Wranglers toughen up way too late

Not backing down from the most penalized team in the ECHL, the Wranglers packed six players into the penalty box - as many as they had on their bench - early in the third period Friday night at Orleans Arena.

Two Las Vegas players had to serve their time standing up in a game against Ontario that featured a combined 102 penalty minutes.

Before the Wranglers stood up to the Reign, though, they fell behind 4-0 and couldn't recover in a 5-3 loss before a crowd of 3,543. Las Vegas (3-2-1) has allowed the first goal in each of its six games this season and has only led for
1:18 in its past five outings.

"It's from the goaltending out," Wranglers coach Ryan Mougenel said. "The first shot the last three games has gone in. Our goalies have to take ownership in that, just like our players have to take ownership. I've got to do a better job of getting these guys ready to go, but they've got to do their part, too."

Colton Yellow Horn beat Joe Fallon on the opening shot of the game, and Ontario (5-4-0) put two more past him to take a 3-0 lead less than 10 minutes into the game.

Fallon (3-1-1) surrendered five goals on 26 shots in his first loss of the season.

"Fallon wasn't good tonight," Mougenel said. "We need him to make a save."

The Wranglers exploded for three goals in a span of 4:11 late in the second period to make it a one-goal game, but they couldn't solve Chris Carozzi (27 saves) down the stretch, despite several solid chances.

After Geoff Paukovich scored with 7:21 left to make the score 4-1, Nolan Julseth-White and Josh Lunden netted goals less than a minute apart to close the gap to 4-3 with 3:10 left.

"We were playing desperate and playing with that edge we need to start with," said Lunden, who also had an assist and won a fight to notch a Gordie Howe hat trick.

A free-for-all broke out between the teams with six seconds left in the second period, when Eric Lampe slashed Mario Lamoureux in apparent retaliation for a blow he absorbed a moment earlier.

"It was a two-hander on top of the foot. Guys took exception to it, and they should," Mougenel said. "I liked how we responded. It was great to see guys step up and care about each other."

Lunden received a game misconduct for a secondary altercation after fighting Brock Sheahan, who also was ejected, and Wranglers defenseman Jamie Fritsch also fought, with Reign forward Jason Beeman.

"What happened out there tonight was just guys sticking up for each other," Lunden said. "Whenever that happens, that's obviously a positive and brings teams together."

Bretton Stamler and Sean Wiles also fought for Las Vegas, which failed to capitalize on a two-man advantage in the third period and finished 0-for-5 on the power play.

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