Wranglers Celebrate round one sweep
LAS VEGAS – Winning 4-2 over the Utah Grizzlies tonight, the Las Vegas Wranglers secured a spot in the second round of the 2012 Kelly Cup Playoffs with a three-game sweep in the first round.
Wranglers left wing Adam Miller scored the first goal of the game midway through the first period, but to tie it up 1-1 at the end of 20 minutes, Grizzlies defenseman Derick Martin tallied a goal for Utah. Taking their first lead of the series, Grizzlies left wing Kory Falite made it a 2-1 game six minutes into the second after getting a shot past Wranglers goaltender Mitch O’Keefe.
Game winning goal
The Wranglers were quick to counter, though, and knotted the game 2-2 on a power play goal from center Scott Campbell less than two minutes later. Las Vegas regained their lead when center Ash Goldie secured a shot on Grizzlies goaltender Andrew Engelage, and ended the second up 3-2.
Celebration to fans
Las Vegas held onto their one-goal lead until the last eight minutes of the game, when Wranglers center Geoff Paukovich got a final goal on Engelage to make it a 4-2 game. The score held, giving the Wranglers the win and the three-game sweep of the first round of playoffs. O’Keefe, allowing just four goals in three games, has a perfect 3-0-0 playoff record.
Adam Miller celebrates the sweep
The Wranglers are now the first team to secure a spot in the second round of playoffs. The next round in the chase for the 2012 Kelly Cup will begin next week, and the Wranglers will play the winner of the series between the Ontario Reign and the Idaho Steelheads in a best-of-seven series.
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all Photos by Glenn Harvey
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