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Thunder Outlast Wranglers 3-1 - Las Vegas Returns Home For Season Finale on Friday and Saturday

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


Stockton, CA - The Las Vegas Wranglers® (32-31-8, 72 Points) were defeated by the Stockton Thunder (32-31-7, 71 Points) 3-1 in front of 6,473 fans on Sunday night at Stockton Arena. Stockton's Craig Valette broke a 1-1 tie with 3:18 remaining in the third period to give the Thunder the victory. Thunder forwards Ryan Huddy and Jason Bates each scored as Stockton clinched a playoff spot. Wranglers center Dan Riedel scored his 22nd goal of the season as Las Vegas finished with year with a 12-17-8 road record. Las Vegas goalie John DeCaro dropped to 10-7-0 on the year with 24 saves. Stockton goalie Andrew Perugini made 24 saves for the win. The Wranglers are currently in a three-way tie for second place in the Pacific Division. Las Vegas, Bakersfield and Stockton each have a .507 winning percentage. Las Vegas will host Stockton on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 PM at the Orleans Arena.

Las Vegas scored the only goal of the opening stanza with an even strength tally by center Dan Riedel at 15:21. Rookie defenseman John Schwarz snapped the puck towards the Stockton net from the point. Riedel redirected the shot for his 22nd goal of the season and a 1-0 Las Vegas lead after one period of play.

Stockton countered to tie the game 1-1 just past the halfway mark of the second period with a power-play goal by rookie Ryan Huddy. The Thunder worked the puck to Huddy in the right-wing circle at 13:06. The Stockton forward tallied his team-record 35th goal of the year by snapping a wrist shot under the cross bar, beating Las Vegas goalie John DeCaro on the glove side.

In the third period, Craig Valette scored his eighth goal of the season at 16:42, breaking a 1-1 tie and giving the Thunder the one-goal lead. Stockton forward Jason Bates scored an empty-net goal at 19:35 for the 3-1 final score.

The Wranglers were unable to clinch a playoff spot and need one point to do so. The Wranglers can clinch a playoff spot if Phoenix is unable to win in Idaho on Tuesday night.

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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