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Wranglers miss opportunities, suffer first road loss of season
Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009 | 2:25 a.m.
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Expanded hockey coverage
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Missed opportunities coupled with a struggling power play unit doomed the Las Vegas Wranglers Saturday night.
The Bakersfield Condors used two late goals by Dan Sexton to hand Las Vegas its first road loss of the season 4-2 in front of 5,368 fans at Rabobank Arena.
Despite jumping out to a 2-1 lead, the Wranglers' futile 0-for-9 effort on the power play caught up to them late in the game when Sexton scored two goals within nearly two minutes of each other to seal the victory.
“I thought we really outplayed them, but tonight the power play was the difference in the game,” said Wranglers head coach and General Manager Ryan Mougenel. “Our power play let us down. When you have that many opportunities to score on the power play, you better get it done. That’s the problem when you play on the outside, and that’s going to be the emphasis this week. We have to get on the inside, in the tough areas to score. And if you aren’t willing to do that, then you won’t have a spot on the power play.”
Las Vegas forward Mick Lawrence lit up the scoreboard first off of a feed from Jason Krischuk just 4:29 into the game.
Bakersfield forward Kyle Calder answered back just 3:09 later for the Condors' only power play goal of the night to tie the game 1-1.
Lawrence delivered the final blow of the period at the 16:03 mark for his second goal of the night and the 2-1 lead.
Once again, though, Calder tied the game 8:33 into the second period at 2-2.
“It’s not the outcome we want, but it’s building blocks,” said Wranglers captain Chris Neiszner. “It’s a 60-minute game and we have to play all 60 minutes to win. We can’t have lapses.”
The Wranglers’ power play problems continued into the third period as Las Vegas failed to muster any offensive pressure late in the game.
“Their PK was pressuring and we didn’t adapt well,” Mougenel said. “We were making rash decisions and rushing. When you are doing that on the power play you are not being diligent and detailed. It was just mulligan after mulligan. We didn’t embrace the ability to score.”
Then, with less than five minutes remaining, Sexton scored twice within about two minutes to lift the Condors to a 4-2 lead.
Sexton now has eight goals and eight assists for a team-high 16 points.
“We let it slip away there with two goals late in the game, and we have to be better than that,” Neiszner said. “They are a very skilled team and you can’t break down on a team that good.”
Stars of the game: 1. Kyle Calder (2 goals); 2. Dan Sexton (2 goals); 3. Mick Lawrence (2 goals)
Powerless play: The Wranglers power play unit is now 10-for-72 for a 13.9 percent success rate after its 0-for-9 outing in Bakersfield.
“The power play is a matter of outworking the other team,” Neiszner said. “You have to be mentally strong. We have to outwork their PK. We have to get pucks to the net and battle. That is where the outworking comes in. We have to create havoc in front of the net and jam pucks in there.”
Roster report: Las Vegas only suited up five defensemen
Heavy hitter: Early in the first period, Chris Frank squared off against Erick Lizon to earn some payback for Kyle Hagel. Hagel suffered two busted eyes at the hands of Lizon during a fight Thursday night. The 6-foot-1 Frank held his own against the 6-foot-4 Lizon. Judges rule it a draw.
Self promotion: Once again, a shameless plug for everyone to tune in to the Heatwave Sports Show on Fox Sports Radio 920 AM Sunday night from 10 p.m. to midnight. I’ll be on talking about everything Wranglers at 11 p.m.
Next up: The Wranglers return home to host the Utah Grizzlies at 7:05 p.m. on Tuesday at the Orleans Arena.
Final word: “Three games in three nights is tough, but I thought the guys did an admirable job with it,” Mougenel said.
Discussion: 17 comments so far…
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Ouch, glad I turned it off after two. Those two Bako tools doing the broadcast were driving me nuts - which is a short drive to be sure.
Now an in season 7 game series with Ryan Kinasewich and the high flying Utah boys after they bested conference leading Idaho 2 out of 3.
Let's get some people in the building so it's not like the mostly empty, cavernous Utah E-Center. After all Tuesday is a night before a holiday and Thursday is dollar beers and Friday, is well, Friday.
I'll see the regulars on Tuesday.
According to the 20 word blurp in the RJ (they were gracious to give our boys a small paragraph) the Wranglers lost 2-0, even though Mick Lawrence had 2. Its bad enough that they don't really care about their coverage of the team, but at least make sure the 20 words make sense...geez.
I missed your broadcast last night Steve, as I was a chaperone at a Home Coming Dance last night. Even if I brought the laptop to the dance the music was too loud anyway for me to hear the braodcast.
I been watching the ECHL since 93, when I used to drive to Erie from Buffalo for games, and I can never remember a 7 game set like this one upcoming with Utah. Its bizarre.
Winthorpe: 3:10 A.M.? - Wow! Maybe that was Buffalo time?
BlackCat...you didn't miss anything. More equipment problems so I was not able to go on air. Very frustrating situation, I almost received a game misconduct from the off-ice officials because I was flipping out.
I'll probably get in trouble for this...but go ahead and follow this link:
http://www.lvrj.com/sports/IN-BRIEF-1-2-...
To quote, "The Wranglers lost to the Bakersfield Condors 2-0 in an ECHL game in Bakersfield, Calif. Mick Lawrence scored twice for Las Vegas (5-5-0)."
Winthorpe, now that is STELLAR!
Wow, the RJ never ceases to amaze me. I especially love when they take shots at the Wranglers even after making those types of brutal mistakes when they report on them. Another stellar performance to be sure. They might as well not even bother. Yes BlackCat, couldn't sleep. Practicing for Buffalo time for my Thanksgiving visit coming up. Hope to see you soon at one of the games. Drew's beer stand behind 106 seems to be the gathering place.
SILV
WHO DO WE BLAME THE EQUIP PROBLEMS ON?
3 GAMES IN 3 NIGHTS IS A TUFF HAUL REGARDLESS OF THE TIME OF YEAR...AND WHEN U GO 0-9 WITH THE MAN ADVANTAGE, WELL..YOU GUYS KNOW
LISTEN TO STEVE AND MYSELF TONIGHT AT 11PM
HEATWAVE SPORTS FOX SPORTS RADIO 920AM OR LVROCKS.COM
well I commented on that "coverage" by the other paper. Lets see if it actually gets posted.
lvatty,
both our comments made it, although i doubt they will even read them. you made a strong point.
Long time Reader here, 1st time poster.
Welcome aboard speed. Hope to hear from you often.
I don't know HW. I'm pretty sure there is an issue with the Wranglers' mixer. We are going to figure it all out this week.
Nice work lvatty and winthorpe. I love it.
Speed...welcome! Feel free to speak your mind here. We've really got a great group of Wranglers fans posting on this site.
Ahhh It makes sense now the guy I saw waving his arms around like a mad man up on media row.......
My wife and I are regulars at the games. 2 years ago, she knew nothing about the game. It's awesome to hear here scream and cheer for the wranglers!
We love having the team here and look forward to many more seasonS.
Steve, I have yet to hear your broadcast, I am looking forward to it. Love what you are doing to help promote the team.
In the words of Jim Hill...Keep The Faith...the season is young. We seem to pull strong midseason.
Steve, what this about Hagel having 2 busted eyes? Are you saying that he ended up broken eyes sockets due to that fight that he had that he left the ice bleeding and didn't return? Or is that he ended up with two black eyes? Clarification please. If it was the former, why hasn't the league done anything about it.
Thanks for the continued great coverage you provide for the Wranglers.
Speed: I agree with you about the season being young..its early days and the boys will gel as the season progresses...just got to tighen up the D. I think Bakersfield is the best team I've seen this young season, and thanks to Anaheim's AHL situation (or lack of one) they will be strong all season. They play as a unit. Alaska is good also, but I believe the travel will eventually take a toll on them.
Winthorpe: Us Buffalo people got to stick together! There are lots of Pittsbugh people like Steve and the bandwagon Pens fans that infest the Orleans on game night, so we got to keep the upper hand! (all in good fun PGH people!) Anyway, I'll try to stop by 106 on Tuesday so we can meet. I'm jealous you're heading back for Thanksgiving, but glad you are.
LPN, Hagel had a whole bunch of stitches over his right eye and both eyes were swollen shut on Thursday. After Friday's game the swelling had gone down a bit, but it still looked gruesome.
I don't think anything illegal happened. He just took a few solid punches to the noggin.
BlackCat, we can't all be from the City of Champions. But tonight is actually about football for me. Big Monday-nighter.
Steve: Great comeback!....I know, I know, wide right and B.I.L.L.S. (Boy I Love Losing Super Bowls)...keep the humor, see ya Tuesday at the game!
Glad to hear Hagel wasn't seriously injured. The nurse in me kicked in when I read "busted", that usually means to me that something is broken. Thanks for the clarification. I saw him go down and then leave that ice and not come back, was a little concerned.
I am not from the "City of Champions", but am a Pens fan. I like their goalie, Marc Andre Fleury.