Wranglers drop Florida in game one of ECHL Finals

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – On Monday night in front of 5,729 fans, the Las Vegas Wranglers beat the Florida EverBlades 2-1 to take a 1-0 lead in the ECHL finals. Both clubs came into the contest at 11-2-0 in the playoffs. Las Vegas eliminated Utah, Idaho, and Alaska to advance while Florida sent Greenville, Elmira, and Kalamazoo packing.   The scoring started 13:43 into the first period, when Wrangler Peter MacArthur, from offensive stars Eric Lampe and Adam Miller swept the puck past Florida goaltender John Muse.   The winning goal, however, would not come until 14:04 of the second frame when, Lampe, from Miller and team Captain Mike Madill, shoved a rebound past Muse. The goal, on the power play after an EverBlade Trevor Bruess high-sticking minor, would stand until a lone Florida tally late into the final period.  The lone Florida goal, a 6-on-5 strength tally by Mike Ratchuk from Matt Marquardt and Justin Shugg, would prove to be the proverbial too little too late for Florida. Scored at 18:00 of the period, it came off a determined Florida offensive rush in the last two minutes of regulation.   With just one second remaining in the second period, there was a very rare finals game fracas as Wrangler Josh Lunden and ‘Blade Charles Landry picked up fighting majors. It started when Lampe was crushed by an open ice check in the Florida end. While Lampe was laying on the ice after the hit, Everblade Brayden Irwin came over to the fallen Lampe and dared him to get back up.   Not liking this attack on their star player, the entire Wranglers line, led by Center Scott Campbell, came over and grabbed Brayden in a headlock. Lampe eventually got up and skated in and out of the festivities until they ended.  Lunden and Landry met near the end of the roughings, with Lunden landing about 20 clean head shots to Landry’s helmetless head. EverBlades Irwin and Kevin Quick would receive roughing calls for their part in the get together. Lampe would receive a roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct for his part, giving Florida a power play after everything was sorted out.   The game was essentially won by the first star, Fallon, who staved off the EverBlade onslaught from the initial drop of the puck. During the first five ticks of the clock in the first period, Florida stormed out offensively, outshooting Vegas 5-0 at one point. Even though most of the first period action was in the Wrangler end and directed at the wall that is Fallon, he was able to turn all of the shots away, except for the Ratchuk goal.   Throughout the game, Florida would end up outshooting Vegas 33-23, including 9-4 in the final period. Both clubs would also enjoy four power play opportunities, courtesy of referee TJ Luxmore, with Las Vegas the only club that was able to capitalize on the advantage.  Game two, also played at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, looks to be a very exciting matchup. Will Las Vegas come out stronger in the beginning of the game?   Will Florida be able to slap the rubber past Fallon? Will the prospect of heading back to Estero, Florida down 0-2 in the series push Florida to take more chances? Will the Wranglers come out more physical, to match the rough play of their opponents?   It is impossible to tell the answer right now, but finding out Tuesday night will be very exciting indeed.   Contact the writer at Joel.Hoopaugh@prohockeynews.com All photos by Glenn Harvey.