Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

HOCKEY:

Wranglers reign over Pacific Division

Hockey Talk

That lovely first place feeling

Home News Sports Editor Ray Brewer joins Las Vegas Sun hockey writer Steve Silver to discuss the Wranglers rise to the top of the Pacific Division.

The ECHL's Pacific Division has a new leader -- the Las Vegas Wranglers.

The Wranglers claimed sole possession of first place in the division by routing the Ontario Reign 5-1 on Wednesday night for their eight consecutive victory in front of 4,034 at the Citizens Business Bank Arena.

Left wing Mick Lawrence (2 goals, 1 assists), center Tyler Mosienko ( 3 assists) and forward Shawn Limpright (1 goal, 2 assists) each notched three points in Wednesday's triump.

Although the Wranglers have played five games in just six days, Las Vegas showed no signs of fatigue as the squad wasted no time staking its claim atop the division as Mick Lawrence scored his first goal of the night just 5:13 into the first period to put the Wranglers up 1-0.

Less than six minutes later, Tyler Mosienko set up Shawn Limpright's ninth goal of the season for a 2-0 lead. Lawrence then added his second goal of the evening to extend Las Vegas' lead to 3-0 with only 4:53 remaining in the first period.

Defenseman Mike Madill cushioned that lead even more when he buried a power play wrist shot from the point with 12:19 remaining in the second period to drop the Reign into a 4-0 hole.

With the Wranglers on cruise control, the Reign managed to snap goalie Matt Keetley's shutout bid when Ryan MacGregor scored Ontario's only goal with 8:14 left in the final period. Keetley did, however, pick up his first career ECHL victory with 34 saves.

Las Vegas defenseman Dan Spang added a little icing to the cake in the final minutes to seal the victory at 5-1 with his second goal of the year.

The Wranglers (26-18-4) have now won 10 of their last 11 games and they will have an opportunity to cement their place atop the Pacific Division in a rematch with Ontario on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Citizens Business Bank Arena. The Wranglers then return to the Orleans Arena to host the Utah Grizzlies (17-16-13) on Sunday at 2:05 p.m.

Steve Silver can be reached at 948-7822 or [email protected].

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