Wranglers Best RoadRunners 5-3 for Fifth Straight Win

Phoenix, AZ -- The Las Vegas Wranglers (46-12-12, 104 points) defeated the Phoenix RoadRunners (23-38-9, 55 points) 5-3 at the U.S. Airways Center on Tuesday night. Center Curtis Fraser scored once and dished out two assists in his return from the AHL. Goalie Kevin Lalande tied a career-high with 41 saves, improving to 17-5-4 on the year. Defenseman Jim Jorgensen and forwards Aki Seitsonen (2) and Adam Cracknell also scored in the win. Left wing Ryan Donally added two assist as Las Vegas won its fifth straight game and ninth game of the last ten games. Las Vegas will host Bakersfield at the Orleans Arena on Friday night at 7:05 pm.

Las Vegas opened the scoring just 2:46 into the game with Aki Seitsonen registering his 17th goal of the season. Center Curtis Fraser and left wing Ryan Donally set up the tally, as Seitsonen scored on a rebound off a Donally shot. The Wranglers expanded the lead to 2-0 with a shorthanded goal by defenseman Jim Jorgensen at 16:57. Fraser attempted a wrap-around shot in the Phoenix zone, as RoadRunners goalie Taylor Dakers made the save. Jorgensen knocked in the rebound for his first professional goal. Kelly Czuy also picked up an assist on the goal for the two-goal Las Vegas lead.

In the second period, Las Vegas added to the damage with a power-play goal just 2:56 into the middle period. Right wing Adam Cracknell scored hiss second goal in his last 18 games, redirecting a Jason Krischuk shot from the point for his 29th goal of the season. Captain Peter Ferraro also picked up an assist on the tally. The power-play goal ended a Las Vegas drought of 24 straight power plays without a goal, a span of five games. Las Vegas added another goal at the mid-point of the period as Curtis Fraser beat Taylor Dakers with a backhand shot at 9:57. Fraser's third goal of the season was set up by Ryan Donally and Cracknell, giving Las Vegas a 4-0 lead. The RoadRunners spoiled Kevin Lalande's shutout bid, scoring their first goal of the night. Dusty Jamieson scored his 24th goal of the season, a power-play goal that trimmed the Wranglers lead to 4-1.

In the third period, Phoenix trimmed the Las Vegas lead to two goals as forward Ryan Walsh scored his 13th of the season just 31-seconds into the final period. Center Aki Seitsonen scored his second goal of the game, a shorthanded empty-net goal with 2:28 remaining for the 5-3 Las Vegas lead. Phoenix winger Mitch Carefoot scored his 12th of the season with 34-seconds remaining for the final score of 5-3.

The Wranglers return to home ice on Friday, April 4th against Bakersfield and Saturday, April 5th against Phoenix. Both games start at 7:05 pm.

Box Score 1 2 3 F
Las Vegas 2 2 1 5
Phoenix 0 1 2 3

First Period
Scoring: 1. LV Seitsonen (17) (Fraser, Donally) 2:46. 2. LV Jorgensen (1) (Fraser, Czuy) shg 16:57. Penalties: PHX Jamieson (interference) 3:57. PHX Sisca (unsportsmanlike conduct) 3:57. LV P. Ferraro (hooking) 6:18. LV Power (roughing) 11:00. PHX Sisca (cross checking) 13:23. LV Mulherin (tripping) 15:46.

Second Period
Scoring: 3. LV Cracknell (29) (Krischuk, Ferraro) ppg 2:56. 4. LV Fraser (3) (Cracknell, Donally) ppg 9:27. 5. PHX Jamieson (24) (Sisca, Dmytruk) ppg 17:06. Penalties: LV Ferraro (tripping) 0:42. PHX Guyer (tripping) 2:12. PHX Walsh (high sticking) 8:15. LV Krischuk (hooking) 11:05. PHX Angel (slashing) 16:27. LV Donally (slashing) 16:27. LV Bench Minor (unsportsmanlike conduct) 16:50. LV Krischuk (hooking) 18:26.

Third Period
Scoring: 6. PHX Walsh (13) Guyer, Jamieson) 0:31. 7. LV Seitsonen (18) (unassisted) shg eng 17:42. 8. PHX Carefoot (12) (Jamieson, Miller) ppg 19:26. Penalties: LV Mulherin (high sticking) 5:12. LV Peluso (holding) 9:12. LV Power (roughing) 11:59. PHX Angel (double minor – headbutting) 11:59. PHX Carefoot (roughing) 11:59. LV Dest (roughing) 12:43. PHX Carefoot (cross checking) 12:43. LV Peluso (roughing) 13:21. LV Dest (cross checking) 17:35. LV Peluso (closing hand on puck – delay of game) 19:11. LV Krischuk (hooking) 19:43.

Shots: LAS 8-9-8=25 PHX 12-16-16=44
Penalties: LAS 16-32 PHX 10-20
Power Plays: LAS 2-8 PHX 2-13
Goalies: LV Lalande 17-5-4 (41-44, 60:00); PHX Dakers 5-6-2, (20-24, 58:08)
Referee: Ghislain Hebert Linesmen: Ken Bonham, Wally Lacroix
A: 3,623

2008 Kelly Cup Playoff ticket packages are now available. 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.