Balanced Wranglers cruise

Playing their first game in a week, the Wranglers looked like an entirely different team Friday night than they did in their first five games of the season -- and, in many ways, they were.

Buoyed by the return of goalie John DeCaro and center Tyler Mosienko from injury, and the addition of defensemen P.J. Atherton and Brandon Straub from the American Hockey League, the Wranglers took an early lead and were in control throughout a 5-1 win over the Stockton Thunder at the Orleans Arena.

Mosienko, Atherton, Chris Neiszner, Chris Ferraro and Chris Korchinski scored for Las Vegas (2-3-1).

Stockton goalie Bryan Pitton allowed five goals on 23 shots, and DeCaro stopped 20 of 21 shots by the Thunder (2-4-0) for his first ECHL win.

"Their goalie didn't have his best game, and we took advantage of it," Wranglers coach Glen Gulutzan said. "We got some nice saves when we needed it."

DeCaro was sidelined with a groin injury in the preseason and hurt his hamstring in the season opener at Alaska.

"It's been a struggle the last couple weeks with injuries, so to be able to overcome them was a boost to myself and showed I can contribute," DeCaro said. "I wouldn't say I'm 100 percent, but I'm close."

Neiszner gave the Wranglers a 1-0 edge 5:14 into the contest on a slap shot from the left point.

Mosienko made it 2-0 late in the first period when he buried a rebound in front of the net.

"We're building," said Mosienko, who also had an assist. "It's early in the season, and we're still ironing out the kinks and getting used to each other."

Korchinski gave Las Vegas a 3-0 lead 7:39 into the second period on a blast from the slot.

Ferraro, who also had two assists, made it 4-0 late in the second when he rifled a one-timer from the left circle into the back of the net.

Atherton, who was reassigned to the Wranglers from Grand Rapids, capped the scoring in the third period when he ripped the puck past Pitton from the point.

The 6-foot-4-inch, 225-pound Straub, who was reassigned to Las Vegas from Quad City, left the ice late in the first period to an ovation from the small Halloween crowd of 3,381 after he traded punches with former Wranglers enforcer Adam Huxley.

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