Wranglers Claim Game One
Source: Las Vegas Wranglers
May 14, 2008 - 8:24:05 AM
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The Las Vegas Wranglers® defeated the Utah Grizzlies 5-2 in Game One of the National Conference Finals on Monday night in front of 4,299 fans at the Orleans Arena. Left wing Shawn Limpright scored a goal and added an assist as Las Vegas claimed a 1-0 series lead. Goalie Kevin Lalande turned aside 31 Utah shots for the playoff victory. Left wing Kelly Czuy dished out two assists in the team’s first game in ten days. Defenseman Jason Jozsa, forwards Tyler Mosienko, Adam Cracknell and Curtis Fraser also scored in the win. Game Two is Tuesday night at 7:05 pm at the Orleans Arena.
In the opening period, Las Vegas jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of special-teams goals. On the first power-play of the night, Las Vegas winger Adam Cracknell snapped a shot past Utah’s Mike Mole for the 1-0 Wranglers lead at 5:33. Las Vegas would double up Utah with a shorthanded goal late in the first frame. Left wing Shawn Limpright carried the puck out of the Las Vegas zone and deep into the Utah zone, sending a cross-ice pass to the net. Center Curtis Fraser snapped the pass past Mole at 16:48 for the 2-0 Wranglers lead after one period of play.
Utah scored its first goal of the playoff series off a Las Vegas turnover at center ice. Left wing Ryan Kinasewich carried the puck in behind the Las Vegas net and threaded a backhand pass through traffic in front of the net to Tyler Haskins. With his fifth goal of the playoffs, Haskins pulled the Grizzlies within a goal at 2-1 just 7:40 into the second period. With 1:20 to go in the middle frame, the Wranglers regained their two-goal lead. Limpright snapped the puck from the corner, banking in his sixth goal of the playoffs off the skate of Mole, for the 3-1 Las Vegas lead after two periods of play.
In the third period, the Grizzlies answered right back with an early tally by Michael Haley at 2:17. Forward Rob Sirianni made a spectacular play from behind the net, setting up Haley’s fifth goal of the playoffs. Las Vegas pulled away from Utah on a power-play goal by Jason Jozsa with 5:11 remaining in the game. Jozsa’s goal expanded the Las Vegas lead to 4-2. Center Tyler Mosienko scored an empty-net goal with 18-seconds remaining for the 5-2 final.
Game Two is slated for Tuesday, May 13th at 7:05 pm. The best-of-seven series then shifts to West Valley City, UT for Games Three, Four and Five. Game Three is scheduled for Thursday, May 15th at 6:05 pm (PDT) at The E-Center in West Valley City, UT. Game Four is set for Friday, May 16th at 6:05 pm (PDT) in Utah. If necessary, Game Five would take place at the E-Center at 3:00 pm (PDT) on Sunday, May 18th. The series will shift back to Las Vegas for Games Six and Seven if needed. Game Six would be on Tuesday, May 20th at 7:05 pm at the Orleans Arena. Game Seven is set for Wednesday, May 21st at 7:05 pm at the Orleans Arena.
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