Goals and wins coming in bunches for Wranglers

Nick Christensen

Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2004 | 10 a.m.

Why the shortest month of the hockey season has the most games jammed into it may be a mystery, but it's coaches like the Las Vegas Wranglers' Glen Gulutzan's jobs to figure out how to master the stretch.

Just over halfway through a run of 16 games in 29 days, the Wranglers are 6-3-0 in the month, while scoring an average of 3.66 goals a game.

The Wranglers racked up five goals, including an empty-netter, in a 5-2 win against the Alaska Aces Tuesday at the Orleans, in front of an announced crowd of 3,720. Las Vegas improved to 31-16-5 on the season and pulled to within six points of first-place San Diego, which lost Tuesday.

Cam Bristow had two goals for Las Vegas, and Ryan Christie, Chris Wheaton, and Doug Wright also logged goals.

Gulutzan said the key to success through the long late winter span is developing mental toughness with is players.

"The league as a whole in the month of February, the players get tired, make more mistakes, and more goals are scored," Gulutzan said. "With so many games, players can put it mentally on cruise control. Players, when they wear down, make mistakes. During stretches like this, you need to be as mentally strong as you can."

ECHL teams are averaging 3.26 goals a game since Jan. 25, compared to the season average of 3.06.

"I think all teams pick it up this time of year," said Bristow, in his seventh professional season. He went on to cite that all three of the Wranglers' lines seem to be getting into the scoring action.

Over the past 10 games, six players -- Chris Kenady, Jeff Attard, Greg Day, Eric Schneider, Ryan Christie, and Darren Partch -- have four or more goals. And, over the five games before Tuesday, three players from three lines have four or more points -- Kenady, Attard, and Bablitz.

"This separates the men from the boys, the next two months before the playoffs," Bristow said. "I think teams that come out and win many of their games this time are the stronger teams."

Wranglers rookie Blaine Bablitz, playing in just his 12th game of the season after an October injury, said that energy for him is not a problem through the dog days of February.

"I expect to play every night and take the chance to prove myself, stay with the team and help them win," said Bablitz, who had an assist and has had a point in his last four games. "Having all three lines scoring, we could a powerful offensive team."

WRANGLERS NOTES: Magliarditi recorded 29 saves, including 16 in the second period. ... Referee Shaun Davis called only three penalties in the game, all in the second period. This was in contrast to Sunday's game, in which Las Vegas alone was called for 16 minors. ... Forward Eric Schneider was placed on the injured list after his ankle didn't heal as quickly as expected. Defenseman Kayle Short was activated. ... The Wranglers travel to San Diego today for tomorrow night's game against the first-place Gulls, then play Fresno Friday before returning home for Tuesday's game against the Falcons. ... Jason McBain leads ECHL defensemen in plus/minus, with a plus-27 rating.