Goers Leads Vegas Over Utah, 3-2

Published on February 20, 2011 under ECHL (ECHL)
Las Vegas Wranglers News Release


Las Vegas, Nev- The Las Vegas Wranglers defeated the Utah Grizzlies Saturday night at the Maverik Center for the second time in as many nights. Defenseman Barry Goers tallied the game winning goal late in the third period to lift the Wranglers over the Grizzlies. Colin Long and Josh Lunden also tallied for Las Vegas in the win. Goaltender Michael Ouzas recorded the win turning away 27 of 29 as his record improved to 14-9-1 on the season. The Wranglers had a great showing on the power play tallying on three of their four opportunities while holding the Grizzlies to one for five on their chances. Hugo Carpentier and Simon Ferguson tallied the two goals for Utah in the loss. Utah Goaltender Tamio Stehrenberger earned the loss turning away 34 of 37 in his first game of the season. With the loss the Grizzlies continue on their four-game losing skid as they now hold the second place spot in the Mountain division with a record of 28-21-5. The win increases the Wranglers overall record to 32-17-3, it also increases their lead in the Pacific division to six points over Stockton, and their lead in Western conference to three points over Alaska.

The Wranglers now ride a two-game winning streak after bumping Utah off Friday and Saturday night. With the win Las Vegas improves their overall record against Utah this season to 4-5-1. In both games this weekend the Wranglers trailed 2-1 heading into the third period and in both games the Wranglers managed to score the final goals of the game to come from behind and win. Saturday night's game was very reminiscent of Friday's game in the sense that the majority of the goals were scored in the final frame. Colin Long continued his routine from Friday's game and scored the first goal in Saturday's game as well. Long tallied his eleventh goal of the season while the Wranglers were on the power play at 1:48 of the first period assisted by Sean McMonagle and Chris Higgins to take the early 1-0 lead. Utah answered back at 10:04 of the first period with Hugo Carpentier's tenth goal of the season assisted by Tim Crowder and Brian Kilburg to knot the game up. After one period the game was tied at one and Las Vegas had outshot Utah 13-8.

Neither team tallied in the middle frame but the shots category flipped like it had the night before. Utah outshot Las Vegas 13-9 in the second period and after two periods there were a combined six minor penalties resulting in one power play goal from Colin Long. The third period would see more penalties and goals than the first two periods combined.

Once again the shots tally flipped back in favor of Las Vegas for the final frame, 15-8, which allowed the Wranglers to score the final two goals of the game. Utah tallied while on the power play at 2:58 of the third period with Simon Ferguson's seventeenth goal of the season assisted by Brent Gauvreau and Tom May which gave Utah a very familiar 2-1 lead. The Wranglers only needed the final three minutes of the game and multiple Utah minor penalties to come from behind yet again. Josh Lunden tied the game for Las Vegas while on the power play and netted his first goal of the season at 17:11 of the third period assisted by Nick Ross and Aaron Power. Barry Goers notched his sixth goal of the season at 19:22 of the final period while Las Vegas was on the power play assisted by Chris Francis and Blake Gallagher to steal another game from Utah, 3-2.

The Wranglers now head north to face Alaska for a three-game set beginning February 24th.

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.

2010-11 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 adjacent to the Orleans Hotel and Casino at 4500 W. Tropicana Avenue.

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ECHL Stories from February 20, 2011


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