Wranglers Suffer Heart-Breaking Loss on Road

Published on March 9, 2014 under ECHL (ECHL)
Las Vegas Wranglers News Release


Boise, Idaho - John Armstrong, Adam Hughesman and Chad Nehring all scored in the first period for Las Vegas, but the tremendous first frame would not prove enough as the Steelheads eventually pulled out a 6-5 win on Saturday night. Las Vegas had a pair of goals waved off in the loss, which halted their three-game winning streak.

The Wranglers didn't waste any time in jumping on top as Nehring (15) would break through first, just 3:34 into the game. The score, Nehring's 12th over the last 18 games, was assisted by Armstrong (11), and put the Wranglers up 1-0. Hughesman, who scored two goals in last night's 4-2 win, would then put Las Vegas on top 2-0 with his team-leading 19th of the year, unassisted, at the 8:19 mark of the opening frame. Just three minutes later Armstrong buried one of his own, his fourth straight game with a goal and 13th of the year, giving the Wranglers a 3-0 advantage. Assists on the score went to Nolan Julseth-White (10), his third straight game with a helper, and Hughesman (18), who now has six points over his last three games (3g, 3a).

Idaho would battle back in the second period, as Rob Linsmayer (13) cut into the 3-0 lead with his 13th of the year, assisted by Matt Walters (5) and Gaelan Patterson (12) just five minutes into the period. Less than two minutes later Mitch Wahl (15) would make it a 3-2 game thanks to assists from Luke Judson (8) and William Rapuzzi (31). The Wranglers would answer however as Chris Kushneriuk buried his first goal in almost two years off assists from Cook (16) and Hughesman (19), to put Las Vegas back up by two. Vegas appeared to jump back up to another two-goal lead, but defenseman Nick Wheeler's goal - which would have been his first of the season - was ruled a no-goal due to incidental contact with the goalie.

Only minutes later, the Steelheads would then trim the lead back down to one as Ryan Button (6) made it 4-3 with assists from Rapuzzi (32) and Wahl (35). Idaho would break through once more, this time tying the game 4-4 as Linsmayer grabbed his second of the night and 14th of the year, assisted by Patterson (13).

With the game all knotted at 4-4, it would be the Steelheads breaking through for their first lead of the game, as Rapuzzi (15) scored off an assist from Taylor Vause (5) with 14:50 to go. Gaelan Patterson (13) would then make it a 6-4 game off a short-handed feed from David de Kastrozza (19). Nehring (16) would give the Wranglers some late life as he cut the advantage down to 6-5 with over five minutes to go, off assists from Ryan Forgaard (4) and Adam Huxley (9). Unfortunately, that would be as close as Las Vegas would get, as a potential game-tying score was waved off in the final minutes of the contest.

Next up, the Wranglers' six-game road swing continues with hikes to Ontario on Friday, Mar. 14, Stockton on Sunday, Mar. 16 and Bakersfield on Tuesday, Mar. 18, before returning back to Las Vegas on Thursday, Mar. 20 to take on the Alaska Aces.

Group tickets for the Wranglers' 11th season are on sale now! With five different event options for groups of 10 or more, a Wranglers game is the perfect way to celebrate with friends, host a unique corporate outing, or fundraise for your organization. Groups can save 35 percent off regular game-day ticket prices, and luxury packages start at just $300 with food and drink options available. For more information, contact the Wranglers front office at (702) 471-7825 or visit wranglers.co . Don't forget to find the Wranglers on Facebook and follow @WranglersLV on Twitter for the latest updates.

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ECHL Stories from March 9, 2014


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