Wranglers Drop Home-Opener To Utah, 5-3

Published on October 17, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Las Vegas Wranglers News Release


Las Vegas, NV - The Las Vegas Wranglers(r) (0-1-0, 0 Points) were defeated by the Utah Grizzlies (1-0-0, 2 Points) 5-3 in front of 6,383 fans at the Orleans Arena on Friday night. Forwards Matt Watkins, Ned Lukacevic, Kyle Hagel all tallied for the Wranglers. Goalie Michael Ouzas stopped 24 shots in the Wranglers season-opener. Utah forward Ryan Kinasewich tallied three goals and an assist to lead the Grizzlies. Forwards Tom May and Shea Guthrie also scored for Utah. Grizzlies goaltender Parker Van Buskirk stopped 19 of 22 shots. The Wranglers will host the Alaska Aces next Thursday, October 22nd, at 7:05 p.m. at the Orleans Arena.

Las Vegas struck first with a power-play goal from forward Matt Watkins just 6:51 into play. Wranglers defensemen Robbie Bina and Nick Ross set up the goal for the 1-0 Wranglers lead. Just 30-seconds later, Las Vegas forward Ned Lukacevic slammed in an unassisted wrap-around goal to increase the Wranglers lead to 2-0. Utah answered at 12:44 of the first period with a 5-on-3 power-play goal from forward Shea Guthrie. Forwards Ryan Kinasewich and Vladimir Nikiforov assisted on Guthrie's first goal of the season to cut the score to 2-1.

In the second period, the Wranglers increased the score to 3-1 with a goal from forward Kyle Hagel. Hagel one-timed an Andrew Orpik feed past Utah goalie Parker Van Buskirk at 5:35 for his first goal of the season. The Grizzlies pulled back within one with a goal from Captain Ryan Kinasewich at 8:41 of the second period. Kinasewich slipped a backhand shot past Wranglers goalie Michael Ouzas for his first goal of the season. Just 1:11 later, Utah forward Tom May tied the game at 3-3. May split the defense and snuck the puck through the pads of Ouzas for the goal.

In the third period, Utah forward Ryan Kinasewich tallied his second goal of the game at 2:03 to give Utah the 4-3 lead. Vladimir Nikiforov set up Kinasewich's goal on the power-play to give Utah their first lead of the game. Kinasewich struck again on the power-play, picking up the hat-trick goal at 11:03 of the third period. Forwards Dylan Hunter and A.J. Perry set up the goal to give the Grizzlies the 5-3 lead. Utah out shot Vegas 16-3 in the final period on route to the 5-3 win.

The Las Vegas Wranglers(r) are the ECHL affiliate to the National Hockey League's Phoenix Coyotes, and the American Hockey League's San Antonio Rampage. Follow the Wranglers on Twitter at www.twitter.com/WranglersLV.

The Wranglers open the 2009-10 season at home on Friday, October 16, 2009 at 7:05 PM against Utah. 2009-10 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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