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Alexander and Wranglers Take Game 3, Win 5-4 In OT

April 14, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Las Vegas Wranglers News Release


Boise, ID - The Las Vegas Wranglers (1-2) beat the Idaho Steelheads (2-1) 5-4 in overtime in Game Three of the West Division Semi-Finals at the Qwest Arena on Friday night. Las Vegas forward Todd Alexander scored the game-winning goal just 6:37 into overtime for the victory. Las Vegas relinquished a 3-0 lead in the third period ad the Steelheads scored four goals in the third period to force the extra frame. Center Chris Neiszner scored a goal and set up the game-winning tally as the road team won for the third straight game in this series. Las Vegas winger Dan Tudin scored twice and Steve Crampton added a goal in the first playoff win for Las Vegas in two years. Idaho leads the series 2-1 with Game Four slated for Saturday night at 6:10 pm (PST)

Las Vegas took a 3-0 lead in the first period starting just 5:17 into Game Three. Right wing Steve Crampton tipped in a loose puck in front of the Steelheads net, as the Wranglers scored the first goal of a game for the first time in this series. Las Vegas made it 2-0 when Dan Tudin backhanded a shot through traffic from the high slot at 14:18 to lift Las Vegas to a two-goal lead. Tudin added his second goal of the period at 17:41 of the period for a 3-0 Wranglers' lead. Defenseman Christian Chartier's shot was deflected up off the ice as Tudin gloved it down and shot it into the Idaho net for the first Las Vegas power play goal of the series. Las Vegas outshot Idaho 13-10 in the first period.

The second period was scoreless, but featured one of the nastiest plays of the series. Idaho Steelheads forward Marty Flichel speared Las Vegas forward Todd Alexander in the back as Alexander was heading towards the open door of the Wranglers bench. Alexander fell awkwardly, hitting his head and remaining down on the ice for a few minutes. Flichel was assessed a spearing major and a game misconduct for his actions. Idaho charged back strong in the middle period, outshoot Las Vegas 12-4.

In the third period, Idaho netted two shorthanded goals within 11 seconds to pull within 3-2 with just over ten minutes to go in the game. Steelheads forward Dan Hacker snapped a shot that deflected off traffic and past Wranglers' goalie Mike McKenna at 9:30 of the third period. Just 11-seconds later, Garett Bembridge got around the defense and lifted the puck over the blocker of McKenna to cut the Las Vegas lead to 3-2. Wranglers center Chris Neiszner poked away a puck in the neutral zone, creating a breakaway. Neiszner broke in all alone and beat Matt Yeats with a backhander at 17:24, pushing the Wranglers lead to 4-2. Idaho winger David Bararuk scored his second of the playoffs with 1:37 remaining in the game and goaltender Matt Yeats pulled for the extra attacker. Bararuk's goal cut the Wranglers' lead to 4-3 and put the Steelheads in position to tie the game. Idaho did just that with 1:07 remaining as Bembridge scored his second of the third period, tying the game and forcing overtime. Idaho outshot Las Vegas 17-4 in the third period.

In overtime, Chris Neiszner skated down a loose puck behind the Steelheads net and centered in front for Todd Alexander. The Wranglers winger, slipped the puck through the five-hole of Yeats for the game-winning goal at 6:37, as Las Vegas wins Game 3 5-4.

Tickets for all games are on sale now. Fans may purchase seats to all Wranglers home games at any of the following ticket locations: The Orleans Arena Box Office, Coast Casinos' showroom box offices at The Orleans, Gold Coast, South Coast and SunCoast, or at the Galleria Mall guest relations/ticket centers.

The Wranglers play all 36 home games at the Orleans Arena, located at the Orleans Hotel and Casino at 4500 W. Tropicana Avenue. Seat packages to see the Wranglers play at the Orleans Arena for the upcoming 2004-05 season are now on sale, starting as low as $150. Call (702) 471-7825 for more information or visit www.lasvegaswranglers.com.



ECHL Stories from April 14, 2006


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