Wranglers Hold Off Condors 6-5

February 3, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Las Vegas Wranglers News Release


Las Vegas, NV - The Las Vegas Wranglers (20-18-4, 44 Points) defeated the Bakersfield Condors (14-25-6, 34 Points) 6-5 in front of 2,757 fans on Monday night at the Orleans Arena. Forwards Mick Lawrence and Justin Taylor each had a goal and two assists in the team's second straight win. Forwards Kelly Czuy, Chris Neiszner, and Shawn Limpright each tallied a goal and an assist. Center Tyler Mosienko also scored for the Wranglers, who moved two games over .500 for the first time this year. Las Vegas goalie Kevin Lalande stopped 20 shots in his seventh win of the season. Condors' forward Bret Pilkington scored twice and added an assist, all of his points came in the last three minutes of the game, pulling Bakersfield within a goal with 33-seconds to go. Condors' goalie Yutaka Fukufuji stopped 17 shots in his eighth loss. The Wranglers head to Victoria to play the Salmon Kings this Wednesday at 7:05 PM.

Wranglers' forward Chris Neiszner gave Las Vegas a 1-0 lead with a goal 37-seconds into the game. Neiszner's 15th goal of the season came on the first shot of the game.

In the second period, Las Vegas winger Mick Lawrence scored his seventh goal of the season at 3:30. Lawrence snapped a shot from the right-wing circle to make it 2-0 Las Vegas. Center Tyler Mosienko made it 3-0 Las Vegas just 33-seconds later. Forward Kelly Czuy snapped a sharp pass to Mosienko for his tenth goal of the season and a three-goal Las Vegas lead. At 6:01, Bakersfield forward Bruce Graham put in a rebound to cut the lead to 3-1. Justin Taylor stretched the Las Vegas lead back to three goals with his ninth goal of the season at 13:25. Taylor snapped the puck from the slot to make it 4-1. With just 14-seconds left in the period, Kelly Czuy made it 5-1 Las Vegas. Czuy's fourth goal of the season capped off a four-goal second period for the Wranglers.

In the third period, Condors defenseman Donny Grover scored his first goal of the season at 5:29, trimming the Wranglers lead to 5-2. Las Vegas forward Shawn Limpright tallied a power-play goal at 11:22 to make it 6-2 Las Vegas. Bakersfield stormed back with three more goals before the period ended. Forward Bret Pilkington set up Mark Derlago in the slot to make 6-3 at 17:12. Less than a minute later, Pilkington scored his seventh goal of the year to slim the Wranglers lead to 6-4. With 33-seconds left in the game, Pilkington tallied again to make it a 6-5 final.

The Wranglers will be in Victoria for their next four games, starting Wednesday at 7:05 PM. Las Vegas will also play on Friday, Saturday and Monday in Victoria at 7:05 PM. The Wranglers return home on Tuesday, February 10th, to host Ontario at 7:30 PM.

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.



ECHL Stories from February 3, 2009


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