Cyclones take 2-1 title series lead on Wranglers

By Rob Miech

Thursday, May 29, 2008 | 10:47 p.m.

Someone forgot to inform Wranglers brass that the Cincinnati Cyclones wear red sweaters on the road.

Las Vegas billed Thursday night’s Game 3 of the ECHL Kelly Cup finals as a “Red Sea for Game 3” promotion, and almost all of a rapt crowd of 6,713 obliged in the Orleans Arena.

But the Wranglers wore white uniforms trimmed in black. The red-clad Cyclones didn’t let the crowd or a 2-0 deficit affect them as they secured a 4-2 victory.

It gave Cincinnati a 2-1 advantage in the best-of seven series. Game 4 is Friday at 7:05 p.m. at the Orleans, where Game 5 will be played Monday night at 7:05.

If needed, the series will switch back to U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati for Games 6 and 7, respectively, next Thursday and Saturday.

Wranglers right wing Brandon Kaleniecki struck first Thursday with a close rebound in the first period, and Las Vegas took a 2-0 lead early in the second period on a goal by center Tyler Mosienko. Both came on power plays.

But Las Vegas was shut out the rest of the way, and three Cincinnati goals on Wranglers goalie Kevin Lalande within a span of about six minutes near the end of the second period gave the Cyclones command.

David Desharnais sealed it with eight seconds left when he took the puck after a faceoff from a far circle and slapped in a long empty-net goal.

Don’t be surprised if Daniel Manzato, the Wranglers’ other rookie goalie, is between the pipes on Friday. In his lone playoff appearance this season, he stopped 29 of 32 shots in a 6-3 victory at Alaska in the second round.