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Condors Fly By Wranglers 7-4

March 29, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Las Vegas Wranglers News Release


Bakersfield, CA - The Las Vegas Wranglers® (32-30-8, 72 Points) were defeated by the Bakersfield Condors (32-31-7, 71 Points) 7-4 in front of 6,324 fans on Saturday night at Rabobank Arena. Condors' forwards Dave Bonk and Bruce Graham each tallied a pair of goals as Bakersfield moved over .500 for the first time all season. Bakersfield defenseman Chris Kaufman led all scorers with a goal and two assists. Las Vegas forwards Mick Lawrence, Chris Neiszner and Justin Taylor each scored in the defeat. Wranglers' defenseman Jason Dest also scored as Las Vegas fell to 12-16-6 on the road this season. Bakersfield goalie Yutaka Fukufuji stopped 36 of 40 Las Vegas shots for the win. Wranglers' goalie Glenn Fisher suffered the loss, stopped 26 of 33 Bakersfield shots. Las Vegas will play in Stockton on Sunday at 4:00 PM.

In the first period, Bakersfield opened the scoring just 3:05 into the game. Defenseman Chris Kaufman scored his fifth goal of the season, giving the Condors an early 1-0 lead. Las Vegas retaliated with a goal from center-ice by defenseman Jason Dest at 5:40. Dest launched a blast from the red line, beating Condors' goalie Yutaka Fukufuji for his third goal of the year. Las Vegas took a 2-1 lead at 10:52 as center Justin Taylor scored off a rebound in the Bakersfield crease. Taylor's 13th of the year came off a Scott McCulloch shot.

Bakersfield tied the game 2-2 just 1:48 into the second period. Center Bruce Graham scored his 25th goal of the season off a rebound of a Scott Balan shot. The Condors claimed a 3-2 lead at 6:32 of the middle period. Winger Mike Wiril sent a cross-ice pass to Dave Bonk for a power-play goal, his 30th tally of the season.

In the third period, the Condors scored two goals in 28 seconds to open the final frame. Dave Bonk scored his second goal of the night just 53 seconds into the period. Center Bruce Graham scored his second goal of the night at 1:21, expanding the Bakersfield lead to 5-2. Las Vegas center Chris Neiszner scored his 20th goal of the year at 3:18, trimming the Condors' lead to 5-3. Bakersfield pulled away with a pair of goals before the end of the period. Winger Liam Huculak scored his fifth goal of the season at 12:46 to make it 6-3 Condors. Forward Mark Derlago scored his 31st goal of the year at 13:54, giving Bakersfield a 7-3 lead. Left wing Mick Lawrence scored his 14th goal of the season at 16:30 for the 7-4 final score.

Prior to the game, the Wranglers announced that forward Justin Taylor has been returned from the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League (AHL). The team also announced that left wing Kelly Czuy has been reassigned by the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers to the Springfield Falcons (AHL).

Left wing Kelly Czuy returns to Springfield where he started the season, playing in one game without scoring a point. Czuy played in 37 games for Las Vegas this season, scoring nine goals and dishing out 17 assists for 26 points. Over the last three seasons, Czuy has scored 31 goals and assisted on 38 others for a total of 69 points in 131 games with Las Vegas.

Taylor returns from Chicago after a scoreless one-game stint with the Wolves, his third call-up to Chicago this season. In all, Taylor has played in 14 games for Chicago, scoring two goals and adding two assists for a total of four points. In 35 games with Las Vegas this year, the center has 13 goals and 17 assists for 30 points.

The Wranglers will play in Stockton on Sunday 4:00 PM. Las Vegas will conclude the regular season on Friday, April 3rd and Saturday April 4th, hosting the Stockton Thunder at 7:30 PM both nights.

Pro-rated 2008-09 season seat packages are on sale now at (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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