Wranglers Quiet Thunder, 2-1

Published on March 31, 2011 under ECHL (ECHL)
Las Vegas Wranglers News Release


Las Vegas, Nev- The Las Vegas Wranglers beat the Stockton Thunder Wednesday night in front of 5,388 at Stockton Arena. Center Colin Long tallied both goals for the Wranglers in the win while goaltender Michael had another high-quality showing away from home. Thunder left winger Jordan Fulton netted the lone goal for the Thunder in the loss. Both Wranglers goal were tallied at even strength as they were unable to convert with their four power play chances. The lone Thunder goal came on one of their five power play opportunities. Stockton goaltender Tyson Sexsmith allowed two goals on the 24 shots he faced as he slides to 8-3-3. Michael Ouzas turned away 34 of the 35 shots he faced, improved his record to 20-17-2, and earned the first star of the night award in the win. The loss snaps Stockton's eight-game point streak as they fall to 35-23-12 with 82 total points. The win puts the Wranglers on a two-game winning streak as they improve to 38-27-5 with 81 total points. The Wranglers win over Stockton coupled with Bakersfield's loss in Ontario creates a two point differential between first and third place in the Pacific division. The final two games of the regular season for the Wranglers, both against Stockton, now have increased significance as three teams now battle for the Pacific division title.

Las Vegas has not dropped a game to Stockton the entire season as they improved their mark Wednesday night to 5-0. The fifth meeting of the season between the clubs started with two fights in the first minute-sixteen of the bout. The scoring began when Colin Long tallied his fifteenth goal of the season at the 2:43 mark of the first period assisted by Colin Reddin to give Las Vegas the 1-0 lead heading into the locker room. Stockton outshot Las Vegas 9-6 in the first frame.

The middle frame saw no goals, two minor penalties, one for each team, and a combined 24 shots on net as the Wranglers still led 1-0 after two periods.

The third period was loaded with penalties as both teams vied for the two-points at stake in their seventieth games of the campaign. Jordan Fulton tied the game with his eighteenth goal of the season at 10:01 of the third period assisted by Bretton Cameron and Jordan Foreman while Las Vegas was down two men. Both teams took late penalties and skated four-on-four as it looked like overtime was imminent but Colin Long had other ideas. He netted his second goal of the game at 19:49 of the third period assisted by Craig Switzer earning himself the second star of the night honor, but more importantly the win for Las Vegas, 2-1.

The Wranglers now head home to finish up their regular season against the Stockton Thunder this Friday and Saturday at the Orleans Arena. The puck drops at 7:05 PM PST for both games.

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.



ECHL Stories from March 31, 2011


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