Wranglers drop second of three games to Alaska Aces

Stephen Sylvanie

Sunday, March 30, 2014 | 6:01 p.m.

The Wranglers did not have much time to relish the miraculous comeback victory against the Alaska Aces on Saturday night as their three-game homestand against the Aces concluded this afternoon at the Orleans Arena. Despite threatening a second last-minute comeback, the Wranglers fell to the Aces 5-4 before 4,000 fans in the final afternoon matinee matchup of the season. Though taking losses in two of the three games, Las Vegas goaltender Travis Fullerton stood tall in the net for the Wranglers, stopping 131 of 144 shots on goal.

Alaska would score the first goal in the contest, as Brett Findlay chipped a puck over Wranglers goaltender Travis Fullerton while crashing the net to give Alaska the 1-0 lead. Las Vegas defenseman Brad May would net his 11th goal of the year on a power play shot from the point to tie the game up 1-1.

In the second period, the Wranglers would take the lead on a second power play goal, scored by Carlo Finucci, who would also score three assists in the game. Alaska defenseman Corey Syvret would net his second goal of the year to tie the game up for Alaska minutes later in the second period. Defenseman Zach McKelvie would score at the 5:47 mark of the second period to give Alaska the 3-2 lead, though Wrangler Chad Nehring's red-hot stick would tie the game for Las Vegas just 30 seconds later. Alaska would take a two-goal lead early into the third period with a pair of goals scored 37 seconds apart, from Turner Elson and Alex Belzile, seemingly icing the victory, despite the heroics of Wrangler John Armstrong, who netted his 17th goal of the season with just 30 seconds remaining in the game, for the final score of 5-4.

The Wranglers will play their final regular season home game Tuesday night as they host the Bakersfield Condors for fan appreciation night, then embark on a five-game road trip taking them through Bakersfield, Utah, Stockton, then back to Bakersfield to close out the season. The Wranglers (19-40-4-3) will enter the 2014 Kelly Cup playoffs by default, due to the shuttering of the San Francisco franchise; their opponent has yet to be determined.