How do you get a five-game streak? Just Ask

Nick Christensen

Monday, March 22, 2004 | 9:34 a.m.

In a period of six days, Wranglers center Morten Ask moved across the country, adjusted to a three-hour time difference, and logged four goals and three assists as Las Vegas won its three weekend games.

The Wranglers have won five consecutive games, including a 5-0 victory Friday against Idaho, their likely first-round opponent in next month's playoffs. The Wranglers again beat Idaho Saturday, a 4-3 victory with 7.5 seconds left in overtime in front of the largest crowd in franchise history, then won 3-1 at Long Beach on Sunday afternoon.

The common thread in all three wins was Ask. A 23-year-old ECHL all-star, Ask was traded from Toledo to the Wranglers last week for defenseman Craig Olynick and rookie center Blaine Bablitz, and hasn't disappointed. He logged four goals and three assists in his three games with Las Vegas.

Just as important, forward Eric Schneider, who played with Ask last season, also had a good weekend. Schneider had two goals this weekend -- including Saturday's game winner -- and both were assisted by Ask. Two of Schneider's three weekend assists went to Ask, as well.

"Him and Schneider found their chemistry right away," Wranglers coach Glen Gulutzan said. "I know Eric Schneider was excited, I know Ask was excited, and whenever two players are excited to play, good things happen."

Ask, an energetic, friendly native of Norway, said he believes his success has hinged on his familiarity with his linemate.

"It makes it a lot easier, to have somebody you know and have played with before," Ask said. "I would have felt different if it was a new experience, I'm glad we're going in the right direction and off to a good start."

And now, with six games left before the Kelly Cup playoffs begin, positioning becomes the key. The Wranglers hold the second spot in the ECHL's Pacific Division, six points behind first-place San Diego and six ahead of Idaho. Catching San Diego would give Las Vegas home-ice advantage through the first two, and possibly all four rounds of the playoffs, but would also require them to play at least one game at Alaska, a trip that requires a full day of travel each way.

Instead, it's more likely they'll hold onto the second spot, and its accompanying much less trying trip to Boise, Idaho. That made the weekend's games all that much more meaningful.

"We've got a few games left, I'm not as concerned about wins and losses as I am about effort and consistency and getting our game in order," Gulutzan said on the phone from the team bus Sunday night, a Pacino tirade from "Scarface" blaring in the background. "I thought on Friday and Saturday we had some good consistency, tonight we had a little letdown for about six or seven minutes... We've played pretty solid seven periods of hockey in the last nights."

WRANGLERS NOTES: Magliarditi's shutout Friday was his 20th in the ECHL, a league record. ... Dany Sabourin got the wins in goal Saturday and Sunday, and logged 51 saves in Saturday's overtime game. ... Saturday's home crowd of 7,242 was the largest in franchise history. ... The Wranglers play host to Fresno at the Orleans Arena Friday, and Bakersfield comes to town Saturday.