Steelheads Upended in First of Back-to-Back Games in Vegas

The Idaho Steelheads (11-6-5) were held to just fifteen shots on net as they fell by a 4-1 score to the Las Vegas Wranglers (12-4-1) in the first of back-to-back games between the two clubs in Las Vegas. Dustin Molle scored his first professional goal in the loss; his goal was the only one for Idaho tonight. Tyler Mosienko tapped home his own rebound for the Wranglers to beat Mike Zacharias for the first time in the game and give Las Vegas a 1-0 lead; a lead that lasted into the first intermission. Las Vegas out-shot Idaho 18-3 in the opening period. Ryan Huddy and Craig Switzer each added goals for the Wranglers in the second period. While extending their lead to 3-0, Las Vegas also extended their margin in the shots-on-goal category to 30-7 after two periods. Molle scored his first professional goal in the third period, as he tapped home an Adam Huxley centering pass to beat Las Vegas goalie Michael Ouzas, the league?s leader in goals-against average and save percentage. Kael Mouillierat also assisted on Molle?s goal; the assist gives Mouillierat- a rookie- 21 points in 21 games. Mosienko added an empty-net goal for the Wranglers to give them a 4-1 lead with a minute to go in the third period. Mike Zacharias stopped 37 of 40 shots in the loss, and is now 6-3-2 in net for Idaho. Ouzas is 8-0-1 for Las Vegas; he stopped 14 of 15 shots. Idaho and Las Vegas will battle again at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night; the puck drops at 8:05 PM MST. Idaho returns home for a pair of games against the Victoria Salmon Kings on the 15th and 17th of December.