LAS VEGAS – In an entertaining, but very one sided series, the Las Vegas Wranglers sent the Utah Grizzlies to an early off-season in the first round of ECHL Western Conference playoff action.
Allowing only four goals against in the entire three-game series, the Wranglers continued their hot streak that saw them finish third in the conference at the end of the regular season. However, Utah’s hot streak and regular season win total over the Wranglers could not continue into the post season, when they dropped two at home and eventually were eliminated at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
Game one of the series, in Utah, saw the Wranglers start the best of 5 series in style, buoyed by two Eric Lampe goals. The first Lampe goal, from Adam Miller and Judd Blackwater, came at the 1:14 mark of the second frame. The second and last goal of the match also came by Lampe’s stick, with credit to Blackwater and captain Mike Madill. While Wranglers keeper Mitch O’Keefe saw seven less shots than Utah’s Andrew Engelage, he managed to pick up the important shutout. Both clubs found themselves at 0% on the power play, with Utah picking up one more minor penalty than Las Vegas.
Game two of the series, also played in the Grizzlies’ home rink, saw the home club push the game on Las Vegas but would see them eventually fall by a final score of 3-2. Blackwater started off the matches scoring at 3:41 of the opening period, with help from stars Lampe and Miller. Utah responded approximately six minutes later when Kory Falite, from Evan Stephens, got the equalizer on the power play after a Geoff Pauckovich hooking minor.
Las Vegas would retake the lead 10 minutes later when Las Vegas native Chris Francis, from Lampe and Miller again, put the rubber past Engelage during a Falite tripping minor advantage. The second period saw Wrangler defenseman Michael Busto increase the Vegas lead from Miller and Lampe, yet again, while Vegas outshot Utah 16-9 in the frame. The third period saw a determined effort from Utah, with Josh Burrows contributing the only goal from Paul McIlveen and Cody Lampl at 12:48 of the period.
Utah showed much improvement from the first game of the series, outshooting Vegas 48-32 over the three periods. Both teams enjoyed one power play goal, with Utah having one more penalty kill burden than their foe. The highlight of the game, however, at least from the Utah perspective, was the apparent weak abilities of game referee Andy Thackaberry. Utah players, coaches and fans were not pleased with the on-ice officiating of Thackaberry, with Engelage even posting a disparaging Twitter post regarding Thackaberry’s performance immediately following the nights action.
Game three, moved to Las Vegas, saw Utah’s back to the wall. A loss Thursday night would have given the Grizzlies an elongated off-season and they knew it. In an exciting affair from start to finish, with plenty of hitting and stick work by both clubs, Las Vegas came out like a team that wanted to finish the series once and for all and Utah came out like a club fighting for their playoff lives.
The first period had the teams exchanging goals, heading into the first intermission at 1-1. The Wranglers found the back of Engelage at 11:24 with Miller from Lampe netting the opening score, while Utah’s Derick Martin from Jeff LoVecchio and Ryan Watson finding the twine at 16:19. The second period had Utah opening up their first and only lead of the series, at 6:04 with Falite from Gaelan Patterson giving the Grizzlies momentary hope. However, Las Vegas were able to beat Engelage twice more before the second intermission to make the match 3-2 Vegas.
Scott Campbell, from Sean Wiles and Jeff May, tied up the game at 7:52 on the power play and Ash Goldie, from Wiles and Pauckovich, sealed the game for the Wranglers at 12:54. In the third period, Pauckovich, from Lampe and Ryan Weston, put the final nail in the Grizzlies coffin at 12:01. Las Vegas ended up outshooting Utah 29-26 throughout the game, with only Las Vegas scoring on the power play, while having one more opportunity than Utah.
All in all, the series was a lot more competitive and exciting than any of the box scores would lead you to believe. Full of hitting, goals, power plays, penalties and everything that fans like, excluding fights, it was a very entertaining series, albeit a short one.
This was one of the those series, which are few and far between now a days, where whoever came out on top had a great chance on making it to the Conference Finals at the very least.
Contact Josh.Hoopaugh@prohockeynews.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.