Wranglers goalie Fisher shuts out Idaho

For the first time in more than a month, the Wranglers have won two games in a row.

Kelly Czuy scored less than two minutes into the game and goalie Glenn Fisher made the goal stand up, stopping all 36 Idaho shots to lead the Wranglers to a 3-0 victory Saturday in front of a crowd of 6,269 at the Orleans Arena.

"(Fisher was) outstanding. He made some big saves and looked calm in net," Las Vegas coach Glen Gulutzan said. "I thought he was real good."

Fisher stopped several strong scoring bids by the National Conference-leading Steelheads (36-20-4) on his way to his first shutout for Las Vegas.

"I feel great, I've been playing a lot and I'm in the best shape of my life right now," Fisher said after raising his record to 9-5-2. "Everybody's playing well."

The Wranglers, who also defeated Idaho 4-1 on Friday, have back-to-back victories for the first time since Feb. 11 when they beat Ontario to extend their season-best winning streak to eight games.

Las Vegas is 29-26-8 overall and 17-10-2 at home, where it will play seven of its remaining 10 games. The Wranglers are in fifth place in the National Conference, in which eight of nine teams will make the playoffs.

"We just need to win our games and put ourselves in the playoffs," Gulutzan said. "That's our goal."

The Wranglers wasted little time taking control. Czuy re-directed a shot by Dan Riedel in front of the net and poked the puck past Idaho goalie Rejean Beauchemin.

Peter Ferraro boosted Las Vegas' lead to 2-0 5:09 into the second period when he took a pass from Bret Tyler in front of an open net and buried it.

Justin Taylor added an empty-net goal with 46 seconds remaining for his second goal in as many nights.

The Wranglers won despite being outshot 36-25. Idaho went 0-for-3 on the power play and Las Vegas 0-for-2.

• NOTES -- Neil Diamond tribute artist Jay White served as the Wranglers' emergency backup goaltender for the second straight night. Gulutzan said he expects goalie John DeCaro to return from the American Hockey League in a few days. DeCaro is on loan to the Portland (Maine) Pirates.

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354.