Wranglers seek remedy for frightful play

It's fitting that the Wranglers are playing on Halloween. Five games into the season, their play has been plenty scary.

Las Vegas, which last season became the first team in ECHL history to compile three straight 100-point seasons, is last in the Pacific Division with a 1-3-1 record.

The Wranglers, who play Stockton tonight at the Orleans Arena, have struggled on defense and special teams and also have lacked discipline.

"We have the personnel here to be successful, but I think we shot ourselves in the foot a couple games, and it cost us at least three points," coach Glen Gulutzan said.

Despite outshooting opponents by an average of more than 10 shots per game, Las Vegas has been outscored 19-13, is 4 of 33 on the power play (12.1 percent) and has 137 penalty minutes, fourth most in the 23-team league.

At this point, the Wranglers' strategy seems to be keep plugging away and don't panic.

"Our power play has been getting a lot of shots. We're on the right track," said defenseman Mike Madill, whose three goals lead the team. "If we keep getting guys in front of the net and screening the goalie, the goals will come."

But the Wranglers also aren't up to par on the penalty kill, ranking in the middle of the pack by allowing seven goals in 38 attempts. They'll be tested by the Thunder (2-3-0), which is third in the league on the power play at 7-for-28 (25 percent).

"I expect a high tempo game. They're a young, hungry, fast team," Gulutzan said. "We're in for a long, tough year."

Las Vegas continues to shuffle its roster because of injuries and player movement.

John DeCaro, who hurt his hamstring in an opening loss at Alaska, is expected to start in net tonight after missing the last four games. Martin Houle, 1-2-0 with a 3.03 goals-against average, was loaned to Peoria of the American Hockey League.

Former Las Vegas netminder Brent Krahn practiced this week to rehab an injury, but Gulutzan said he doesn't expect Krahn to rejoin the team.

Las Vegas forward Mick Lawrence, tied for the team scoring lead with three points, injured his knee in a loss at Ontario on Saturday and is expected to miss four to six weeks.

Wranglers forwards Tyler Mosienko and Shawn Limpright have been out with shoulder injuries, but Gulutzan said both are close to returning, as is defenseman Jason Dest, who has been sidelined with a groin injury suffered at Alaska.

Las Vegas forward Matt Beaudoin was loaned to San Antonio (AHL), and defenseman Gerard Miller was suspended for three games for punching unsuspecting Ontario center Dusty Collins on Oct. 24.

Justin Taylor, a 6-foot-4-inch, 210-pound center, was reassigned to Las Vegas by Houston (AHL) and is expected to make his ECHL debut tonight.

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