow and Mark McCutcheon each scored twice for Idaho, and Mark Derlago extended his point streak to nine games with a goal and an assist; the streak is the longest for a Steelhead this season. The Ontario Reign took a 2-0 lead into the locker room after the first period as Dan Knapp scored on a point shot to beat Idaho?s Rejean Beauchemin glove side, and Robert Pearce was credited with Ontario?s second tally after the Steelheads? Brendan Milnamow had a clearing attempt deflect into his own goal. Tension brewed in the first period as Idaho?s enforcer, Adam Huxley, dropped the gloves with Ontario?s James MacEwen, and Idaho?s Evan Barlow experienced his first professional fight with Ontario?s Tony Voce. There was no scoring in the second period until less than two seconds remained; Evan Barlow took a pass from Dustin Friesen with the Steelheads on a man-advantage, and Barlow one-timed the puck home from the right circle for his 22nd goal of the season. The third period was all Idaho?s, as the Steelheads tallied four goals in the final frame. At 7:12, Mark McCutcheon took a pass from Adam Huxley, cut to the front of the net, and scooped a backhand top-shelf on Ontario?s Curtis Darling to tie the game at 2-2. Steve Oleksy also picked up an assist on the goal; his first point in an Idaho uniform. Evan Barlow netted the eventual game-winner at 15:23 of the third period when he took a pass from Mark Derlago in front of the net, and immediately deposited the puck behind Darling. Tyler Spurgeon, back in the lineup after missing last night?s contest, also assisted on Barlow?s team-leading 23rd of the season. The assist extended Derlago?s point streak to nine games; the longest such streak for a Steelhead this season. Derlago wasn?t finished, however. At 18:25, he snapped a puck high on Darling from the right circle to give Idaho a 4-2 lead, as Barlow and Marty Flichel picked up assists on the insurance marker. McCutcheon would add an empty-netter, his fourth of the season, at 18:58 to put the game out-of-reach. Rejean Beauchemin stopped 16 of 18 shots for Idaho in the win; he is 16-6-1. Curtis Darling stopped 33 of 37; he is 13-16-6. The Steelheads? string of road games continues when a three-game-in-three-nights set kicks off in Las Vegas on Thursday night. Idaho returns home to play Utah on February 10th.