Wranglers fail to score second game in a row

The NHL lockout has been a boon for the ECHL's Alaska Aces, who have signed four NHL players this season.

The Wranglers are dealing with a different type of lockout as they've been unable to put a puck in the net over the past seven periods.

Washington Capitals right wing Joey Crabb scored a short-handed goal Wednesday night at Orleans Arena to lift Alaska to a 1-0 victory and deal Las Vegas its second straight shutout loss.

The Wranglers (3-4-1), blanked 4-0 at home by Ontario on Saturday, have lost three straight overall.

"It's about paying a price to score a goal, and if you play on the perimeter, chances are you're not going to score, and we are playing on the perimeter," Las Vegas coach Ryan Mougenel said. "It's not like we're panicking now, but three (losses) in a row, that's something we haven't done in a long time."

Crabb stole the puck from Wranglers defenseman Mike Madill in the high slot and ripped it past Joe Fallon (24 saves) with 5:25 left in the second period.

"A short-handed goal. That's a kick in the teeth," Mougenel said. "It was a brutal play. We make things really difficult on ourselves."

Las Vegas, which failed to capitalize on a two-man advantage in the first period, finished 0-for-6 on its league-worst power play and has only scored twice on 40 man advantages this season.

The Wranglers appeared to tie it late in the second period when Judd Blackwater buried a rebound of a shot by Adam Hughesman that had trickled through the legs of Aces goalie Mark Guggenberger (26 shots). Referee Andy Thackaberry blew the play dead prematurely.

Blackwater and Mougenel said there was no question it was a goal.

"It got deflected, and it squeaked through. It was just lying there," Blackwater said. "The referee was just in a bad position. He blew it too early. It's bad luck."

Said Mougenel: " It was a premature whistle. When you're not getting the breaks, you're not getting the breaks."

Blackwater, who is tied for the team scoring lead with Eric Lampe, with seven points apiece, said the team simply needs to get to the net more.

Besides Crabb, the Aces (6-4-0) also feature Alaska natives and NHL players Nate Thompson, Brandon Dubinsky and Scott Gomez, who signed with the team Wednesday. Gomez, who also played for the Aces during the NHL lockout in 2004-05, when he earned ECHL Most Valuable Player honors, isn't expected to play for Alaska here Friday and Saturday. The Montreal Canadiens center is slated to make his season debut in Anchorage on Nov. 14 against Colorado.

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