Wranglers head into postseason on positive note

The 2007-08 Wranglers haven't courted history like the last two editions of the team, but they might be the most dangerous Las Vegas squad yet.

"We have more skill than the last two teams. We're not as physical, but we're more dangerous than those other teams," said coach Glen Gulutzan, who guided Las Vegas to a 47-13-12 record for its second straight 106-point season.

The Wranglers wrapped up their fifth regular season Saturday with a 4-3 victory over Phoenix at the Orleans Arena in front of 6,717 fans.

Jason Krischuk scored the winning goal with 4:06 remaining. Peter Ferraro, Shawn Limpright and Marco Peluso added a goal and assist apiece, and Tyler Mosienko had two assists.

Las Vegas will host Stockton at 7:05 p.m. Friday and Saturday in Games 1 and 2 of the teams' first-round playoff series. If necessary, the Wranglers also would host Games 6 and 7 on April 22 and April 23.

Las Vegas is 7-1-1 this season against the Thunder (27-40-5, 59), which clinched the eighth playoff spot by earning a point against Utah in a 4-3 overtime loss, thereby eliminating Phoenix (24-39-9, 57).

The Wranglers, making their third straight playoff appearance, have lost to the eventual ECHL Kelly Cup champion in three of the last four years.

Las Vegas went 53-13-6 (112 points) in 2005-06, when it tied for the third-most wins in league history, but was beaten by Alaska in the second round of the playoffs.

Las Vegas finished 46-12-14 (106) last season, when it compiled an 18-game winning streak that tied a modern-day hockey mark, but it again lost in the second round, to Idaho, which also eliminated the Wranglers in their inaugural season of 2003-04.

Peter Ferraro led the team with 73 points this season and set a franchise record with 36 goals.

Three other players eclipsed 50 points for Las Vegas -- with Mosienko and Adam Cracknell (29 goals) each logging 59 and Chris Ferraro finishing with 51 despite missing the final 14 games of the regular season. Ferraro, who returned to practice this past week, suffered a concussion in a 5-4 win at Victoria on March 1.

Rookie goalie Tyler Sims gained his first win Saturday in his second start for the Wranglers and will back up Kevin Lalande (17-5-4, 2.05 goals-against average, .932 save percentage) in the playoffs.

• NOTES -- Mosienko was returned to the Wranglers by Bridgeport of the American Hockey League, leaving eight Las Vegas players in the AHL.

Gulutzan expects up to four players to return to Las Vegas before the playoffs start, and the Wranglers should get additional players once the AHL regular season ends April 13.

Rookie center Curtis Fraser is the only Wrangler expected to compete in the AHL playoffs.

Those expected to return to the team are forward Ryan Donally and defensemen Gerry Burke, Brad Cole, Gord Baldwin, Tyson Strachan, Jason Dest and Jason Jozsa.

"We can contend without those guys, but they're certainly going to help us," Gulutzan said. "To get them back is important to make a run in the playoffs."