HOCKEY:

Wranglers drop another game to Utah

Special to the Sun / Stephen R. Sylvanie

Wranglers captain Chris Nieszner takes a slash on the stick from Utah defenseman Justin Friesen as he throws on the brakes in the corner during the second period on Friday night.

By Anthony Fenech (contact)

Published Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009 | 12:40 a.m.

Updated Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009 | 6:06 a.m.

Utah prevails 5-3

You need to upgrade your Flash Player

With just over a minute played in the third period of Friday night’s hockey game between the Las Vegas Wranglers and the visiting Utah Grizzlies, the fans at the Orleans Arena were going wild.

But two quick Utah goals hushed the 6,278 people in attendance and led to a 5-3 win by the Grizzlies, their fourth against the Wranglers in five meetings this season.

“We need to learn how to finish games,” center Adam Miller said. “Our next shift has to be our best shift of the game and set a tone for the rest of the period, but we didn’t do that.”

It was a 90-second stretch of hockey in the third period that made all the difference in the game.

Back-to-back goals by Dylan Hunter and A.J. Perry put the Wranglers at a deficit they couldn’t overcome.

“It’s unfortunate that on one shift you have a big high and the next shift you get scored on,” head coach Ryan Mougenel said. “It’s unacceptable. Guys know that and it’s really important that we learn from a game like this.”

Utah came out of the gates quickly, scoring two goals in the first 10 minutes while racking up an 11-1 advantage in shots.

Both goals came as Grizzlies defensemen Dustin Friesen and Jake Gannon flipped wrist shots at the net.

Friesen’s shot was aided by a screen in front of Wranglers goalie Michael Ouzas and Gannon’s shot deflected off of the stick of Grizzlies forward James Sixsmith before finding the back of the net.

Stuck with a two-goal deficit early, Mougenel called a time out to rally his team, and it paid off with the Wranglers tallying two late first-period goals from the sticks of Justin Bernhardt and Miller.

“We’re a strong-minded group of guys here, so we weren’t down too much after those first two goals,” Miller said. “We worked hard to get back into it but in the end, the bounces just didn’t go our way.”

Early in the second period, with the Grizzlies on the power play, forward A.J. Perry lifted a wrist shot directly off the bottom of the crossbar for a goal and a Grizzlies lead.

Robbie Bina’s third goal of the year came courtesy of a slap shot from the blue-line, followed by Utah goals from Hunter and Perry, both assisted by Ryan Kinasewich, the ECHL’s leader in points.

“We’re making (Utah) think that they’re better than they are, and I don’t believe it,” Mougenel said. “I thought we outplayed them. Both our power plays and penalty kills stepped up but, in the end, we just need to be a little more detailed.”

The Wranglers out-shot the Grizzlies 26-25, went 1-3 on the power play and killed four of six Utah power plays.

“It’s a tough loss, but I think we’re going in the right direction,” Mougenel said. “Did I want the two points? Absolutely. But we’re going to get there and we’ll make sure we get there.”

Stars of the game: 1. Utah’s Vlady Nikiforov (3 assists); 2. Utah’s A.J. Perry (2 goals); 3. Ryan Kinasewich (2 assists)

Special teams outlook: The Wranglers streak of 12 straight penalty kills came to an end in the second period, but they managed to kill two of Utah’s six power plays on the game. In addition to Bina’s power play goal in the third period, Miller’s tally came of the shorthanded variety in the first.

Roster report: Center Josh Prudden was held out of the lineup and injured winger Kyle Hagel joined the team on the bench.

Next up: Saturday, the Wranglers travel to West Valley City, Utah, to face off with the Grizzlies for the fourth time in five days.

Final word: “We have to find a way to win these games and limit our mistakes,” left-winger Ned Lukacevic said. “When we do that, we’ll be a very successful team.”

Anthony Fenech can be reached at anthony.fenech@lasvegassun.com

Discussion: 14 comments so far…

By winthorpe

11/14/09 at 1:08 a.m.

Suggest removal

Nice job Anthony. Another tough loss to be sure. Team is struggling at home, but as mentioned the shots were 11-1, Utah. So if my drunken math is correct, 25-14 Wranglers from that point on.

I thought they could have exposed the Grizzlies goaltender as he was constantly back in his crease and rarely came out to challenge shooters.

On a positive note, it was great to meet LPN4life and vegas_baby_vegas and spend some quality time and photo ops with the Duke. Hope I didn't scare anyone with the Dr. X mask, but it was great fun.

Thanks also Billy for the between periods shout out. Have a great Thanksgiving all. I'm shuffling off to Buffalo for the holiday. Met several great Sabres fans again tonight.
By LPN4LIFE

11/14/09 at 1:24 a.m.

Suggest removal

It was good meeting you as well, winthorpe. It would take more than that mask to scare me away.
Anthony, you missed Robbie Bina as the third star of the game. Not sure what his count was...ie goals/assists.
Otherwise great article. Keep up the good work.
Winthorpe, have a great trip as well as a safe one...see you when the guys return home in December.
By Anthony Fenech (Staff)

11/14/09 at 2:46 a.m.

Suggest removal

Nice catch on Bina, on the score sheet there were only two.

Bina had a power play goal.
By SteveSilver

11/14/09 at 6:09 a.m.

Suggest removal

Hey everyone, I just got off the bus in Utah. Although the Grizzlies left an hour before us, we still beat them to the arena.

The third star of the game was Ryan Kinasewich. Not sure where anyone got Bina from.

I also changed the link to the official game sheet. It had Thursday's up before.

I don't know where the photos are, but I know we have them. I'll get them up soon. No internet on the drive.
By vegas_baby_vegas

11/14/09 at 8:11 a.m.

Suggest removal

They had announced Bina after the game last night instead of Kinasewich...

I agree with with coach, the Wranglers did appear to play a better overall game last night than Utah, but the team is young and it is still showing. The 'D' at times looked a little weak again last night; Ouzas at times looks like he is working harder than he needs to; Our boys need to be a little more Passionate going after the puck and keeping it.

I think they know what needs to happen tonight and will make that change. They don't like loosing and don't seem to take it well...

GO WRANGLERS!!!!!
By TheDuke

11/14/09 at 10:25 a.m.

Suggest removal

Hey Steve, I gotta agree with vegas_baby_vegas. They announced Bina as the third star as I was walking back to the locker room.
Tough beat to be sure. It's tough when everybody is at 100% for the first minute of the period, then 90 seconds of it change everything. I have no doubt that they will get back on their feet (or skates as it were) tonight. A win in Utah would surely put some wind back in their sails.
Winthorpe, good times my man, good times. We'll do it again.
By BlackCat

11/14/09 at 12:07 p.m.

Suggest removal

Winthorpe: I could see you from 116 and you looked scary from that distance...and thats with the mask on..but not as scary as our boys were the first 10 min of the first period. Lets have a cold one next home stand..of course it will need to be after the game, for obvious reasons.

The 'D' still needs to tighten up, and Ouzas needs to control rebounds better if he is ever going to move up to a higher level.

I could not believe the announced attendance was only 6,200 and change...I thought we had at least 7,000.

Steve: I have a wedding to attend (as a guest!) tonight so I will not be able to listen, though I'm tempted to bring the laptop with me...but if I do my Mrs. will shoot me! I'll have to listen next week. Hope the equipment doesn't act up on you!
By winthorpe

11/14/09 at 12:30 p.m.

Suggest removal

Blackcat, I look scary from any distance with or without the mask. We'll hook up after a game in december.
By rushzone94

11/14/09 at 1:20 p.m.

Suggest removal

Hey, me and my aunt are trying to get people to go on road trips this month. Hey if anybody wants to go to the Utah game on Nov 21 or the Bakersfield games on the 27th and 28th, let me know. Lets try to make their arena's wrangler red.

Steve, can you try to spread the word? haha. Thank you everybody.
By SteveSilver

11/14/09 at 1:41 p.m.

Suggest removal

The mystery of the third star.

The official score sheet handed to Anthony and me after the game only had two stars listed. Then this morning when I checked the report on echl.com it had Kinasewich. Apparently, it was Bina all along and the stats guys just messed up. I apologize for their error.

Rushzone94, I'd love to see some Wranglers fans travel. Just come on up if you feel like making the drive.
By winthorpe

11/14/09 at 2:01 p.m.

Suggest removal

I would go up there, but I am going to the City Of Champions from 11/21 - 11/30. OK Steve, countdown to snappy response. Three... Two.. One.
By SteveSilver

11/14/09 at 2:27 p.m.

Suggest removal

I don't need a snappy response....I'll let the 6 Lombardis and 3 Stanleys do the talking
By winthorpe

11/14/09 at 2:38 p.m.

Suggest removal

I'd be happy with one of each in my lifetime.
By LPN4LIFE

11/14/09 at 5 p.m.

Suggest removal

No worries, Steve, about the stars. Just wanted to make sure Robbie got credit.