Odds looking good for Las Vegas

In Las Vegas the odds always favor the house. They also happen to favor the Wranglers in their first-round playoff series against Stockton.

Las Vegas, which has a 3-2 lead in the best-of-7 ECHL National Conference quarterfinal series, has history on its side as it tries to close out the Thunder at 7:05 tonight in Game 6 at the Orleans Arena.

Only three of 27 teams in ECHL history have overcome a 3-1 deficit to win a playoff series.

The Wranglers are one of those teams, beating Idaho in 2006 after losing three of the first four games in the first-round series.

Las Vegas outscored the Steelheads 17-4 over the last three games, winning 5-2 at Idaho and 6-0 and 6-2 at home.

To prevent Stockton from forcing Game 7, the Wranglers need to get off to a better start than they have in the past two games, when they quickly fell behind by three goals in each.

"We've got to make sure we're focused and prepared for the beginning of the game," said Wranglers center Tyler Mosienko, who is tied with Adam Cracknell for the team lead with eight playoff points. "Being at home should help us out a little bit and hopefully the momentum will carry us through."

Las Vegas, which rallied for a 4-3 overtime win in Game 4 and lost 6-3 Sunday in Game 5, has outshot Stockton by an average of 17 shots per game, but has been outscored in the series, 19-17.

"The bottom line is everybody needs to be better," Wranglers defenseman Aaron Power said. "They're going to be coming at us pretty hard with their season on the line.

"We've always bounced back pretty good this year. I don't think it's time to panic. It's a new day and another opportunity to close it out, and hopefully we can do it."

Stockton has been led on offense by Jacob Micflikier, who is second in the league with 12 playoff points, and Stephane Goulet and Ryan O'Marra, who each have eight points.

Tim Boron has been solid in net for the Thunder, stopping 199 of 216 shots for a .921 save percentage and 3.19 goals-against average.

Wranglers goaltender Kevin Lalande has struggled, stopping 99 of 115 shots for an .861 save percentage and 3.60 GAA. He was pulled in Game 5 after allowing four goals in the first 8:17.

Emergency rookie goalie Tyler Sims replaced Lalande, but he was released Monday to return to Providence College.

Las Vegas signed goalie Joey Perricone to replace Sims. Perricone, 20, went 28-16-13 this season for Moose Jaw of the Western Hockey League.

The Wranglers lost left wing Ryan Donally to a lower-body injury in Game 4, but will be bolstered tonight by the return of rookie center Curtis Fraser from the American Hockey League.

Fraser scored six points in 41 games with the San Antonio Rampage, but tallied 11 points in five games for Las Vegas.

"The biggest thing is we're facing a team that is very determined and very passionate about playing against us, and we obviously have to match their intensity," Wranglers right wing Peter Ferraro said. "I believed in this team from Day One and I still believe in this team. If we stick to our game plan and play together as a team, we should have a good opportunity (to win)."

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