Wranglers drop into cellar with loss to Thunder

If the ECHL playoffs began today, the Wranglers' season would be over.

A night after gaining ground with a 5-2 victory over second-place Stockton, Las Vegas gave it right back with a 6-4 loss to the Thunder on Saturday at the Orleans Arena.

Coupled with Ontario's 3-1 victory over Utah, the Wranglers dropped into last place in the Pacific Division.

With 18 games remaining, Las Vegas (23-25-6, 52 points) trails Ontario (23-25-7, 53) by one point for the final National Conference playoff position. Seven of eight teams advance.

Matt Robinson scored twice, including an empty-netter, for Stockton (25-21-8, 58), J.F. Caudron had a goal and two assists, and Oren Eizenman and Colin Hemingway each had a goal and assist.

The Thunder, 3-for-7 with the man advantage, scored power-play goals 56 seconds apart late in the first period to take a 3-2 lead and never trailed again.

Anthony Aiello scored from the left point with 1:47 left in the period, and Caudron beat Wranglers goalie Michael Ouzas from the slot with 51 seconds left.

Ouzas allowed five goals on 26 shots and was replaced by Joel Gistedt after two periods.

Las Vegas tied the score 3-all early in the second on a power-play goal by Ned Lukacevic. But Stockton scored twice later in the period for a 5-3 lead and held off the Wranglers the rest of the way. Robinson broke the tie from the high slot and Eizenman scored on a power play.

Mick Lawrence got Las Vegas within 5-4 unassisted on a power play 1:38 into the third, but the Wranglers got no closer.

Adam Miller had a goal and two assists for Las Vegas. Greg Collins also scored.

■ NOTES -- The Wranglers will open the doors at the Orleans Arena at noon today so fans can watch the Olympic gold-medal hockey game between the United States and Canada.

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