LV poised to wrap up second place

Nick Christensen

Monday, March 29, 2004 | 9:32 a.m.

It's hard for a team to get a season sweep on a team it plays 10 times in a year, but the Las Vegas Wranglers found themselves on the doorstep of just that Saturday night at the Orleans Arena.

Riding a six-game winning streak into Saturday's match with Bakersfield, and having beaten the Condors in all eight previous meetings this season, Las Vegas had every reason to expect to win. But the Condors struck quickly and frequently, scoring just 2:08 into the game and then going ahead 2-1 about halfway through the third period on a short-handed breakaway goal by Paul Rosebush.

Bakersfield defeated Las Vegas, 4-1. The two teams conclude their seasons Saturday night at Bakersfield, but before that, the Wranglers have some business to attend to.

Namely, clinching second place in the ECHL's Pacific Division, and securing home ice in the first round of the playoffs.

The Wranglers can do that at home Tuesday. If they beat Idaho in regulation, they'll clinch that second seed. The Steelheads will be Las Vegas' first-round playoff opponent when the playoffs start next week.

Wranglers coach Glen Gulutzan was unusually quiet after Saturday's loss.

"We played just like we thought we had a full lineup," Gulutzan said, eluding to two injuries that stretched the Las Vegas lines Saturday.

Newly acquired center Morten Ask suffered a sprained ankle in Friday's win against Fresno. Trainer Mike Hannegan said Ask was day-to-day.

Forward Tom Nelson has a bruised leg, an injury the team's taking cautiously heading into April's playoffs. Both are expected to be healthy and ready to play in the postseason.

Should the Steelheads pass the Wranglers for second place, the playoffs would open in Boise April 8 and April 9, then return to Las Vegas for games on April 10 and 12. Game 5 would also be April 14, in Boise.

The Wranglers are 5-3-1 against Idaho this season, and haven't lost to the Steelheads at home. Playoff tickets went on sale Friday.