Human after all

By Rob Miech

Wednesday, April 25, 2007 | 7:09 a.m.

The longer the better, Las Vegas Wranglers goaltender Mike McKenna pondered the other day about a winning streak that had hit the teens and threatened to hit 20.

"But we know we're not invincible," he says.

The Wranglers proved to be human Monday night in Boise, when Idaho ended their winning streak at 18 games in a 4-1 victory that tied the National Conference semifinal series at a game apiece.

In the history of professional hockey, only the 1990-91 Peoria Rivermen of the International Hockey League have matched the Wranglers' recent run of success.

The genesis of the ECHL's longest winning streak is a matter of lore.

"It's funny," says Glen Gulutzan, the only coach and general manager the Wranglers have had in their four-year history. "It's something that's hard to put a finger on."

Some trace it to a January loss to Victoria, when Gulutzan shook up his squad. What he said, and how he said it, depends on whom you ask.

What is certain is that Las Vegas started its run with a 4-3 victory over the Texas Wildcatters on March 10 and didn't lose again until Monday.

"When we all put our minds to it and put our hard hats on, things fell into place," center Chris Neiszner says. "We realized we had to win games to be in the position we wanted for the playoffs."

Winning their final 13 games of the regular season gave Las Vegas the ECHL's best record at 46-12-14 (106 points), edging Alaska (49-16-7, 105 points).

A year ago, the Aces beat Las Vegas for the best regular-season record by a point, then used that home-ice advantage to defeat the Wranglers in the playoffs. Alaska went on to win the Kelly Cup championship.

This time, Las Vegas holds that home-ice ace in the hole.

Alaska, by the way, defeated Bakersfield, 6-0, in Anchorage in the first game of the other National Conference semifinals.

The Jan. 9 defeat to Victoria was the second loss in a row at home for Las Vegas. Three days later, Gulutzan altered the atmosphere in the dressing room before a game against Long Beach.

No more cell phones. Television sets off. Address ticket demands a day in advance. Game days are all-business, with video reviews in the morning and strategy sessions or chalk talk until the drop of the first puck.

It might have gotten "a little country club," according to forward Nick Anderson. Gulutzan gave his squad a "wake-up call," reserve goalie Kevin Nastiuk says.

By many accounts, Gulutzan's easy-going demeanor and honesty are refreshing for players. The father of four, known as "Gully" to everyone, relaxes with a 24-ounce bottle, or two, of Corona beer.

He stresses defense and strives to make his players the hardest workers in the league, and the system isn't an overnight success.

Last season, the Wranglers won 13 in a row, then the third-longest streak in ECHL history. This season, they lost only five road games in regulation, setting another league standard.

His charges take note when Gulutzan, usually calm and cool, raises his voice.

"If he's talking to you," right wing Adam Cracknell says, "you listen."

On the morning of Friday, Jan. 12, Gulutzan raised his voice three or four decibels.

"We took it to heart," Cracknell says. "This is a business atmosphere ... take it seriously, or you won't be in the playoffs very long or go far in your career."

Defenseman and team captain Mike McBain was pressed on the topic.

Maybe, he vaguely recalls, some younger players were "straying" at the time. Maybe they were staying out a bit longer than they should, enjoying the Las Vegas nightlife.

"Not anything that's really worth writing about or that serious, maybe just not being as sharp as they should be on the ice," McBain says. "Little things like that. (Gulutzan) laid down the law.

"Hey, we want to have fun here. At the same time, we're a professional hockey team and have to act like it."

In fact, it worked for one game. The Wranglers beat Long Beach, 3-2, that Friday. Then they lost three in a row, won three in a row and then dropped back-to-back games.

Gulutzan backed off. It was early February. Games 45 through 60, he knew, would be challenging, hit-the-wall periods for young players, a critical stretch that could make a team for the playoffs or break those Kelly Cup hopes.

"We did tighten up," Gulutzan says. "Then we loosened it. We kept things lighter. The focus stayed on game days . It just wasn't as intense."

It worked. Game 60, the 4-3 victory over Texas on March 10, ignited the Wranglers' run into the hockey record books.

"We were going in the right direction," Cracknell says. "At the same time, it was an accumulation of work throughout the season."

No Wrangler mentioned the streak during the run, and the players weren't even bothered that, even with home-ice advantage, arena issues forced them to start their first two playoff series on the road. They just wanted to play the games.

"Like we've been preaching all year, we stick to the system," McBain says. "It's just the way we've been playing all season."