Wranglers trump Aces

Nick Christensen

Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2004 | 9:54 a.m.

The Las Vegas Wranglers entered Tuesday's division showdown with the Alaska Aces looking to bounce back from two tough weekend losses at home.

They got that bounce, and a few more, defeating the Aces 3-1 before an announced crowd of 3,813.

Doug Wright scored the go-ahead goal in the second period after a critical mistake by Alaska goaltender Lance Mayes. In his attempt to clear the puck from behind the goal, Mayes wound up inadvertently hitting it to Las Vegas' Deryk Engelland, who passed it to Wright in front of the empty net.

Chris Kenady added an empty-net goal with 25 seconds remaining in the third period, after swiping the puck from Alaska's Ryan Bast in the attacking zone.

The win gave the Wranglers a much-needed boost in their final home game before the all-star break. They will travel to Bakersfield Saturday, and then won't play again until Jan. 25 at Fresno.

"It was big, for me and the team," Las Vegas goalie Marc Magliarditi said. "We lost to a pretty good team...you always want to bounce back, so it's good to follow up and get two points."

Magliarditi was referring to the Peoria Rivermen, who swept two games at the Orleans Arena last weekend. Magliarditi had 27 saves Tuesday, and looked particularly fresh.

"I definitely felt a little more jump in my step," he said. "It was a tough stretch of games, but Peoria brought us focus."

But while Magliarditi looked recharged, the rest of the team had some fairly sloppy play. Missed passes and cuts characterized much of the game, including a 1:40 stretch of the second period where the Wranglers were unable to get a shot off in a five-on-three advantage.

As boos rained down from the stands, Wranglers coach Glen Gulutzan said he too was disappointed.

"We're going to have to go over some of our five-on-three. It's something we need to work on." Gulutzan said. "I was as frustrated as the fans were... I never played in the NHL, but in the NHL, they have a saying, 'You don't get many chances, but when you do, you have to put your foot through the one inch crack in the door.' " Wright's goal came during the power play, shortly after the end of Alaska's two-man advantage.

Wranglers center Greg Day, who scored the game's opening goal just 45 seconds into the first period, said his coach let the team know his frustration.

"We knew we had to go out and play a full 60 minutes," Day said. "Coach laid down the law to play a full 60."

But even with the lead, Las Vegas faced one more tough challenge down the stretch, after winger Cam Bristow was called for slashing with 1:34 remaining in regulation. Shortly into their power play, Alaska pulled the goalie for the empty net.

But instead of getting the Aces back into the game, it put them out of it.

"Having a six-on-four, two-man advantage, we have no problem icing it," Day said. "They have to get it into our zone."