Steelheads Fall in Bakersfield; Derlago Scores Again

The Idaho Steelheads (48-17-6) fell on the road to the Bakersfield Condors (37-29-5) by a 2-1 score tonight. Mark Derlago extended his team lead in goals with his 42nd of the season in a losing effort. The first period had the looks of a goalies? duel as the frame yielded no scoring; Rejean Beauchemin made four saves in the Idaho net, and Timo Pielmeier stopped all nine shots in saw in the Bakerfield goal. Bakersfield finally solved Rejean Beauchemin at 7:24 of the second period when Sasha Pokulok snapped a shot from the top of the left circle that created a rebound for Ryan Menei to tap into the Idaho goal. The goal would be the only tally on the board as the teams entered the third period. Mark Derlago tied the game for Idaho when he scored at 0:19 of the final period on a shot from the right circle that bounced through the grasp of Pielmeier; the goal was Derlago?s 42nd. Bakersfield regained the lead at 6:45 of the third when Jean-Marc Beaudoin tipped home a rebound after a Jason Dale shot was stopped by Beauchemin. Rejean Beauchemin suffered the loss in net for Idaho; he is 25-10 2 after stopping 16 of 18 shots. Timo Pielmeier is 26-22-5 after the win; he stopped 17 of 18. The Steelheads and Condors will wrap-up the regular season in Bakersfield Saturday night. Idaho begins the 2010 Kelly Cup Playoffs on April 16th at Qwest Arena.