Wranglers open ECHL season with win over Bakersfield
Defenseman Charlie Cook scored early in the third period, and the Wranglers held on to beat the host Bakersfield Condors 3-2 on Sunday in the ECHL season opener for both teams.
Cook’s goal came 4:05 into the third and less than a minute after Bakersfield’s Parker Stanfield tied the score at 2 with his second goal of the game.
Wranglers goaltender Joe Fallon made 27 saves, including 11 in the third period.
Las Vegas, which advanced to the Kelly Cup Finals last season, fell behind 1-0 when Stanfield scored on a power play at 8:13 of the first period.
The Wranglers answered as Judd Blackwater tallied late in the first period and took a 2-1 lead on Adam Hughesman’s first professional goal with 47 seconds left in the second period.
The Wranglers, celebrating their 10th anniversary, host the Stockton Thunder at 7:05 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at Orleans Arena.