Donally lifts Wranglers over Thunder in overtime

Three times, Stockton scored to steal the momentum from Las Vegas. And three times, the Wranglers answered quickly to regain it.

They simply wouldn't be denied on Saturday at the Orleans Arena.

The Thunder, which exploded for four third-period goals en route to Friday's 4-2 win in Game 1 of the ECHL National Conference quarterfinals, rallied to tie the Wranglers 4-4 in the final minute of regulation in Game 2.

But as it did two other times Saturday, Las Vegas wasted little time responding. Only 28 seconds into overtime, Ryan Donally delivered a dramatic, game-winning goal to give top- seeded Las Vegas a 5-4 victory over eighth-seeded Stockton in Game 2 to even the best-of-7 series.

Game 3 is at 6 p.m. today at Stockton Arena.

Tyler Mosienko sent a perfect pass from the right circle across the ice to Donally, who was set up in front of the net and buried the Wranglers' only shot of the extra session.

"I tried to shoot to the far side and have Donally get the rebound, and it went on his stick (instead)," Mosienko said.

Said Donally: "Tyler kind of fanned on the shot and it went right on my stick, and I had a wide-open net. Mosie might say it was a pass."

Playing with an extra attacker after pulling goalie Tim Boron (41 saves) late in regulation, Stockton tied it 4-4 with 54 seconds left when Brandon Schwartz deflected a shot in front of the net for his second goal of the game. Sebastien Basaillon set up the score with a shot from the top of the right circle.

The Thunder, which trailed 3-1 33 seconds into the second period, rallied to tie it 3-3 6:51 into the third period on a goal by Jacob Micflikier, who streaked into the bottom of the right circle and beat Las Vegas goalie Kevin Lalande (17 saves).

The Wranglers regained the lead 32 seconds later, though, as Mosienko stuffed the puck inside the far post, behind Boron, for a 4-3 advantage with 12:37 remaining.

Stockton put the pressure on the Wranglers early, firing the first five shots of the contest and taking a 1-0 lead at the 3:08 mark when Tim O'Connell beat Lalande with a left-handed blast from the top of the left circle.

Las Vegas tied it 22 seconds later as Aki Seitsonen, with a pair of Stockton players draped on him, flicked a wrist shot from the right circle that beat Boron on his stick side.

Shawn Limpright gave the Wranglers a 2-1 edge 8:44 into the first period when he rifled the puck past Boron from the right circle.

Peter Ferraro made it 3-1 33 seconds into the second when he lifted a loose puck in front of the net over Boron, who fell onto his back trying to stop a bid from Mosienko, who drove to the front of the net.

Las Vegas let Stockton pull within a goal on a mistake by Limpright during a Thunder power play.

Limpright, just inside the Wranglers' blue line, slid the puck back toward Lalande. Schwartz intercepted it and put the puck in the back of the net to make it a 3-2 game 5:09 into the second period.

Las Vegas, which went 0-for-5 on the power play, outshot Stockton, 46-21.