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Wranglers Down Grizzlies, 5-2

February 18, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Las Vegas Wranglers News Release


Las Vegas, Nev- The Las Vegas Wranglers® defeated the Utah Grizzlies Friday night at the Maverik Center ending their three-game slide. The Wranglers erupted with four unanswered goals in the third period to defeat the Grizzlies 5-2 and send them on a three-game skid of their own. Michael Ouzas turned away 41 of 43 in the win as he improved his record to 13-9-1. Colin Long notched two goals for the Wranglers while Barry Goers, Blake Gallagher, and Aaron Power all had individual goals of their own. Both goals for Utah came from the stick of Giffen Nyren, one on the power play and the other at even strength. Utah goalie Marc Rinfret takes the loss turning away 22 of 25 as his record slides to 0-3 on the season. The penalty kill for Las Vegas remained strong as they successfully killed 9 of 10 disadvantages including multiple two-man disadvantages. The Wranglers tallied twice with their seven power play opportunities as well, which they have done in three consecutive games now. The loss puts Utah on a three-game skid as they fall to 28-20-5. Coupled with an Alaska win tonight the loss bumps the Grizzlies out of the first place spot in the Mountain division and the second place spot in the Western Conference. With the win Las Vegas ends their skid and maintains their lead in the Pacific division and Western conference. Las Vegas currently holds a record of 31-17-3 with 65 total points in 51 games and only trails Reading in the league.

The Wranglers tallied the only goal of the first period, Utah scored the only goal of the second period, but the Wranglers had the last four goals of the match to make the season series against Utah 3-5-1. Colin Long tallied his first goal of the night and ninth of the season at 16:47 of the first period assisted by Josh Lunden and Chris Higgins to give Las Vegas the 1-0 lead. The Wranglers outshot the Grizzlies 11-4 in the first period as they took the lead to the intermission.

Utah answered back with the only goal of the second period at 15:48 with Giffen Nyren's first of the night and second of the season assisted by David Schulz and Chris Donovan to knot the game at one. Las Vegas and Utah changed roles between the first two periods. Las Vegas outshot Utah 11-4 in the first period, but Utah outshot Las Vegas 23-4 in the second period.

Utah scored the first goal of the third period while on the power play to give them a 2-1 lead with Giffen Nyren's second of the night assisted by Hugo Carpentier and Paul Crowder. The goal gave Utah the lead for the first time in the match, but Las Vegas would score more goals in the final half of the third period than both teams combined for in the first two periods. The flood gates opened for Las Vegas while they were killing a two-man disadvantage with a Grizzlies' self-inflicted wound. Utah tender Marc Rinfret fanned on a pass attempt after Barry Goers cleared the zone and the puck ended up in the Utah net. Goers was credited with his fifth goal of the season, unassisted, and the game was now tied at two. Aaron Power gave the Wranglers the lead again while they were on the power play at 10:38 of the third period with his third goal of the season assisted by Chris Francis and Blair Riley. Blake Gallagher made the score 4-2 at 16:59 of the third period with another power play goal for the Wranglers assisted by Nick Ross and Chris Francis. Colin Long notched his tenth goal of the season and second of the night at 18:27 assisted by Jerry Pollastrone and Josh Lunden to give Las Vegas breathing room on their 5-2 win.

Las Vegas faces Utah again tomorrow night at the Maverik Center before they head to 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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