A playoff ploy unfolds in the crease

Nick Christensen

Tuesday, April 6, 2004 | 9:32 a.m.

Magliarditi has been the Wranglers' ace in goal, going 29-14-3 this season and allowing 112 goals in those 48 games. But he has struggled in the postseason, with an 8-6 record in playoff games.

Not that he has done anything different.

"For me, the way I've approached playoff games is, I'm going to try to continue to bring it," he said. "I play to win every night, and I give 100 percent every game I play."

Magliarditi blames his struggles on timing. He said in the past, he's come into playoff series after his opponents had the momentum, either because the team went with other goaltenders or because Magliarditi was called up to Triple-A.

"I've had a weird playoff history. I've only played in two series that I've played in every game." he said.

Which begged the question of Wranglers coach Glen Gulutzan: Who starts in goal tonight when the Wranglers and Idaho Steelheads square off in the first game of their ECHL Kelly Cup opening-round series?

"I think whoever starts, I'll be more than happy to give the ball to," he said.

In the time-honored hockey playoff tradition of keeping every bit of information a secret, Gulutzan was purposefully vague to keep the Steelheads guessing. He said he wouldn't disclose his decision on starting goaltender until game time tonight, possibly meaning that goaltender Dany Sabourin might get the nod.

In 10 games with the Wranglers, Sabourin is 6-3-1, with a .937 save percentage and a 2.36 goals against average. His save percentage is just slightly better than Magliarditi's, and their goals against averages are even.

Gulutzan said he expects to decide the goaltending situation on a game-by-game basis.

"We've got two quality goaltenders. You have to go game by game," he said.

Magliarditi agreed that either he or Sabourin have the talent to succeed in the Kelly Cup playoffs.

"The bottom line is, we split time going down the stretch, with a game here and there," he said. "We both can handle either situation and be ready for it."

Magliarditi also attributed his past playoff struggles to a lack of team focus on great teams tat felt they didn't have anything left to prove in the postseason. But with the Wranglers suddenly showing up early to morning practices, he said there's a spring in the step of his current team.

"By no means have we rolled through the regular season. When we're off, teams have taken it to us a little bit," he said.

The Wranglers have limped down the stretch. After posting a six-game winning streak in March, they lost four in a row before closing the regular season with a win Saturday at Bakersfield. In the losing streak, Las Vegas was outscored 13-6.

Most of the blame for those struggles was placed on injuries. Only 12 players dressed for Saturday's win, including forward Tom Nelson, who sat through the losing streak with a bruised leg.

Other injured Wranglers include center Morten Ask, who will likely sit tonight with a sprained ankle, and left winger Ryan Christie is questionable with a leg injury as well.

But reinforcements are on the way. Gulutzan said he expects several players to be sent down from Triple-A Lowell to aid the cause, but they may not arrive until after the AHL season concludes Saturday.

But he added that the core of the team is already with the team.

Idaho, too, is expecting reinforcements from Triple-A Utah, including goaltender Dan Ellis, meaning that the Idaho team that the Wranglers host tonight figures to be much different from the team they won two of three games against in March.

"This series could take on a different complexion," he said. "The players they have from Utah, it's different from the team we played last month. They've got skill and speed up front, and skill and size on the back. I expect it to be a heck of a series."

LAS VEGAS WRANGLERS FINAL REGULAR-SEASON STATISTICS

IDAHO STEELHEADS FINAL REGULAR-SEASON STATISTICS