WRANGLERS FALL TO SALMON KINGS 3-2

The Las Vegas Wranglers (33-10-7, 73 Points) were defeated by the Victoria Salmon Kings (31-13-5, 67 Points) 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. Las Vegas will host Victoria at 7:05 pm on Saturday night.

In the first period, Las Vegas jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first four minutes of play. Right wing Adam Cracknell scored his 26th goal of the season just 1:47 into the game, giving the Wranglers a 1-0 lead. Less than three minutes later, left wing Marco Peluso scored his second goal of the season at 4:06, pushing the Wranglers lead to 2-0. Victoria head coach Mark Morrison pulled starting goalie Julien Ellis after the goal. Ellis finished the night with one save on three shots. Goalie Billy Thompson was substituted for Ellis. The Salmon Kings responded with a five-on-three power-play goal before the end of the period. Ash Goldie tallied his team-leading 28th goal of the season at 12:41, trimming the Las Vegas lead to 2-1 before the end of the period.

In the second period, Victoria tied the game with a goal off the face-off at 17:01. Defenseman Patrick Coloumbe snapped a shot to the net that bounced off traffic and landed on the stick of Kiel McLeod. The Victoria center poked in the loose puck for his 10th goal of the season, tying the game 2-2.

In the third period, defenseman Dylan Yeo rifled a shot from the point, beating Las Vegas goalie Daniel Manzato for his sixth goal of the season. Yeo's goal at 12:33 turned out to be the eventual game-winning tally.

Las Vegas will host Victoria again on Saturday at 7:05 pm. The Wranglers will also host Bakersfield at 7:05 pm on Monday, February 18th to conclude a three-game home stand. Las Vegas will then embark on an 11-day road trip with three games in Alaska and Victoria.

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.