Wranglers Control Reign, 5-2
April 1, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Las Vegas Wranglers News Release
Las Vegas, NV - The Las Vegas Wranglers® (33-29-8, 74 Points) defeated the Ontario Reign (30-30-10, 70 Points) 5-2 in front of 4,149 fans Thursday night at the Orleans Arena.
The Las Vegas Wranglers clinched a berth in the 2010 Kelly Cup Playoffs with a regulation win over the Ontario Reign. The Wranglers hold any possible remaining tiebreaking scenarios over the Reign. Jimmy Spratt stopped 26 of 28 Ontario shots for his eighth victory of the season. Adam Miller, Andrew Orpik and Ned Lukacevic all scored for the Wranglers in the victory. Curtis Darling took the loss stopping 29 of 33 Wranglers shots. Tim Kraus scored both Ontario goals.
A highly emotional first period saw Ontario draw first blood as Tim Kraus picked up a loose puck in front of Jimmy Spratt and scored a power play goal to give the Reign a 1-0 lead at the 6:13 mark. A parade of Ontario players resulted in the Wranglers evening the score on the power play as Adam Miller fired a pass across the crease that was deflected in by an Ontario defender at 10:53. Miller's goal was his 33rd of the year, two shy of the single season Wranglers record of 35. Just over a minute later, Ned Lukacevic notched his 26th of the season, also on the power play, to give the Wranglers a 2-1 lead. At the 16:09 mark, Tim Kraus netted his second goal of the period to even the score at two goals apiece heading into the first intermission.
In the second period the Wranglers failed to capitalize on several power play opportunities. With under ten seconds remaining, Ryan Weston took a feed from Josh Prudden and skated in on Ontario netminder Curtis Darling on a 2-on-1 breakaway. Weston found Ned Lukacevic on the left wing who fired home the puck for his second goal of the night with just 0.2 seconds remaining on the clock to give the Wranglers a 3-2 lead at the break.
The Wranglers controlled the play in the third period. With eight seconds remaining on a power play, Ned Lukacevic beat an Ontario defender wide and beat Curtis Darling top shelf to complete the hat trick and give the Wranglers a 4-2 lead. Andrew Orpik completed the scoring with an empty net goal with less than 48 seconds remaining.
The Wranglers return on Friday and Saturday to face the Ontario Reign. The puck drops at 7:05 PM both nights. The first 2,000 fans receiving Wranglers Team Playing Cards courtesy of the Orleans Hotel & Casino on Friday night.
The Las Vegas Wranglers® are the ECHL affiliate to the National Hockey League's Phoenix Coyotes and the American Hockey League's San Antonio Rampage. Follow the Wranglers on Twitter at www.twitter.com/WranglersLV.
Group rates for all remaining Wranglers home games are available by calling (702) 471-PUCK. The Wranglers play all 36 regular season home games at the Orleans Arena, located at the Orleans Hotel and Casino at 4500 W. Tropicana Avenue. Individual game tickets are on sale now at (702) 284-7777.
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ECHL Stories from April 1, 2010
- Wranglers Control Reign, 5-2 - Las Vegas Wranglers
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- Eric Regan Named 1st Team All ECHL - Bakersfield Condors
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- All-ECHL First Team Announced - ECHL
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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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