Steelheads Fall in Shootout; Leave Alaska with Three of Four Points

The Idaho Steelheads (48-16-6) are leaving Anchorage with three of a possible four points after following up Tuesday night?s 2-0 win with a 4-3 shootout loss to the Alaska Aces (34-28-8) at Sullivan Arena tonight. Alaska struck first at 16:32 of the first period when Nick Mazzolini banged home a Bryan Miller rebound to beat Richard Bachman; the goal was the first given up by Bachman during the two-game series between the Steelheads and Aces. At 17:49, Mark Derlago tied the game on a disputed goal, his 41st of the season. Derlago took a pass from John Swanson on the doorstep, and tipped the puck over the goal line. Evan Barlow also assisted on Derlago?s goal, as he builds on the club record he set with his 40th goal of the season in last night?s win; his club record for most goals in a season in Idaho?s ECHL era. At 3:49 of the second period, Jarrett Konkle took a pass in front of the net from Dion Knelsen, and one-timed the puck by Richard Bachman for the go-ahead tally. At 5:05 of the middle frame, Michael Neal won a race to the puck against Nils Backstrom, carried through the right circle, and connected on a pass to Kevin DeVergilio, who backhanded a puck top-shelf on Alaska?s Billy Sauer to tie the game. Guillaume Monast also assisted on DeVergilio?s 18th of the season. Just 2:39 later, Curtis Fraser banged home another rebound to give Alaska another lead; 3-2. At 13:44, Marty Flichel scored for Idaho to tie the game at 3-3 after Geoff Irwin hit the goal post, and the puck bounced directly to Flichel for the rebound. Brandon Knelsen also assisted on the goal, earning his first professional point. There was no scoring in the game through the third period, and the teams were scoreless in overtime as well. In the shootout, Idaho was outscored 3-2, as the Steelheads were handed a shootout loss. Richard Bachman stopped 34 of 37 shots as his record falls to 22-7-4. Billy Sauer stopped 14 of 17, as he improves to 6-3-1. The Steelheads wrap-up the regular season with games in Bakersfield on Friday and Saturday nights, and begin the Kelly Cup Playoffs at home on April 16th and 17th. Single-game playoff tickets go on sale April 1st at 10:00 AM.