A 4-0 loss leaves Wranglers with 3-2 title-series deficit

By Rob Miech · June 2, 2008 · 10:03 PM

They were flat in the first period of Game 1 and in the second period of Game 3.

Monday night in Game 5 of the ECHL Kelly Cup Finals, the Las Vegas Wranglers were catatonic for an entire game in a 4-0 defeat to the Cincinnati Cyclones. (See video report;)

The Wranglers head back to Cincinnati for Game 6 on Thursday with a 3-2 deficit in the best-of-seven series. If needed, Game 7 will take place Saturday night at U.S. Bank Arena.

Las Vegas had ample shots at Cyclones goalie Cedrick Desjardins, especially in the first period, but he stoned everything they attempted.

Most of the game, the Wranglers had difficulty just connecting passes against the savvy and speedy Cyclones.

After Jean-Michel Daoust, Conrad Martin and Matt Syroczynski had scored in the first 23 1/2 minutes of the game, Las Vegas coach Glen Gulutzan yanked goalie Kevin Lalande for Swiss keeper Daniel Manzato.

And Ryan Russell finished off the scoring halfway through the third period, causing much of the crowd of 6,957 to exit up the stairs of the horseshoe-shaped Orleans Arena.

Cincinnati star center David Desharnais, a rookie, had an assist in every goal.

In Games 3, 4 and 5 at the Orleans, fans filled the 7,703-seat arena to 92-percent capacity, which included a sellout Friday in Game 4.