Alaska Aces vs. Las Vegas Wranglers Game Night Notes

Las Vegas and Alaska continue their best of seven series tonight in Las Vegas with Game 4. The Aces lead the Wranglers 3-0 in the National Conference Finals. The Wranglers are 6-3 at home in the playoffs and the Aces are 5-2 on the road. Las Vegas has never been swept in a playoff series in team history.

The two teams are meeting in the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the third time in the last four years. Alaska beat Las Vegas in six games in the 2006 West Division Finals. The Aces went on to win their first Kelly Cup two rounds later. Las Vegas defeated Alaska in five games of the National Conference Semi-Finals in 2008. The Wranglers went on to the Kelly Cup Finals only to lose to the Cincinnati Cyclones in six games. Las Vegas has made the playoffs in five of the last six seasons, losing to the eventual Kelly Cup Champion every year (Idaho 04 and 07, Alaska 06, Cincinnati 08).

The winner of this series will face the American Conference Champions in the Kelly Cup Finals. Cincinnati and South Carolina are battling for the American Conference title. South Carolina leads the series 3-0 with Game 4 in Cincinnati on Friday night.

Last Time Out
Las Vegas, NV - The Las Vegas Wranglers (8-9) were defeated by the Alaska Aces (11-2) 3-1 in Game 3 of the National Conference Finals in front of 3,612 fans at the Orleans Arena on Tuesday night. Alaska forward Josh Soares scored the game-winning goal with just over four minutes remaining in the third period, giving the Aces a 3-0 series lead. Aces goalie J.P. Lamoureaux made 33 saves in his 11th win of the playoffs. Forward Vladimir Novak also tallied two goals for the Aces. Las Vegas goalie Glenn Fisher stopped 36 of 38 shots in the loss. Forward Tyler Mosienko scored the lone Las Vegas goal.

Wear White and Bring Mac-N-Cheese
The Wranglers are asking all fans to wear white to all remaining home playoff games. Fans are encouraged to bring boxes of Macaroni and Cheese to use as noisemakers for Game 4. After the game, the boxes will be collected and donated to the Three Square Food Bank.

Roster Report
Winger Matt Beaudoin is the last Wrangler on the playoff roster that remains in the AHL. Houston beat Milwaukee last night in Game 7, advancing to the Calder Cup Semi-Finals. In 14 Calder Cup playoff games with Houston, Beaudoin has seven assists and 10 points.

Defensemen Brandon Straub was activated off the injured reserve in time to play Game 2 in Anchorage. Defenseman Mike Madill joined fellow defensemen Chris St. Croix on the injured reserve list. Madill is out for the remainder of the playoffs. Defenseman Bret Tyler was activated from the IR on Tuesday.

National Conference Finals -- Las Vegas vs. Alaska
Best of Seven Series
Game 1: Las Vegas 0 at Alaska 2 F
Game 2: Las Vegas 1 at Alaska 4 F
Game 3: Alaska 3 at Las Vegas 1 F (AK leads series 3-0)
Game 4: Alaska at Las Vegas on Thursday, May 14th at 7:30 PM at the Orleans Arena
Game 5: Alaska at Las Vegas on Friday, May 15th at 7:30 PM at the Orleans Arena– X
Game 6: Las Vegas at Alaska on Tuesday, May 19th at 8:15 PM at the Sullivan Arena– X
Game 7: Las Vegas at Alaska on Wednesday, May 20th at 8:15 PM at the Sullivan Arena– X
X = If Necessary

Alaska Aces
Former Las Vegas Thunder (IHL) defenseman Keith McCambridge is in his second season as head coach of Alaska. In his first two seasons with the Aces, McCambridge has guided Alaska to back-to-back 40-win seasons and two playoff appearances. McCambridge won a Kelly Cup as a player with Alaska in 2006.

The Aces are led by goalie J.P. Lamoureaux, who was named ECHL Goalie of the Year, All ECHL First Team and to the All Rookie Team. Lamoureaux set a new league record with eight shutouts in the regular season. He currently has four in 13 playoff appearances in 2009.

Alaska features plenty of playoff experience with forwards Scott Burt, Lance Galbraith, Cam Keith, Vladimir Novak and defenseman Matt Shasby. Galbraith and Burt won Kelly Cups in Idaho in 2004 and 2007. Galbraith has two goals and an assist in the series. Shasby, Keith and Novak won a Kelly Cup with Alaska in 2006. Forward Colin Hemingway leads the Aces in post season scoring with 19 points in 13 games. Center Josh Soares is tied with nine goals and 10 assists in 13 playoffs games.