BAKERSFIELD, Ca.- The Las Vegas Wranglers will have to regroup and come out strong after their second, tough overtime loss in three games. Due to the loss they will be facing elimination from here on out in the series.
Bakersfield’s Mark Derlago was the hero again as he notched his second hat trick of the series which included this game’s overtime game-winner.
Mark Derlago. Photo by Jack Lima
After being shutout in game four, Bakersfield jumped into the lead early on their first shot when Brett Pilkington redirected a shot past John DeCaro (22 saves on 26 shots) at 3:27 off a setup from Tom Morrow and Bobby Bolt. They continued into a 2-0 lead with their second shot, this time on the powerplay, with a one-timer from Derlago with assists to Chad Painchaud and Pilkington just a bit more than two minutes later.
Steve Makway stepped up and dropped the gloves with the Condors Bolt shortly after the goal to try to change the momentum in the Wranglers favor. Vegas steadied their game and converted shortly after on a two-man advantage when Justin Taylor buried a rebound off the backboards with assists to Dan Spang and Sean Owens to cut the lead to 2-1. The Wranglers held an 11-8 advantage in shots at the first intermission.
Las Vegas tied the score at two with the first shorthanded goal of the series on Scott McCulloch’s blistering wrist shot over the glove of Yutaka Fukufuji (36 saves on 39 shots) at 1:50. McCulloch was set up on the breakaway by Taylor.
The Wranglers went in front just three seconds after a penalty on the team had expired when Brett Tyler broke in on Fukufuji and snuck the puck between the pads to give the Wranglers a 3-2 lead, an assist went to Chris Neiszner at 15:51. Bakersfield responded less than a minute later to tie the score on a backhanded flip shot by Derlago with an assist to Dave Bonk. Shots in the second period were 18-10 in the Wranglers favor.
The third period was a tense one for both teams as they both just missed on quality scoring chances. The pace switched from tight, tough defense to wide open, end-to-end play several times. As time wound down play intensified but both goalies stood tall to send the game to overtime. Shots on goal in the period were in the Wranglers favor 10-7 for a substantial regulation advantage to Vegas of 39-25.
The game ending an amazing eleven seconds into overtime when Derlago fired a rifle blast from just inside the blueline that stunned DeCaro and the Wranglers to make the final 4-3. Assists on the game winner went to Ryan Mahrle and Donny Grover.
Thanks to the win the Condors took a 3-2 series lead with games six and seven (if necessary) back in Las Vegas next Tuesday and Wednesday.
On special teams the Wranglers went 1-8 while the Condors were 1-7. With one of Las Vegas goals coming when the Wranglers were short-handed.
Attendance at Bakersfield’s Rabobank arena was 5173.
Contact the author at mike.canady@prohockeynews.com
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