GAME NIGHT NOTES 2/16/08

Tonight the Wranglers and Salmon Kings meet for the sixth time this season and they're concluding a two-game set at the Orleans Arena. The match-up features the two top teams (and division leaders) in the National Conference. Las Vegas leads Victoria by six points for the Number 1 seed in the conference. The Salmon Kings trimmed the Wranglers conference lead with a 3-2 come-from-behind victory last night at the Orleans Arena. Las Vegas is 14-4-5 at home and 8-2-0 in the last ten games played. Victoria is 15-10-0 on the road and 7-3-0 in the last ten games played. The Salmon Kings lead the season series 3-2. Las Vegas is 18-4-4 all-time against Victoria.

Last Time Out ...
The Las Vegas Wranglers were defeated by the Victoria Salmon Kings 3-2 in front of 5,299 fans at the Orleans Arena on Friday night. Victoria defenseman Dylan Yeo scored the game-winning goal at 12:33 of the third period, lifting the Salmon Kings to victory. Goalie Billy Thompson relieved Julien Ellis four minutes into the game and stopped all 15 shots he faced throughout the remainder of the night. Thompson improved to 13-6-2 with the win. Forwards Adam Cracknell and Marco Peluso each scored for Las Vegas in the loss. Goalie Daniel Manzato suffered the loss, stopping 33 Victoria shots. The Wranglers were outshot 36-18 by the Salmon Kings.

Wranglers Roundup ...
Right wing Peter Ferraro leads the team in scoring with 22 goals and 28 assists for 50 points in 46 games. Center Chris Ferraro (10G-33A) is third in scoring with 43 points in 38 games. Peter leads the team with 168 shots on goal this season. Right wing Adam Cracknell is second in the team scoring race with 46 points. The second-year Wrangler leads the team with 26 goals in 39 games. Cracknell has five tallies in his last three games played. Center Tyler Mosienko is fourth on the team with 42 points. Jason Jozsa leads all Wrangler defensemen in scoring with 28 assists and 30 points. Jozsa is tied for third in the ECHL for assists by a defenseman and in the top ten for scoring among D-men. The Wranglers have a power-play goal in ten straight games.

Roster Report ...
Las Vegas will be without the services of forward Josh Sciba, defensemen Jason Dest and Sean Owens. Each one is currently on the injured reserve list with unspecified injuries. Defenseman Gerry Burke remains in the AHL with Quad City. Rookie center Curtis Fraser remains with the AHL's San Antonio Rampage. Defenseman Tyson Strachan remains in the American Hockey League with the Peoria Rivermen.

On the Road ...
The Wranglers returned from a five-game road trip after posting a 4-1-0 record. After a 6-2 loss in Fresno on February 2nd, the team rebounded with four straight road wins. The Wranglers posted two wins in Phoenix, followed up with victories in Bakersfield and Stockton. Left wing Shawn Limpright became the team's all-time points leader in Phoenix on February 5th. Limpright passed Dan Tudin with an assist in the second period for his 120th point as a Wrangler. Limpright is the team's all-time leader for points (127), assists (90),

game-winning goals (9) and penalty minutes (469). Right wing Adam Cracknell posted his first career hat trick in Bakersfield on Tuesday night. Cracknell's hat trick was the tenth all-time in team history. Cracknell needs eight goals to tie Matt Dzieduszycki for the team record of 34 set during the 2005-06 season. Goalie Kevin Lalande's shutout on Wednesday night was the team's sixth of the season, tying the 2006-07 team for most in one season. Both Lalande and Daniel Manzato each have three shutouts, tied for second in the ECHL.

Kings of the West Division ...
Victoria is led by the Goldie brothers, Milan Gajic and former NHLer Jordan Krestanovich. Right wing Ash Goldie is tied for second in the ECHL with 28 goals in 48 games played. The third year-winger leads Victoria and is tied for fourth in the ECHL scoring race with 56 points. Ash was named the ECHL All-Star Game MVP after totaling a record six points in the National Conference's 10-7 win in January. Goldie's older brother, Wes is second on the team with 23 goals in 49 games played. Wes has four goals in five games against Las Vegas this season. Jordan Krestanovich is second on the team in scoring with 48 points in 49 games played. Krestanovich played in 22 NHL games for the Colorado Avalanche from 2001 to 2004. (C) Gajic was recently returned from a 16-game stint in the AHL with the Manitoba Moose. At the time of his recall, Gajic was leading the ECHL with 15 assists in 16 games played. In his first six games back, Gajic has five goals and six assists. For his ECHL career, the former Atlanta Thrashers draft pick has 62 goals and 95 assists for 157 points in 126 games played.

Goalies Julien Ellis and Billy Thompson split time between the pipes for Victoria. Ellis, the National Conference All-Star starter, is 18-7-3 with a 3.03 goals against average and a .913 save percentage. Thompson is 13-6-2 with a 3.27 goals against average and .905 save percentage. The Salmon Kings have allowed 26 goals in the last six games.

Head Coach Mark Morrison leads the Salmon Kings after taking over mid-season in 2006-07. In his time behind the bench with the Salmon Kings, Morrison has a 58-28-8 record. Victoria is 18-5-4 when scoring the first goal of the night.

Tale of the Tape ...

GPG=Goals Per Game GA= Goals Against Per Game PP=Power Play PK=Penalty Kill PIM= Penalty Minutes Per Game

Upcoming Games ...
Vs. Bakersfield on Monday, February 18th at 7:05 pm – Orleans Arena

The Wranglers play all 36 home games at the Orleans Arena, located at the Orleans Hotel and Casino at 4500 W. Tropicana Ave. Individual game tickets are now on sale. Fans may purchase tickets on the Wranglers team website atwww.lasvegaswranglers.com.or the Orleans Arena website (www.orleansarena.com. Fans may also purchase tickets at any of the following locations in the valley: Galleria Mall, Meadows Mall, Orleans Casino showroom box office, Gold Coast Casino showroom box office and the Sun Coast Casino showroom box office. Tickets may be ordered by phone at (702) 739-3267.

Call (702) 471-PUCK (7825) for more information or visit www.lasvegaswranglers.com.