Worn-out Wranglers stumble

On the road since their Dec. 27 midnight game, a tired Wranglers team returned to Las Vegas early Friday facing a stretch of seven games in 10 days.

The Wranglers still appeared to be dragging during a lackluster 2-1 loss to the last-place Ontario (Calif.) Reign on Friday night at the Orleans Arena.

"I don't want to say we looked like an extremely tired hockey team that's traveled across the globe, but that's what it looked like to me," Las Vegas coach Ryan Mougenel said. "I'm exhausted, so I imagine they're tired. That wasn't our team tonight."

After losing to Utah 5-3 in their annual midnight game, the Pacific Division-leading Wranglers (20-10-3) embarked on a trip that took them to Stockton, Calif.; Anchorage, Alaska; and Victoria, British Columbia.

"That three-week road trip takes a toll on all the guys," left wing Greg Collins said. "But that's no excuse. We just weren't ready to play tonight. We just didn't have it."

Collins scored a short-handed goal for the Wranglers to tie the game 1-1 with seven minutes left in the second period.

Chris Higgins, in his third game with Las Vegas, set up the score by digging the puck out of the corner and pushing it toward the net. Collins took care of the rest, streaking into the slot and ripping the loose puck past Reign goalie Beau Erickson (28 saves).

But Ontario (12-22-1) regained the lead on a power play 37 seconds later. Dusty Collins took a pass in front of the net from former Wranglers forward Alex Bourret and beat Joe Fallon (22 saves).

The Reign took a 1-0 lead earlier in the second when Shawn Collymore converted a rebound of a Bourret shot in front of the net.

Ontario went on the power play shortly thereafter for six minutes as Las Vegas defenseman Eddie DelGrosso was penalized for interference and left wing Blair Riley incurred a four-minute double-minor for high sticking.

Las Vegas failed to take advantage of the Reign's ECHL-worst penalty kill (72.9 percent), going 0-for-5 on the power play, including a two-man advantage lasting 1:39 in the first period and a man advantage with 6:39 left in the game.

■ NOTES -- Wranglers right wing Ned Lukacevic and defenseman Aaron Power returned from injured reserve. Mougenel said goalie Michael Ouzas (11-3-1, 2.24 goals-against average) could return today, when Las Vegas starts a three-game series against the Alaska Aces (21-11-2). ... Higgins, a Boston University product, played last season for Gwinnett of the ECHL and Syracuse of the American Hockey League. He played in Italy earlier this season.

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