Wranglers fall flat in loss to Bakersfield

A mismatch on paper, Friday's game between Pacific Division-leading Las Vegas and lowly Bakersfield didn't play out that way at Orleans Arena.

The Condors erased an early deficit with two goals in the first period, and goalie Matt Keetley (28 saves) made the score stand up in a 2-1 victory over the Wranglers before a crowd of 5,109.

Bakersfield, which had lost nine of 10 before blanking Utah 4-0 on Wednesday, improved its ECHL-worst record to 12-32-5 (29 points) with its first win in five games this season against Las Vegas.

The Wranglers (30-16-4, 64), coming off a 4-3 loss at Ontario (Calif.) on Wednesday in which they blew a 3-1 third-period lead, dropped their second straight after winning five of six.

"We didn't deserve to win tonight. We didn't execute our game plan," said left wing Scott Campbell, who scored Las Vegas' goal. "They made it frustrating for us and their goalie made some big saves. But it boils down to they just wanted it more than we did."

The Wranglers, who dropped to 18-5-2 at home, jumped in front less than three minutes into the game when Campbell buried a rebound in front of the net on the power play. Geoff Paukovich and Ryan Weston assisted.

Bakersfield tied it at 5:46 when Tyler Helfrich deflected a shot into the net off the post. Ryan Annesley set up the score with a shot on net from the right point. Aaron Lewadniuk also assisted, firing a shot that Joe Fallon scrambled to save.

The Condors went ahead 2-1 with 2:43 left in the period, when Peter Boyd beat Fallon (23 saves) from the high slot.

Bakersfield nearly scored moments earlier when a puck trickled through Fallon's legs and sat in the crease inches from the goal line, but Wranglers defenseman Michael Busto swooped in to clear it.

Las Vegas coach Ryan Mougenel said the two goals allowed by his defense were "embarrassing."

"Those goals were brutal and they should've had three more in the first, but Fallon made some huge saves," he said. "I was disappointed in pretty much everything tonight. We were not ready to play.

"We were so unemotional. We got outworked and outcompeted. I can't explain it."

The Wranglers failed to score on a four-minute power play midway through the first and finished 1-for-4 with a man advantage.

Las Vegas killed four penalties in the second period to stay close and outshot Bakersfield 6-1 in the third. Las Vegas nearly tied it, but a blast by defenseman Channing Boe hit the post.

"I don't know if you just have days like that or if it was our mindset because they've had their struggles this year," Campbell said. "If you don't show up, chances are you're not going to get the results you want and we fell victim to that tonight."

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