Derlago's Hat Trick Secures Second Consecutive Win in Vegas

The Idaho Steelheads (32-11-3) won in Las Vegas over the Wranglers (19-23-5) for the second night in a row, this time in regulation by a 4-2 score. Mark Derlago extended his point streak to 12 games with a hat trick, and the Steelheads concluded their six-game road stretch with 11 of a possible 12 points in the span. The Steelheads struck first as Mark McCutcheon pulled a puck from behind the net and found Mark Derlago on the doorstep, from which point he sent the puck over the goal line. The goal was Derlago?s 19th, and it extended his point streak to 12 games, which is tied for the longest current streak in the ECHL. Before the period could end, however, the Wranglers would score twice. Alex Bourret scored at 6:43, and Ned Lukacevic followed his pair of goals Friday night with a go-ahead tally at 10:13 to give Las Vegas a 2-1 lead entering the first intermission. Mark Derlago scored two more in the second period to complete his hat trick; the first was a snap-shot from the left wing circle assisted by Tyler Spurgeon and McCutcheon, and the second was the result of a scramble in front at 7:59 on the power play, with assists again going to Spurgeon and McCutcheon. Spurgeon netted the only goal of the third period when he picked up an opportune bounce from the end boards and placed a shot into the net behind the Wranglers? Michael Ouzas. McCutcheon added the assist on the goal to complete his second four-assist outing of the season. Rejean Beauchemin stopped 22 of 24 Wranglers shots for the win; he is now 18-6-1. Ouzas allowed four goals on 35 shots against; he is 16-18-4. The Steelheads? next game is at Qwest Arena when the Utah Grizzlies come to Boise on Wednesday, February 10th.