Wranglers blast Thunder to even series

By Steve Silver

Tuesday, April 28, 2009 | 1 a.m.

While most hockey teams dream of two-goal leads in the playoffs, the Las Vegas Wranglers probably have nightmares about them.

The Wranglers have squandered five different two-goal advantages in eight postseason games this year.

Unfortunately for the Stockton Thunder, history did not repeat itself Monday as the Wranglers successfully converted an early two-goal lead into a 4-2 victory to even the Pacific Division finals at one game apiece in front of 2,816 fans at the Orleans Arena.

Las Vegas will now head to Stockton for games three and four on Thursday and Saturday nights, respectively. If necessary, the Wranglers will host the final three games of the series.

"This one was huge," said Wranglers forward Dan Riedel. "You know the schedule. We couldn't go into their building for two down 2-0. We were all pretty confident after losing Game 1 and I think we came out and stuck to our game plan tonight."

The Wranglers jumped out to their now-customary two-goal lead thanks to a pair of power play goals scored less than three minutes apart.

Defenseman Sean Owens lit up the scoreboard first during a 4-on-3 power play when he buried a shot from the left circle at the 6:52 mark for the 1-0 lead.

Less than two minutes later, Stockton center Judd Blackwater drew an interference penalty for leveling Dan Spang after the whistle to put the Wranglers back on the power play.

Las Vegas capitalized on Blackwater's mistake as Dan Riedel notched his fifth goal of the playoffs, thanks to a set of swift passes from Kelly Czuy and Adam Miller, to put the Wranglers on top 2-0 at the 8:50 mark.

Unlike the first game of the series, the Wranglers managed to strike again when Jason Dest snuck a wrist shot past Thunder goaltender Parker Van Buskirk with just 1:29 remaining in the first period.

The Wranglers peppered Van Buskirk with 14 shots in the first period, while the Thunder only mustered six.

"Five man defense is key," Las Vegas coach and general manager Glen Gulutzan said. "The thing we have been preaching all series. We have to have all five guys committed to doing the little things; clogging up the slot area and blocking shots. For the most part I think we did a decent job of that."

Stockton scored the only goal of the second period when James Bates beat Glenn Fisher up high with just 15 seconds remaining in the period thanks to a power play set up by a tripping call against Miller.

Miller made up for his miscue, though, as he went five-hole on Van Buskirk less than seven minutes into the third period for the 4-1 lead on yet another power play goal.

Las Vegas' three power play goals Monday elevated that special teams unit to the top of the ECHL with a 24 percent success rate (12-of-50), which is a stark contrast to its 12.4 percent (44-for-356) cellar-dwelling power play unit of the regular season.

"We never had an atrocious power play, but I think it got really mental," Gulutzan said. "When something gets mentally lodged in your brain that your power play doesn't work that well, it can affect you. Obviously having personnel back helps like Taylor, Spang, Mosienko, Hamilton, the list goes on and on."

Thunder forward David Rohlfs added another Stockton goal in the third period, but that tally proved meaningless as Fisher held on for the victory with 23 saves.

The Wranglers now have to find a way to win in Stockton Arena – something Las Vegas has failed to do on four prior trips this season.

"They play with a lot of momentum there and a lot of juice," Gulutzan said. "You have to be ready to play. You have to handle the 10-minute game and the 50-minute game. The big thing in that building is coming ready to withstand the 10-minute flurry they can really put on you. They get a good crowd and they have excited people there and they play with some energy."

Stars of the game: 1. Dan Riedel (1 goal, 1 assist); 2. Glenn Fisher (23 saves); 3. Adam Miller (1 goal, 1 assist)

Super Spang: Dan Spang's assist on Owens' first period goal moved him into a tie for first place among all ECHL defensemen with nine points (three goals, six assists) in the postseason. Florida's Peter Metcalf also has nine points.

Bash brothers: J.D. Watt and Steve Makway made Dean Portman and Fulton Reed proud as both Wranglers dropped the gloves two seconds apart in the second period.

First, Watt squared off with Stockton forward Igor Gongalsky right off a draw from the left circle. Compubox stats go in favor of Watt. On the ensuing face-off, Makway and the Thunder's version of Sean Avery, forward Garet Hunt, decided to go toe-to-toe. The only problem is that Hunt is 5-foot-8 and Makway is 6-foot-5. That comical fight was over before it even started. The roots of that lopsided fight actually began in the pregame warm-ups when Hunt's ceaseless chirping earned him a crosscheck from Makway.

Somewhere Gordon Bombay is smirking.

Beaudoin watch: The Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League defeated the Peoria Rivermen 5-2 in Game 7 of their opening round series Monday night, which means Matt Beaudoin will not be returning to the Wranglers anytime soon. Beaudoin notched an assist in Game 7 for his eighth point of the postseason.

Flames extinguished: Las Vegas' NHL affiliate, the Calgary Flames, fell to the Chicago Blackhawks 3-1 in Game 6 of their first round series Monday, which eliminates the Flames from the playoffs.

Next up: The Wranglers travel to Stockton Arena for game No. 3 at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Final word: "That arena is loud. I played there," said former Stockton goalie and current Las Vegas netminder Fisher. "You ride the crowd a bit. They're a big momentum team when they are in that arena because you just get that energy from your fans. You just need to outwork them there and block it out. Play your game."

Steve Silver can be reached at 948-7822 or [email protected].