Condors shock Wranglers with late rally

By Steve Silver (contact)

Sunday, April 12, 2009 | midnight

This was the one that got away.

After amassing a two-goal lead in the first period, the Las Vegas Wranglers seemed poised to take a two-game advantage over the Bakersfield Condors in the Pacific Division semifinals.

But the Condors managed to string together a late rally with a little help from the officials to stun the Wranglers 3-2 in front of 3,276 fans at the Orleans Arena Saturday night.

"We are disappointed, but like coach says, 'five minutes and it's over with,'" Dan Riedel said. "You just have to get ready for the next one. We are confident. You're going to lose games. Nobody wins all 16 in the playoffs."

Riedel and defenseman Sean Owens each scored in the first period to put the Wranglers on top 2-0.

Just 20 seconds into the second period the Wranglers seemingly extended their lead to 3-0 when a Bakersfield player inadvertently knocked a rebound into his own net.

The referee, however, blew his whistle prematurely to nullify the goal.

"It should have been a goal," Las Vegas coach and general manager Glen Gulutzan said. "He blew it too early, but that's what happens… Three-nothing would have been harder to come back from than two-nothing but you have to play through that in the playoffs. That stuff is going to happen."

The Wranglers struggled, though, to maintain their dominance after the botched whistle as Chad Painchaud scored the Condors' first goal at 3:57 in the second period.

Bakersfield forward Mark Derlago then tied the game at 2-2 less than three minutes later when he tapped in a loose puck over a sprawling Glenn Fisher.

Las Vegas and Bakersfield remained deadlocked at 2-2 for more than 31 minutes before Derlago struck again. Derlago snapped the game-winning goal off a rebound from the right face-off circle to even the series at 1-1 with just 1:36 remaining.

The Wranglers out-shot the condors 39-35, but could not find the back of the net after the first period.

"Their goalie played well, but I think if we get that many chances next time it might be a different story," said Riedel, who led the Wranglers with eight shots. "When the goalie plays well you have to tip your cap to him. Me personally, I'd like to bury a few more of those."

Las Vegas will now head to Bakersfield for three consecutive games at Rabobank Arena. The Wranglers are 2-1-1 in Bakersfield.

"We've had success in Bakersfield," Gulutzan said. "They are a good team. They are going to play with lots of energy. But we've had success there…We've got to get one out of there."

Stars of the game: 1. Mark Derlago (2 goals, 1 assist); 2.Dan Riedel (1 goal); 3. Sean Owens (1 goal)

Powerless play: All five of Saturday night's goals were scored at even strength. Las Vegas went 0-for-4 on the power play and Bakersfield was 0-for-2.

Times they are a changin': The Wranglers' top brass announced that next season's home games will switch back to a standard 7:05 p.m. start time instead of this year's 7:30 p.m. schedule.

Next up: The Wranglers hit the road for game three of the Pacific Division semifinals at the Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Final word: "I thought (Glenn Fisher was average," Gulutzan said about his goalie. "He was flopping around a little bit, but he did make some huge saves."

Steve Silver can be reached at 948-7822 or steve.silver@lasvegassun.com.