Goalie Fisher gains trust

When the Wranglers disposed of Stockton in six games in the first round of last season's ECHL playoffs, Thunder goalie Glenn Fisher never got off the bench.

But when the teams meet at 7:30 tonight at Stockton, Calif., in Game 1 of this season's Pacific Division finals, Fisher, now in net for Las Vegas, is expected to play a major role.

"He's a guy we trust in net," Wranglers left wing Shawn Limpright said. "He made big saves for us in the last two games (of the division semifinal series win over Bakersfield), and he'll help our confidence in this series."

Fisher was clutch for Las Vegas in its 4-3 first-round series win over the Condors, stopping 121 of 127 shots in winning three of four games, including 61 saves on 63 shots in the last two.

He allowed only a goal in each of his three wins for a 1.51 goals-against average in the playoffs that ranks third in the league.

"He was the difference in Games 6 and 7 for us," Wranglers coach Glen Gulutzan said. "He has the ability to make big saves, and that's what you need from your goaltender."

Fisher said getting benched by Gulutzan for the middle three games of the series motivated him to play better.

"I got a little wake-up call from the coach, and I feel like I answered the call the last two games, along with the rest of the guys," said Fisher, who split time this season with Stockton and the American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons before being loaned to Las Vegas in late January.

Fisher, who is quite familiar with the Thunder, said the teams are evenly matched.

"They're a very well-rounded team," he said. "They've got offensive ability, they've got puck-moving defensemen, and they've got guys who are going to be stirring it up on the ice for (a possible) seven games.

"It all comes down in the playoffs to who wants it more. I think we showed through adversity, coming back from (a) 3-2 (deficit to Bakersfield), how bad we want to go all the way."

Stockton, which finished fourth in its division with a 32-33-7 record, upset top seed Ontario (Calif.) 4-3 in its semifinal series, taking a 4-1 lead in Wednesday's Game 7 before holding on for a 5-4 win.

Cory Urquhart leads the Thunder in playoff scoring with six goals and nine points, Craig Valette has eight points, and James Bates and Cleve Kinley have seven points each.

Stockton goaltender Parker Van Buskirk is 3-1 in the playoffs with a 3.48 goals-against average and a .886 save percentage. He's given up 14 goals on 123 shots.

"They're a team that thrives off momentum, especially at home, where they seem to thrive off that crowd," Limpright said. "It's going to be a long series, six or seven (games), I'm guessing, again."

Kelly Czuy leads Las Vegas playoff scorers with nine points, Dan Riedel has eight, and Adam Miller and Dan Spang have seven each.

Adding players such as Spang and Tyler Mosienko, who returned Wednesday from the AHL, has increased the confidence level in the Las Vegas locker room.

"We're as strong a team right now as we have been all year," Gulutzan said. "I think the guys recognize that and have a little more swagger than they did before."

They'll need it in this series. Although the Wranglers have home-ice advantage, they'll play three of the first four games in Stockton because of a scheduling conflict at the Orleans Arena, where Game 2 will be played Monday.

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