Late goals lift Wranglers to key victory

Losers of three straight games in regulation for the first time this season, the Wranglers needed someone to step up late in a tie game against Colorado on Tuesday night at Orleans Arena.

Judd Blackwater and Sean Wiles did just that, scoring goals 70 seconds apart in the third period to lift Las Vegas to a 5-3 victory over the Eagles.

"The last three games, we've outshot teams and dictated the play. We just weren't getting the bounces," Wranglers coach Ryan Mougenel said. "They found a way to get a big win."

Las Vegas (40-22-5, 85 points), which never trailed and outshot Colorado (33-26-6, 72) 45-28, trails the first-place Ontario (Calif.) Reign (39-18-8, 86) by one point in the Pacific Division, with five games left in the regular season.

"We've been kind of in a little slump," said Blackwater, sporting three fresh stitches above his lip incurred from a high stick. "The playoffs are coming up, and we've got to get it going."

With the teams tied 3-3 with less than three minutes remaining, Jeff May zipped a bullet pass from the left point to the right circle to Blackwater, who buried the one-timer for a 4-3 lead.

"There was a seam right next to me, and Maysy has great vision. I knew he would make that play," said Blackwater, who also had an assist. "It was a nice pass right in my wheelhouse. I was quick and had a wide-open net."

Wiles sealed the victory 70 seconds later, when he streaked into the left circle and rifled one past Andrew Penner, who stopped 40 of 45 shots.

Wiles also assisted on a goal by Adam Huxley that gave Las Vegas a 3-2 lead late in the second period.

"He's been an amazing kind of story," Mougenel said of Wiles. "I've waived him, cut him and brought him back. He's been arguably one of our best players since we brought him back."

Alex Penner scored on a deflection to tie it 3-3 with 7:21 left. Isaac Smeltzer set up the score with a shot from the left point.

Eric Lampe and Ryan Weston scored goals 21 seconds apart in the first period to give the Wranglers an early 2-0 lead.

Lampe, released by Hamilton of the American Hockey League on Monday, put Las Vegas ahead 1-0 five minutes into the game on a blast from the right circle.

Weston made it 2-0 at the 5:21 mark, when he banged home a loose puck in the right circle.

■ NOTE -- Forward Josh Lunden was called up by St. John's (AHL) on Monday, and forward Scott Campbell returned to the Wranglers from Texas (AHL).

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