Wranglers top Trenton in OT

Nick Christensen

Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2004 | 9:57 a.m.

The Wranglers face a two-week stretch of nine games that will likely test the endurance of goalie Marc Magliarditi:

Tonight -- at Long Beach

Friday -- at Alaska

Saturday -- at Alaska

Sunday -- at Alaska

Feb. 13 -- at San Diego

Feb. 14 -- vs. Long Beach

Feb. 15 -- vs. Long Beach

Feb. 17 -- vs. Alaska

Las Vegas Wranglers coach Glen Gulutzan has spent much of the season frustrated over his team's lackluster first-period performances.

But over the past two games, it has looked as though Gulutzan's Wranglers are finally coming to the game fresh.

Three nights after blowing out the Fresno Falcons 9-1, the Wranglers used two first-period goals in 85 seconds to stake a lead they'd keep until late in the third period. Las Vegas got an overtime score from Dave Cousineau to propel past the Trenton Titans 3-2 before an announced crowd of 3,426. The Wranglers improved their record to 25-13-5 on the season, tied with Idaho for second place in the ECHL's Pacific Division.

The Wranglers started the overtime on a power play after a high-sticking call on Trenton's Matt Zultek with 17 seconds remaining in regulation. Las Vegas' Jason McBain and Chris Kenady spent much of the first 45 seconds of overtime taking shots at Trenton goalie Andrew Allen before setting up Cousineau for the game winner.

But despite Tuesday's win, the bad news keeps coming for the Wranglers.

Calgary called up goaltender Brent Krahn to Triple-A, then loaned him to San Antonio. Gulutzan said he does not expect that Krahn will return to Las Vegas this year.

That puts Gulutzan in a bind heading into tonight's game at Long Beach. After tonight's game, the Wranglers travel to Anchorage Thursday for three games against Alaska. Las Vegas will play five games in six nights with only one goaltender, Marc Magliarditi, and an emergency backup, equipment manager Jason Rivera.

The trip to Alaska also limits Gulutzan's options when it comes to finding immediate help.

"It's going to be tough. We have to go with Mags for some time, and it's an obstacle we're facing heading on a road trip," he said. "We need an American- born goalie to do immigration quickly, and goalies aren't growing on trees."

Magliarditi said he doesn't think about the challenges he's facing heading into the six-game road trip, which concludes Feb. 13 at San Diego.

"I have to prepare differently, to play in all three," he said of the series with Alaska. "I have to be ready for 60 minutes each night."

But Gulutzan was encouraged by his team's early signs of life Tuesday, heading into the upcoming stretch.

"We played a good first period, and they obviously came out and played harder in the second," Gulutzan said. "In the third, the first 10 minutes was theirs, and the last eight or nine was ours."

Las Vegas logged 14 shots on goal in the first period, and allowed just 10 attempts by Trenton. The Wranglers took only 19 shots through the rest of the game.

"We need to play that way. We can't come out and throw our sticks out and hope we're going to win," Gulutzan said. "We can't rely on our defense and get into a run-and-gun game."

NOTES: Two near-misses almost sent the game into overtime at a 3-3 tie. A shot by Darren Partch late in the third period appeared to go in the net, but the goal was disallowed when a replay showed that the puck did not cross into the goal. About two minutes later, Trenton's Zultek hit a shot that appeared to go in but hit off the crossbar. ... Cousineau moved back to defense for Tuesday's game. He's tied for second among defensemen with eight power play goals.