Wranglers send Alaska to playoffs brink

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – In a crucial game four of the Western Conference Finals between the visiting Las Vegas Wranglers and the home Alaska Aces, Las Vegas was able to extend its series lead to 3 games to 1.   Las Vegas started off the scoring at just 1:49 when former Ace Judd Blackwater slid the rubber past Aces keeper Gerald Coleman. Assisting on the play was the game three OT hero Eric Lampe and defenseman Michael Busto.   The Wranglers would open up the scoring even more at 11:25 in the first period when Lampe, from Adam Miller and Jaime Fritsch was able to increase the visiting clubs lead. The score would be Lampes’ fifth goal of the playoffs, after scoring 37 goals and 67 points in the regular season.  The next Las Vegas goal would come at 7:01 of the middle period, when Peter MacArthur would score a beauty of a shot past Coleman. The eventual game winning tally was helped on by star Josh Lunden and Captain Mike Madill.   However, Alaska would lessen the Wranglers lead with just 0:50 left in the middle frame. Aces star forward Dan Kissel, from Wes Goldie and Brian Swanson, found the twine behind Wranglers keeper Joe Fallon to keep the Alaska hopes somewhat alive heading into the second intermission. Kissel was able to split Wranglers defenders Barry Goers and Jaime Fritsch to score the important and highlight reel style goal.   That would be the last goal of the game before Alaska eked one more out with just 0:05 seconds left in the final period. With Coleman sitting on the bench since 1:50 remaining in the period and six Alaska attackers on the ice, Ace Chad Anderson whacked at the puck in Fallon’s net before getting the puck past the Wranglers net minder. Anderson was helped on the score by Wes Goldie and Chris Bruton.  This Alaska score wouldn’t be enough, however, as Las Vegas was able to dump the puck off the ensuing faceoff and kill off the remaining 0:05 of the final frame, to take home the all-important win.   Throughout the game, Alaska was able to outshoot the visiting Vegas team 26-24, including 9-8 in the third period. Also, Las Vegas, throughout the entire playoffs, is 9-0 when leading after the second period.   Las Vegas enjoyed only one more man advantage than their counterparts, with neither club netting on the advantage.   With the win Tuesday night in front of 4,170 home fans, the Wranglers put the Aces back to the wall and force them to either get a W on Wednesday evening, also at the Sullivan Arena, or go home for the summer. This is the most precarious position that the Aces have found themselves in since the 2009-2010 season when they were defeated in the Conference Quarterfinals.   To stay in the playoffs, the Aces need to win the next three series games without any interruption. However, all Las Vegas needs to do is win one game of the next three, two in Anchorage and one in Las Vegas. This feat for Alaska is not impossible by any means. For example, during the 2008-2009 season, Las Vegas was losing 3-0 against the Idaho Steelheads. The Wranglers were able to win out the rest of the series to finally eliminate the Steelheads in seven games. It can be done, but can the Aces pull it out?   Contact the writer at Joel.Hoopaugh@prohockeynews.com All photos by Glenn Harvey.