Fritsch bolsters defense as Wranglers roll

All the Wranglers wanted in the weeks before Christmas was another healthy defenseman.

They got one Monday, when Jamie Fritsch returned from Bridgeport of the American Hockey League to help lead Las Vegas to its second shutout of the season in a 5-0 victory over short-handed Ontario (Calif.) in front of a crowd of 4,321 at the Orleans Arena.

"Having Jamie Fritsch back is absolutely a huge boost to our back end," Wranglers coach Ryan Mougenel said. "He means so much to our defensive unit. He's arguably one of the best (defenseman) in the league."

Joe Fallon (13-4-4), who made 15 saves, also was grateful to have Fritsch back for the first time in six weeks.

"It helps to have five guys back on defense," he said. "Four defensemen is really tough to play night in, night out with high intensity."

The high-scoring duo of Eric Lampe and Judd Blackwater led the way on offense, combining for seven points as the Wranglers (17-9-4, 38 points) snapped a two-game skid.

Lampe, fourth in the ECHL in scoring with 35 points, tallied two goals to lift his league-leading total to 23 in 27 games, and he also added an assist.

Blackwater, tied for second in the league in scoring with 37 points (13 goals, 24 assists), dished out four assists.

"Lamps and Judder really complement each other. It's exciting to watch them play," Mougenel said. "I want to get them out on the ice as much as I can, because I want to watch them."

Lampe gave Las Vegas a 1-0 lead at 7:15 of the first period, taking a quick back-door pass from Blackwater and beating Jean-Francois Berube (27 saves).

They hooked up again in the final minute of the first, when Lampe went hard to the net and buried a one-timer off a feed from Blackwater to make it 2-0 with 51 seconds left.

"We just read each other," Lampe said. "He has a lot of skill and sees the ice well. I just try to get to an open area, and he finds me somehow."

Barry Goers had a goal and two assists, and Ash Goldie and Ned Lukacevic also scored for Las Vegas, which hasn't lost three straight games all season.

Goers and Goldie scored 2:15 apart in the second period to give the Wranglers a 4-0 lead.

Lukacevic made it 5-0 midway through the second on a power-play goal set up perfectly by Blackwater, who delivered a crisp cross-ice pass in front of the net.

"His vision is the best I've seen at this level," Mougenel said.

Las Vegas, which plays the first of its two midnight games this season tonight, outshot Ontario (13-12-2, 28) 11-2 in the first and 32-15 overall.

Adam Miller, who is tied for fifth in the league in scoring with 32 points, notched an assist to extend his point streak to six games (two goals, nine assists).

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