BOISE, Idaho – The Las Vegas Wranglers fell 4-3 on the road tonight as the Idaho Steelheads won their first game in the Western Conference Semifinals.
The Steelheads tallied two power plays goals at almost the exact same times midway through the first and second periods for a gradual 2-0 lead over the Wranglers. Facing the two-goal deficit, Wranglers left wing Pete MacArthur responded less than two minutes later with a Las Vegas power play goal. Rounding out the second with just 49 seconds left, Wranglers left wing Josh Lunden tallied the game-tying goal to make it a 2-2 game through 40 minutes.
On a goal from Wranglers defenseman Jeff May at the 5:16 mark of the third, Las Vegas took the 3-2 lead over Idaho for 41 seconds before Steelheads forward Cody Purves knotted the game once again. After some dispute, a controversial goal from Steelheads forward Chad Nehring was allowed, giving Idaho the 4-3 lead and their eventual first win in the Western Conference Semifinals.
Las Vegas leads the best-of-seven series 2-1, and Wranglers goaltender Mitch O’Keefe is 5-1-0 through six playoff starts. The two teams will battle in game four on Saturday night at CenturyLink Arena in Boise, and the Wranglers will return home for games six and seven, if necessary, on April 24 and 25.
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