Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Wranglers drop Game 3 at Idaho, lead playoff series 2-1

In a back and forth battle, the Steelheads scored the final two goals of Game 3 Thursday to defeat the Wranglers 4-3 and pull within one game of Las Vegas in the Western Conference Semifinals best-of-seven series.

The Steelheads scored the opening two goals of the game on power play goals from Aaron Lewicki and Joe Pereira to take a 2-0 lead midway through the second period.

The Wranglers responded with three unanswered goals in a 15-minute span to take a brief lead in the third period.

After Wranglers forwards Peter MacArthur and Josh Lunden scored late in the second period, Las Vegas defenseman Jeff May scored at the 5:16 mark of the third period to take a 3-2 lead.

Idaho retaliated 41 seconds later with a Cody Purves goal to even the score. Chad Nehring assisted Purves on the game-tying goal.

The Steelheads scored the game-winner less than three minutes later as Nehring beat Wranglers goaltender Mitch O’Keefe for his third goal of the postseason.

With the victory, the Steelheads ensure that they will play two more home playoffs games at CenturyLink Arena Saturday and Sunday.

Stars of the game: 1. Chad Nehring (1 goal, 2 assists); 2. Cody Purves (game-tying goal); 3. Jerry Kuhn (29 saves).

Next up: The Wranglers return to the ice Saturday at 6:10 p.m. looking to take a 3-1 series lead in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals best-of-seven series.

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