ANCHORAGE, ALASKA — After defeating the Alaska Aces to advance to the Kelly Cup Finals last season, the Wranglers fell 3-2 to the team tonight in the first of two road preseason games in Anchorage.
The Aces tallied the first goal of the night on the efforts of forward Tommy Mele six minutes into the game. Alaska held the 1-0 lead until 17:50 of the first, when Wranglers center Scott Campbell slipped the puck past Aces goaltender Mark Guggenberger for his second preseason goal and the 1-1 tie.
Forty seconds into the second, Las Vegas took their first lead of the night as forward Sean Wiles scored to give the Wranglers a 2-1 advantage. It was a brief lead, though, as two minutes later, Aces left wing Matt Robinson notched a power play goal to knot the score once again. A second power play goal, from Aces defenseman Danny Markowitz, regained the one-goal lead for Alaska midway through the period.
Going into the third, the Wranglers led the Aces 18-15 in shots. Unable to capitalize on a power play early in the period, but able to hold off Alaska on the penalty kill, the Wranglers fell 3-2 to the Aces after a scoreless final 20 minutes. Overall, Las Vegas went 0-6 on the power play and 5-7 on the penalty kill.
The Wranglers play their fourth and final preseason game tomorrow night against the Aces. The 2012-13 season opens on the road against the Bakersfield Condors on Sunday, Oct. 14, and the team takes home ice against the Stockton Thunder on Friday, Oct. 19, and Saturday, Oct. 20.
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