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StumbleWranglers down Utah 6-4 in first game of playoffs
Stephen Sylvanie / Special to the Sun
Ryan Weston, left, and Adam Miller celebrate a third-period Weston goal against the Utah Grizzlies in Game 1 of the first round ECHL playoff matchup between Utah and Las Vegas on Tuesday night at the Orleans Arena.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010 | 11:47 p.m.
Sun Coverage
The Las Vegas Wranglers offense answered the bell.
Down a pair of goals early in the second period, with momentum and Game 1 of the National Conference quarterfinals against the Utah Grizzlies slipping away, the Wranglers made a series-opening statement.
“The key was how we responded when we were scored against,” Las Vegas head coach Ryan Mougenel said. “We talked about it before the series, about situations like that and how important it is to respond to a goal.”
Forward Kyle Hagel and captain Chris Neiszner scored just 11 seconds apart to tie the game, and Las Vegas added two more in the second period for four unassisted goals as the Wranglers took the first game of the series, 6-4, defeating the Grizzlies on home ice.
“We responded the right way and that was the difference,” Mougenel said.
The second period started the same as the first, with a tie score leading to a quick Utah goal.
Grizzlies defenseman Tim Maxwell scored just 20 seconds into the period, assisted by forward James Sixsmith and left-winger Dylan Hunter. That score was followed by a Tim Crowder goal just 1:23 later.
But the two-goal lead didn’t deter the Wranglers. Hagel responded with an unassisted goal on a wrist shot that beat the left pad of Utah goalie Mikko Koskinen.
“We had to crank it up a little bit, kick it into a higher gear so we could get back in the game,” Hagel said.
The goal was set up by a Neiszner back-check near center ice, creating a turnover that landed on Hagel’s stick.
“It was an awesome back-check,” Hagel said of Neiszner’s play.
Neiszner then joined the act, tying the game 11 seconds later as he chipped in a goal that eluded the glove of Koskinen.
The back-to-back goals signaled a shift in momentum, and the Wranglers weren’t finished.
Hagel scored his second goal of the period with 10:05 on the clock, pushing a rebound in traffic underneath Koskinen. Center Josh Prudden extended the lead to two by roofing a breakaway wrist shot past the Grizzlies goalie to finish his night.
Koskinen was relieved by Mike Morrison, who stopped eight of nine shots and two penalty shots, one each awarded to Alex Bourret and Andrew Orpik.
“The offense was awesome tonight,” Wranglers goaltender Jimmy Spratt said. “When your team gives you six goals to work with, you should come out with the win most of the time.”
Spratt made 17 saves on 21 shots in his first ECHL playoff game.
Utah’s patience wore thin as the game moved along, irked with penalty calls and a goal that was called back in the third period.
Early in the period and on the power play, a point shot was deflected past Spratt for a goal. But it was immediately waved off for a high-stick by official Andy Thiessen.
The Grizzlies were penalized 10 times, and left-winger Lance Galbraith was whistled for two misconducts in the third.
Forward Ryan Weston scored midway through the third period on a breakaway to increase Las Vegas’ lead to three, and Utah’s Maxwell scored his second of the game 1:14 later to put a wrap on the scoring.
“They’re going to come at us hard,” Hagel said about Wednesday night’s Game 2. “They won’t roll over whatsoever. We have to have a better effort tomorrow because we don’t want to go back to square one being tied.”
Three stars: 1. Kyle Hagel (two goals, assist); 2. Ryan Weston (goal); 3. Utah’s Tim Maxwell (two goals).
Quick goals: Utah scored with less than a minute played in the first two periods. Malcom MacMillan scored 35 seconds into the first, and Maxwell scored his first just 20 seconds into the second period.
Attendance report: The 1,882 in attendance at the Orleans Arena was the lowest of the season.
Up next: Game 2 at the Orleans Arena on Wednesday night.
Final word: “We don’t want to be going to their rink in the hole,” Hagel said.
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"Las Vegas added two more in the second period for four unassisted goals as the Wranglers took the first game of the series, 6-4, defeating the Grizzlies on home ice" - Uhh I think you mean four unANSWERED goals! Oh Well! lol
The Wranglers played a little shakey when the puck first dropped, and it showed when Spratt gave up the early goal. Spratt seemed to find his groove in the 2nd period and started making some good saves and wasnt forcing it as much. The boys did a good job on offense tonight, and they showed their mental toughness, but they're still lacking the backcheck the team needs if they're going to compete and win this series and, god willing, the next ones.
Honestly, I have to say I was dissapointed in the Las Vegas community for not coming out and supporting the boys in the playoffs. So what if its a tuesday night? The game ended in 2 hours and 15 minutes or something! Pretty quick. And besides, it's playoff hockey!!! Hope to see everybody out at the game tomorrow night!
AGREED BARB
PISS-POOR TURNOUT FROM OUR FELLOW LAS VEGANS......THIS IS WHY WE WILL NEVER SEE A PRO TEAM......
I, too, was a little dissapointed in the turnout last night. But, let's talk about the good stuff.
Game one at home is a win! The boys are gonna have to keep in that groove that they started last night. Like Hagel said, Utah isn't going to just roll over & let us have the series. We still have some fighting to do.
I'll be there tonight, will you? Hey, bring a friend.
When the Wranglers commit to smart and aggressive skating, they can't be stopped.
Collins set the tone for the momentum shift after those two quick goals by Utah. His forechecking sprang the other wingers for scoring chances that shifted the momentum from Utah's favor. Hopefully he can start to take advantage of the breakaways that he has been regularly creating.
Same goes for Spratt - he was frozen during the backdoor pass plays that created the 2nd and 3rd goals; but he settled down when he started attacking the cross-ice passes and cutting the angle.
I agree with Reb, Collins should have been one of the three stars.
Hey Wranglers Fans:
Thanks A MILLION to those who came out last night. As you know we did not know until about an hour after Saturday's regular-season finale when, who or where we would play next. Even making an announcement at Saturday's game was impossible.
So we need you to help spread the word for tonight. Should we advance to face Idaho we will be able to promote those dates more fully.
In the mean time wake the neighbors, scream for front porches and hound your co-workers: Las Vegas' pro hockey team is going for a Game Two win tonight at our home at the Orleans Arena... 7:05.
Thanks Fans!!!
Bj
PS: A special shout out to Carrot Top for coming out last night. Thanks buddy!
Congrats to Adam Miller...the ECHL Player of the month for March.
Tuesday/Wednesday games suck overall (although being able to hear everything that is being said on the ice is unusual) and I understand Billy's problems with promoting the games since we didn't know until after the last home game when the next would be. That being said I hope that everyone is getting friends to go if possible etc. Call into sports talk radio all that fun stuff. That's the way to get the word out. See everyone again tonight.
I hope Galbraith brought his blankey and binky!!! What a cry baby.......wonder if there are odds as to if he will get a miconduct or 2 tonite!!!
As much as Galbraith gets under everyone's skin, no one can deny that he's got some serious hockey skill....when he decides to apply himself. It's unfortunate that he'll probably never see a league higher than the ECHL because he's apparently got some screws loose. But, at the very least, he's always entertaining.
It's my honest opinion that if he was on our team, we'd all love him, but because he's wearing a different jersey, we all hate him.