Lampe’s OT goal settles Wranglers’ victory at Alaska

Eric Lampe did it again.

After scoring the series-winning goal in overtime in Idaho last week to send the Wranglers to the ECHL Western Conference finals, the Las Vegas left wing delivered another overtime winner on Sunday night in Alaska.

Lampe buried a rebound at 3:11 of the extra session to give the Wranglers a 3-2 victory over the defending Kelly Cup champion Aces at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage.

The win gives Las Vegas a 2-1 lead in the best-of-7 series, with Game 4 slated for Tuesday night in Alaska.

Lampe, who led the league with a franchise-record 37 goals in the regular season, also had an assist, giving him four goals and eight assists in the playoffs.

Linemate Judd Blackwater had a goal and two assists, and Jeff May also scored for the Wranglers, who never trailed.

Joe Fallon stopped 29 of 31 shots for Las Vegas and Gerald Coleman turned away 31 of 34 shots for the Aces.

Scott Howes scored on a wrap-around shot to tie it 2-2 for Alaska at 9:04 of the third period. Brock Shelgren and Wes Goldie assisted on Howes' first goal for the Aces since November.

A left wing who was named Kelly Cup Finals Most Valuable Player last year for the Aces, Howes returned to Alaska before the conference finals from the American Hockey League.

Both goalies made several huge saves in the final minutes of regulation.

Coleman - who was pulled after the first period of Friday's Game 2 after allowing three goals on 15 shots to the Wranglers in a 3-0 loss at Orleans Arena - preserved the 2-2 tie by making a spectacular stick save of a shot by Josh Lunden, who had an open net.

Likewise, Fallon came up with a sensational stop, with 10 seconds left, of a bid by Steve Ward - who had faked Fallon to the ice, but couldn't lift the puck over him for the winner.

Blackwater gave Las Vegas a 2-1 lead at 9:25 of the second, when he scored off a feed from Adam Miller.

The teams exchanged power-play goals in the first period. May put the Wranglers ahead 1-0 at 5:01, beating Coleman on a shot through a screen off assists from Lampe and Blackwater.

The Aces tied it 1-1 four minutes later, when defenseman Kane Lafranchise blasted a one-timer past Fallon.

Ryan Cruthers, who scored both goals in Alaska's 2-1 win in Game 1, and Garry Nunn assisted.

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