Wranglers Drop Away Game to fall to 2-1

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – As the Western Conference Semifinals between the Las Vegas Wranglers and the Idaho Steelheads moved to Boise for game three, it was time for the Steelheads to steal a win from the Wranglers.   Buoyed by great goaltending, lots of shots and a few lucky opportunities, the Steelheads made the most of their home advantage on Thursday night to edge out the Wranglers by a score of 4-3 and close the series standings to 2-1.   After being outscored by a grand total of 6-3 during the first two games of the series in Las Vegas, Idaho didn’t waste any time in their home arena, scoring their first goal of the evening at only 10:13 of the opening frame. The goal, credited to Aaron Lewicki from Jacob Cepis and Derek LeBlanc, came on a Channing Boe cross-checking minor power play.   At 10:01 of the middle frame, Steelhead Joe Pereira, from Steven Tarasuk and Ron Meyers, opened the lead to 2-0 on the power play again after Wrangler Adam Miller was called for a high sticking minor.  However, that would be the last Idaho goal for a while as Las Vegas would score three unanswered goals to briefly take the lead before Steelhead Cody Purves, at 5:57 of the third period, with help from Chad Nehring, followed by a Nehring goal at 8:09 of the period, which ultimately became the game winner.   The Las Vegas goals, sandwiched in between the Idaho scores, were started by Peter MacArthur at 11:48 of the second period. Assisting on the first Vegas goal was Josh Lunden and Chris Francis after a Derek Matheson Idaho minor penalty.   At 19:11 of the same period, Lunden would net his own goal, from Francis and defenseman Jeff May to even the score. The Wranglers would enjoy their only lead of the game at 5:16 of the third period, after May snuck one past Idaho keeper Jerry Kuhn, with help from MacArthur and Ash Goldie.   After being outshot a total of 91-48 on the road in Las Vegas, the Steelheads stepped up their shot output at home and outshot the Wranglers 45-37. Both teams ended up at a very respectable 50 percent on the power play.   The loss ends the Wranglers playoff winning streak at an amazing five games. Lunden ended Thursday’s game at a plus-2, while Wrangler Eric Lampe ended the same match at a minus-two.   The same two clubs lace up the skates again, still in Boise, on Saturday for a very important Game Four.   The win drops Idaho’s magic number to advance to the Conference Finals to face the Alaska Aces/Stockton Thunder series winner to three. The Wranglers magic number to do the same thing stays, after the loss, at two games.