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Fists fly as Wranglers bounce back against Aces in second game of series
Special to the Sun / Stephen R. Sylvanie
Las Vegas defenseman Jason Krischuk puts the puck behind sprawling Aces goalie Sebastian Dahm for his first goal of the year during the second period at the Orleans Arena on Friday night.
Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009 | 1:30 a.m.
Aces vs Wranglers
In the first game of their series with Alaska, the Wranglers fell to the Aces 5-2.
Welcoming Back Some Old Friends
The Wranglers and Aces meet up for the first time since Alaska eliminated Las Vegas from the conference finals.
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Expanded hockey coverage
After suffering a blowout loss to the Alaska Aces Thursday night, Las Vegas Wranglers coach Ryan Mougenel issued a stern challenge to his young squad -- return the next night with a lot of passion or find a new team to play for.
Apparently nobody is ready to leave Las Vegas just yet.
The Wranglers responded to their coach's test with plenty of emotion Friday night as they handed Alaska its first loss of the season 4-3 in a fight-filled evening in front of 3,372 fans at the Orleans Arena.
"All it was, was caring," said Mougenel, who picked up his first career victory as an ECHL head coach. "They cared. They cared for each other… That's why we won, because guys came together. I'm proud of the guys and it's not going to change."
The Wranglers (1-2) banded together on several occasions for pure self-defense reasons as the officials handed out a whopping 43 infractions totaling 157 penalty minutes.
Four players received game misconducts as several multi-fight melees broke out throughout the night, with referees issuing 12 separate fighting majors.
"I think the boys really came together tonight," said Wranglers enforcer Kyle Hagel, who accounted for 14 penalty minutes and two fighting majors. "We were all sticking up for each other and just making sure we wouldn't be pushed around… When you go to bat for each other like that sometimes those are the greasy wins that you get. It was a good one. We knew we had to be more physical."
Even with all of the brutal physicality Friday night, both offenses started out firing on all cylinders.
Alaska (4-1) opened the first period scoring binge on a shorthanded breakaway goal by Aces captain Scott Burt to take a 1-0 lead 11:16 into the game.
Adam Miller answered right back 80 seconds later during a Wranglers power play when he surprised Aces goalie Sebastian Dahm with a quick wrister from the right circle to knot the score 1-1.
The Aces regained a 2-1 lead, though, as Colin Hemingway struck on the power play with 3:58 remaining in the period.
Once again, the Wranglers quickly responded when Andrew Orpik tipped in a Matt Watkins shot just 38 seconds later to head into the first intermission tied 2-2.
The No. 1 forwards line of Orpik, Watkins and Miller totaled two goals and four assists on the night, while leading the team with 15 shots.
"Orpik, Watkins and Miller I thought were unstoppable tonight," Mougenel said. "They had the puck in the offensive zone all night. That is going to be a dominant line because they compete like NHLers. They really do. The way they protect the puck and skate, those are three guys that should be at the next level and if they play like that they will be at the next level."
Las Vegas took control of the contest early in the second period when Jason Krischuk buried a backhand shot to put the Wranglers on top 3-2 just 2:33 seconds into the period.
Josh Prudden capitalized on a 5-on-3 power play six minutes later to extend the Las Vegas lead to 4-2.
The Wranglers power play finished 2-for-7 on the night while the penalty killing unit really stood out by holding the Aces to one power goal on 10 opportunities. Las Vegas also killed off two 5-on-3 disadvantages.
"It was special teams the whole time and it showed a lot of strength in our PK," Krischuk said. "A lot of guys had to play tonight that wouldn't normally play PK because two guys got kicked out so it shortened the bench. It made everyone step their game up and show coach they could play a different position than he probably thought they could."
Despite the plethora of penalties and fights throughout the night, the Wranglers managed to maintain that two-goal lead until late in the third period.
Aces forward John Lammers scored his team-high sixth goal of the night to cut the deficit to 4-3 with 5:30 remaining in the game, but that was as close as Alaska would get.
"We can make this a real good weekend by coming out and showing the same fire we had tonight tomorrow," Mougenel said.
Stars of the game: 1. Adam Miller (1 goal, 2 assists); 2. Andrew Orpik (1 goal, 1 assist); 3. Jason Krischuk (1 goal)
Oozing confidence: The Wranglers edged the Aces 30-29 on shots as Michael Ouzas picked up his first victory of the season with 26 saves.
"Ouzas is a great goalie," Mougenel said. "I'm not making any decisions based on one game, but Michael knows I believe in him. I wouldn't have him here if I didn't. I know he's a great goalie and he knows he's a great goalie. That's the reason why I signed him. He's a competitive person. He might rub his teammates the wrong way with his competitive spirit, but I wish a lot more of them would have the same competitive spirit that Michael Ouzas has."
No more Morehouse: Alaska forward Chris Morehouse received a rather rough exit during a second period melee. First Morehouse took a beating by Chris Frank then as the scrum continued, Justin Bernhardt pulled Morehouse out of the pile to land a few haymakers.
The dazed and battered Morehouse received two fighting majors and a game misconduct along with his teammate, Scott Burt. Bernhardt and Wranglers forward Matt Kang headed to the locker room with a standing ovation as they too received game misconducts and fighting majors at the 7:28 mark of the second period.
Suspensions looming: Although four players were ejected from Friday's game, Mougenel said he would not be surprised if the only player receiving a suspension from the league was Aces forward Matt Stefanishion for a kneeing penalty in the second period.
Stefanishion, who picked up five penalties, tried to wipe out Orpik with the low hit, which brought up memories of when Stefanishion injured Mike Madill in Anchorage last season during the National Conference finals.
"This isn't the first time that we have had to deal with the same guy on one of our players," Mougenel said. "Fortunately Orpik wasn't hurt, but I'll tell you what, Mike Madill was. He was out eight months. I have a tough time with that one. I like (Stefanishion) a lot and he's actually a friend. I've spent a lot of time with Matt and I'm just disappointed in the hit. I thought it was cheap."
Karma struck Stefanishion late in the game, though, when he cost his team a two-minute power play opportunity by taking an elbowing penalty with 2:36 remaining in the contest.
Cool camo: The Wranglers sported camouflaged jerseys for military appreciation weekend. From a distance they just look like white jerseys, but up close the design is actually pretty awesome. Nice work design team.
Next up: The Aces and Wranglers will duke it out one more time in the series' rubber match at 7:05 p.m. today at the Orleans Arena.
Final word: "The only thing I'm going to say is they responded the way I knew they would," Mougenel said. "These guys care for each other and that's what I like."
Steve Silver can be reached at 948-7822 or steve.silver@lasvegassun.com.
Discussion: 19 comments so far…
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I give the Aces credit, but Stefanishion continues to be a tool. He was chirping last year about how cheap shots have no place in this game and he is right. Too bad he doesn't feel it applies to him. Saturday should be crazier than Friday's game.
What a crazy game. Still hard to believe this team has changed its DNA with speed and skill as I saw very little of it. Seemed like the Wranglers just ditched that idea because it isn't there yet. I did like the effort though, they seemed to get to a lot more pucks and exceeded the effort of what appears to be a very good Alaska team.
Funny how these things go though, I bet there is much less fighting Saturday as it seems to be out of the system now. We'll just see though if the Aces take some shots at Shay for his cheap hit that got him tossed.
Couldn't agree with you any more Winthorpe. I said it last year during the playoffs and I still believe it; Stefanishion just takes dumb penalties at the worst times.
"This isn't the first time that we have had to deal with the same guy on one (of) our players," two games into the rivalry and two great quotes from the head man. This could have easily been Coach Keith McCambridge talking about the less than legal actions of Mr. Madill last season against the Aces. I have no doubt that Matt will be hearing from the league and rightfully so but if anyone knows about how Karma works it is Mike Madill...end of rant let's concentrate on the guys playing now! Good luck in the rubber match, it should be a good one.
First, I would agree Stefanishon takes bad penalties, but I would take it a step further, he is a dirty player. He is constantly hitting people from behind and hitting people with high sticks. And when challenged he runs away. I can respect an agitator that when challenged answers the bell, but he is not one of those. He is one guy I would never want on my team.
Second, did I miss something last year? What did Madill do that was so bad. I frequent several message boards and no one mentioned any illegal actions by him.
I said it last year and I will say it again, without Stefanishion there would not be the violence that we have seen this year and last year. He was the same way in Fresno and that is probably why Thomas did not take him to Stockton. Lawrence challenged him to fight in the playoffs last year and he just curled up in a fetal position. What a tool.
Hitting people from behind and with high sticks, running away when challenged. Perhaps if he changed his last name to Ferraro all would be forgiven then? Sorry, I'll try to keep it to the players that are still involved ;O)
I guess my point is that there was violence between these two teams before Matt arrived and there will be violence long after he's gone. We all tend to look at our own teams "tools" through rose colored glasses I suppose. The bottom line is these teams just don't like eachother and it's the names on the front of the jerseys that make that so, not the names on the back! As for what happened last season, if you believe Saint Madill was an innocent victim there is nothing anyone can say on a message board that is going to change your opinion of him. He was a TOOL but he was your tool so you loved him...now let's play some hockey. Enjoy the game.
I was never questioning anything about Madill, I just never heard anyone mention that he did anything wrong last year, and I never saw anything on B2 when I was watching. Jack Michaels never mentioned anything, at least not that I can remember, and I figured he would be the first one to point something out. I was asking the simple question of what he did since I have never seen him be an aggressor in any situation. And saying he deserved to get a torn ACL as karma for whatever it is he did is a little uncalled for in my opinion.
I didn't bring up the Ferraros because I believe their last year here was a waste. They tried to compensate for their losing a step by taking short cuts, and I don't want that on my team. And for the record, the Ferraros never curled up in the fetal position when challenged. Much like Galbraith, they faced the music when the time comes.
Well said 213..
I don't like home tools myself. Perfect example of that is the Sabres are my NHL team, being from Buffalo - but I HATE Patrick Kaleta. Runs at guys all the time, hiding behind a visor and cheap shots galore and turtles all the time and yaps when players get between him and the opposing player. But, Sabre fans love him.
Although I liked the Ferraros skill level, I didn't appreciate their antics or that of Makway either.
Tonight will be another epic chapter to this heated series that I quick frankly can't get enough of.
Any of the regular posters want to meet at the bar after the game, let me know.
213 - "I'll try to keep it to the players that are still involved"? Is that why you keep bringing up Ferraro and Madill? With only two players from last year our players have no history with Alaska, they react to what happens on the ice. There have been numerous people here who condemned the actions of Peter Ferraro last year and said we were a better team without him. Not so with Alaska posters and Stephanshion. As I said earlier, he was the same in Fresno, a cheap shot artest creating mayhem and bad blood, and he is the same now. History shows that this is just a fact.
Going to take a pre game nap here. Will check back later to see if I get any takers for a beer.
Steve, see you at 6.
I love the chirping today. I'm not really sure what Madill did last year, but we'll let that go since he isn't playing right now.
As far as Stefanishion or any other agitator/enforcer...if you are going to hit high, throw elbows and instigate fights then stand your ground and back it up when someone comes after you.
Tonight I'm torn. Do you all think it will be more of the same intense action or a much calmer, maybe 2-1 game?
All apologies if any previous comments offended as that was never the intention. I actually think we all agree but something is getting lost in translation...winthorpe, fan, vagman; enjoy tonights game and hopefully you get to see more skill and less thuggery as that always makes for a more enjoyable experience. Lastly I have made somewhere between three to five posts during the playoffs last season and earlier this season on both this blog and also our own ADN blog that Matt should be benched by the Aces coaching staff for conduct that is hurting his team. Curiously the Aces staff doesn't seem to take suggestions from the fans. Obviously I don't know nearly as much about this game as I think I do!
Yeah I am not sure what Madill did or didn't do last year, either, but as far as tonight's game, I am thinking that this is going to be a tight low scoring affair that should be fairly clean. It will be a fairly dry powder keg however, not taking much of a spark to ignite, should the officials allow the cheap shots to continue. Lets be realistic, those guys had a rough go of it on the ice and on the scoreboard, apparently...See you all at the arena tonight!
213, Do you maybe have Madill confused with Makway? Because Makway was a major tool in that series last year and was the one fueding with Lance in those late season games up there as well.
http://community.adn.com/node/141080
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AyeOwQfp...
Steve, I think the fireworks will continue. I thought last nights started because the ref just kinda pulled up a chair to just watch before the initial brawling and let a lot of cheap stuff go. He didn't put a lid on it and it was a powder keg waiting to blow.
If the game gets chippy, the Aces will have a very short bench.
http://community.adn.com/node/144474
Yeah, dressing only 9 forwards, I would venture to say that the Aces may be forced to behave, setting the tone for the game tonight.
I will be wearing a shirt similar to this:
http://www.fansedge.com/ProductDisplay.a...
I'll be in front of the smoking balcony on East side of building (outside 105/106) before game and between periods. Say hello if you are a frequent poster here.
well, lets see what neizner does tonight... does anyone think neizner will fight on his first night back with us?
Mike Madill had 12 penalty minutes in 13 playoff games. Where and when were his dirty tactics and "less than legal" actions?