Wranglers ready to defend conference title against arch rival Aces

By Steve Silver

Friday, May 8, 2009 | 4:30 p.m.

Break out the popcorn because this series is going to be a thriller.

Perhaps the two fiercest rivals in the ECHL, the Las Vegas Wranglers and the Alaska Aces, are set to square off in the National Conference finals beginning Saturday night at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage.

"We've always had a big rivalry with them and every game is a big competition," said Las Vegas forward Tyler Mosienko.

Alaska posted a 7-3 record against Las Vegas in the regular season en route to finishing the year with a conference-best 45-24-1 record. The Wranglers finished 13th overall with a 34-31-8 record.

Both teams have since followed divergent routes in the playoffs as the Aces cruised past both Utah and Victoria in five games, while outscoring opponents 38-19.

The Wranglers, though, have not had such an easy ride, needing seven games in each series to dispatch Bakersfield and Stockton while narrowly outscoring opponents 40-35.

Despite playing 14 games in 27 days this postseason, the Wranglers do not appear too concerned about the fatigue factor.

"It's a lot of games in a few days, but once you get going and get your legs, it's fun and it's exciting," said rookie forward Scott McCulloch, who has 10 points this postseason. "That's what it is keeping me going and probably keeping most of us going."

The Wranglers could use the advantage of riding into Anchorage with an emotional high from their game 7 thrashing of Stockton on Wednesday night.

The Aces, though, will start the series with a full week of resting since sinking the Salmon Kings on May 2.

"Sometimes it does hurt the home team sitting back," said Glen Gulutzan, Las Vegas, coach and general manager. "But they are going to be prepared. Keith (McCambridge) has been through this a few times."

Both franchises are no strangers to postseason success. Alaska is only the second team in league history to reach the conference finals four times in five years. The Aces won the Kelly Cup in 2006.

The Wranglers are in the playoffs for the fifth time in six seasons, having now advanced past the first round in four consecutive years.

Las Vegas beat Alaska in the conference semifinals last season, needing only five games to advance to the Kelly Cup finals. In 2006, the Aces dropped the Wranglers 4-2 in the division finals.

All of that history and the more recent bad blood between the teams boiled over in a nasty brawl at the Orleans Arena on March 24. Chris Ferraro suffered a season-ending, broken leg and his brother, Peter, received a season-ending suspension for his involvement in the melee.

"Really only one guy involved in the brawl is left, but it will be a physical series. That's for sure," Gulutzan said.

White out: The Wranglers are asking all fans to wear white to all remaining home playoff games to "white out the competition." The Wranglers return to the Orleans Arena for games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively. If necessary, the Wranglers will host game 5 on Friday night.

Extra special teams: Alaska leads the league in penalty minutes with an average of 23.2 minutes in the box per game this postseason. The Wranglers, who now boast the ECHL's best power play unit (25.4 percent), should use the Aces' lack of discipline to their advantage.

Race to score first: When scoring first, the Aces are 6-1 and the Wranglers are 5-2 in the playoffs, but both teams are undefeated when leading after two periods.

"We are historically better with the lead," Gulutzan said. "With this team, if we get up, I think our guys get more confidence and more juice."

Home sweet home: The Wranglers are 6-2 at the Orleans Arena while the Aces are a perfect 4-0 at the Sullivan Arena. The Aces also boast an average attendance of 5,052 fans with Las Vegas' attendance average at just 3,420. Las Vegas is just 2-4 on the road and Alaska is 4-2.

For whom the bell tolls: If the Wranglers want to shut down the Aces, they must find a way to stop Colin Hemingway. Hemingway not only led the Aces with 14 points regular season points against the Wranglers, but he now leads the ECHL with 19 points (6 goals, 13 assists) in the postseason. Hemingway's counterpart, Josh Soares hasn't been too shabby either with 16 points (8 goals, 8 assists) in just 10 playoff games.

Mind the netminder: Alaska is set with league MVP Jean-Philippe Lamoureux between the pipes. Lamoureux is 8-1-1 with a 1.89 goals against average and a .942 save percentage.

The Wranglers, though, will most likely stick to a rotation between Glenn Fisher and John DeCaro.

Fisher is 6-2 with a 1.96 GAA and a .942 save percentage, while DeCaro is 2-2-2 with a 2.97 GAA and a .908 save percentage.

Three blind refs: The ECHL announced the six referees and the 10 linesmen assigned to the National Conference series, so start planning your taunts now. The refs are Geno Binda, Francis Charron, Jason Nissen, Jason Rollins, Joe Sullivan and Andy Thiessen. The linesmen are Rob Fay, Steve Glines, Michael Hamilton, Rick Janco, Raymond King, Wally Lacroix, Will Moran, Todd Owen, Paul Reid and Scott Sivulich.

Forecast: Nope, no predictions here, but the Wranglers will leave the sizzling 90-plus degree weather of Las Vegas for the upper-50s in Anchorage this weekend. Bring an extra coat boys.

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