Wranglers give up three unanswered goals in loss

After losing four of their last five games, the Wranglers appeared ready to get back on track against Utah on Friday night at Orleans Arena.

But after building a 3-1 lead late in the second period, Las Vegas unraveled, allowing three unanswered goals to the Grizzlies en route to a disheartening 4-3 defeat.

"We were good for the majority of the game, but we're finding ways to lose, which is disappointing," Wranglers coach Ryan Mougenel said. "The guys have got to bear down the last 10 minutes. I thought we were mentally weak, myself included."

Mitch Wahl scored two goals for Utah, including the winner with 4:32 remaining, when he skated into the right circle and snapped a shot past Joe Fallon.

Michael Busto, who had two assists for Las Vegas (31-18-5, 67 points), defended Wahl on the play.

"I could've maybe stepped up on him and taken some time away," Busto said. "If you don't take a guy's time away with that much skill, they're going to put pucks in the net. I kind of screened Fallon a bit, too. He made a great play."

Wahl scored on a breakaway with 1:18 left in the second period to make it 3-2 and John Armstrong tied it at 9:41 of the third, when he cashed in on a bad bounce in front of the net on a power play.

As Fallon went behind the net to try to clear the puck, it caromed off the back wall in front to Armstrong, who had an open net. Utah was on the man advantage because Adam Miller was penalized for slashing.

"We took penalties and it cost us," Mougenel said. "We've got to be more disciplined."

Penalties also hurt Las Vegas' chances to tie the game down the stretch. Less than a minute after the Wranglers fell behind 4-3, Geoff Paukovich fought Armstrong and Ryan Weston incurred minors for elbowing and roughing to give the Grizzlies a power play.

Miller then went off for tripping 27 seconds later to give Utah a two-man advantage.

"We've got a chance to tie up the game and we're down 5-on-3 with three minutes left," Mougenel said. "It's ridiculous. It's selfish by the older guys in our lineup."

The Grizzlies (22-23-5, 49) have won five of seven meetings against the Wranglers this season.

Paul McIlveen scored on Utah's first shot of the game for a 1-0 lead at 2:23. But Las Vegas scored the next three goals.

Josh Lunden tied it at 1-all at 5:15 of the first, Barry Goers gave the Wranglers the lead at 5:55 of the second, and Paukovich made it 3-1 with 6:21 left in the second.

Las Vegas, which went 0-for-3 on the power play, outshot Utah 8-4 in the third period and 22-19 overall.

The teams meet again at 7:05 p.m. today at Orleans Arena and at 11:59 p.m. Sunday in the Wranglers' second midnight game of the season.

"My older guys have got to get on the board," Mougenel said. "Because they owe us one."

■ NOTES -- Las Vegas left wing Eric Lampe has been loaned to Hamilton of the American Hockey League, left wing Pete MacArthur has been loaned to Lake Erie (AHL) and defenseman Jamie Fritsch has been loaned to Houston (AHL). Lampe entered Friday leading the ECHL in goals (34), game-winning goals (7) and points (60), and MacArthur was tied for 10th in the league in scoring, with 48 points (16 goals, 32 assists).

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