Donally propels Wranglers past Aces

Alaska came to Las Vegas on a hot streak, but like so many other visitors here, the Aces were quickly cooled off.

Ryan Donally delivered the decisive goal midway through the third period, scoring on a deflection in front of the net to snap a 2-2 tie, and the Wranglers hung on for a 3-2 victory Tuesday at the Orleans Arena.

Las Vegas (41-11-12, 94 points), which won its fourth straight game by one goal, dealt Alaska (37-22-5, 79 points) just its third defeat in 19 games and second loss in 11 road games. The Wranglers, who outshot the Aces 38-26, also handed Alaska goalie Chris Beckford-Tseu (9-2-0) his second loss of the season.

Las Vegas netted the game winner 10:15 into the third period on the power play. Aaron Power rifled a slap shot from the point, and Donally deflected it over Beckford-Tseu's pads.

"We were having trouble getting shots through. We just wanted to get pucks on net, and we tipped one," Las Vegas coach Glen Gulutzan said. "That's what you have to do against a goalie like Beckford-Tseu -- you need to get traffic, tip pucks and get shots."

Brett Hemingway tied the game at 2 for Alaska on a power-play goal with 2:29 left in the second period, but the Wranglers killed a pair of penalties in the final seven minutes of the game and withstood a furious push by the Aces down the stretch.

Alaska's F.P. Guenette hit the crossbar on one shot, and Wranglers goalie Daniel Manzato made 24 saves.

"We played hard for 60 minutes, and our forwards played really well. They sustained lots of pressure on Alaska," Gulutzan said.

The Wranglers, 21-4-6 at home, won their first game of the season over the Aces after suffering three straight shootout losses in Anchorage, Alaska, Feb. 22-24.

"At this point in the season, anytime you get a win like that is huge, and it's just a little better that we beat them," Donally said.

Aces leading scorer Josh Soares (75 points) gave Alaska a 1-0 lead on a goal just 3:48 into the contest.

Kelly Czuy tied it for the Wranglers 3:14 into the second period when he buried a rebound in front of the net, and Nathan Barrett scored his second goal in as many games for Las Vegas to give it a 2-1 lead with 8:25 left in the second.

Las Vegas, which plays five of its final eight games at home, will host Alaska again at 7:05 p.m. Thursday and Friday.

• NOTES -- Wranglers center Tyler Mosienko was signed by the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League, and rookie defenseman Brad Cole was recalled by the AHL's Quad City Flames. Mosienko was the Wranglers' second-leading scorer, with 57 points. ... The Wranglers signed rookie forward Adam Miller, who debuted against the Aces after wrapping up a four-year college career at Ferris State.