 |
POWER
PLAY |
7TH
- 19.3 |
PENALTY
KILL |
19TH
- 80. 4 |
FORWARDS |
JOSH
SOARES |
36-45-81
(-2) |
KIMBI
DANIELS |
25-41-66
(-16) |
BO
CHEESEMAN |
30-27-57
(+1) |
DEFENSEMEN |
PETER
METCALF |
7-53-60
(+13) |
MATT
SHASBY |
9-31-40
(+9) |
CORBIN
SCHMIDT |
5-21-26
(-8) |
GOALTENDERS |
DEREK
GUSTAFSON |
12-16-3
(1 SO)
3.70 GA
.879 PCT |
|
MIKE
BROWN |
9-10-0
(0 SO)
2.97 GA
.905 PCT |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
Alaska
vs Las Vegas |
|
|
SCHEDULE |
| 1 |
APR.
25 |
ALASKA
0 - LAS VEGAS 8 |
SEED
5 |
2 |
APR.
26 |
ALASKA
1 - LAS VEGAS 3 |
SEED
1 |
41-26-4
(87) |
3 |
APR.
29 |
LAS
VEGAS 5 - ALASKA 2 |
47-13-5
(106) |
| |
4 |
MAY
1 |
LAS
VEGAS 5 - ALASKA 6 (OT) |
|
| |
5 |
MAY
2 |
LAS
VEGAS 6 - ALASKA 3 |
|
| |
6 |
MAY
6 |
ALASKA
at LAS VEGAS |
|
| |
7 |
MAY
7 |
ALASKA
at LAS VEGAS |
|
| Las
Vegas Wins Series 4-1 |
|
SERIES
PREVIEW |
| |
The ECHL National Conference Semifinal series starts Friday, April 25th, at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. The fifth-seeded Alaska Aces take on the first-seeded Las Vegas Wranglers in this best-of-seven series. This will mark the second time in Kelly Cup playoff history these two teams have met. Alaska defeated the Wranglers 4-2 in best-of-seven West Division finals in 2006 and subsequently won the 2006 Kelly Cup.
The Wranglers beat out the eighth-seeded Stockton Thunder 4-2 in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. Las Vegas was 47-13-5-7 in the regular season. The Thunder played a hard-fought series, but the Wranglers offense came out on top. Tyler Mosienko, Adam Cracknell and Kelly Czuy were a fearsome trio against the Thunder. All three forwards had three goals, and 8, 7 and 3 assists respectively during the six-game series. Peter Ferraro, Ryan Donally and Bruce Mulherin were also key contributors during the series, and will continue to be in this next series. Donally rejoined the club in time for the playoffs as he had his second short stint with the Quad City Flames just prior to the start of the series. Donally had new career highs this season with 37 points in 53 games played with the Wranglers. In the final series game against Stockton, Curtis Fraser scored two goals. Fraser was returned to the club by the San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League.
When it comes to defense, the Wranglers have more than adequate coverage on all their lines. Jason Jozsa, Jason Krischuck, Mike Madill and Tyson Strachan made their presence known in the Stockton games. Jozsa and Strachan were both on American Hockey League affiliates prior to the playoffs. Jozsa was with the Grand Rapids Griffins and prior to leaving for the AHL, he was the Wranglers leading blue-line scorer. Strachan was returned to the Wranglers in time to play in the fourth game of the series from the Peoria Rivermen (AHL) and did not have any trouble getting back into the groove as a Wranglers defensman.
The real battle for this semifinal series will be between the goalies. Wranglers’ Kevin Lalande started all six games in the net. For the last 30 minutes of one game, he was replaced by Tyler Sims, who has been deactivated since. So far in the playoffs, Lalande has an 88.4 percent save average and 3.12 goals-against-average. His record during the regular season was much better, he had a 92.3 percent save average and a 2.05 goals against average. The other man between the pins for the Wranglers will be Joey Perricone. He returns from the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League. Perricone posted a 2.76 goals-against-average and .912 save percentage, with five shut-outs during this last season. (Editor's note, Daniel Manzato was returned to the club by the Carolina Hurricanes after the article was written--he is a definite candiate for playing time against Alaska).
The Alaska Aces (41-26-5) will be coming off a 12 day break. They made short time of the Idaho Steelheads in a four-game sweep. They never trailed in the first three games, and allowed the Steelheads to lead in the fourth game for less than three minutes. The four games weren’t easy though; there was a double over-time in the third game.
When it comes to forwards, the Aces have some of the best in the ECHL. Josh Soares was recently named to the ECHL All-Rookie team for the 2007-08 season. He was also the Aces sole representative for the 2008 ECHL All-Star Game. During the four playoff games, he had two goals and two assists. Of the 16 players on the Aces roster, 12 of them scored at least one goal in the four game series against Idaho, and 14 of them scored at least one point. Returning to the Aces is Eric Neilson and Ryan Reaves from Peoria (AHL). Since February, Neilson’s combined totals include three goals, three assists and 201 penalty minutes in 52 games. Reaves was injured in Peoria just after Christmas, but finished the regular season with combined totals of six goals and three assists. Other forwards that will be major contributors are Kimbi Daniels, Bo Cheesman, and Francois-Pierre (F.P.) Guenette.
On Alaska’s blue line, Peter Metcalf was recently named ECHL Defenseman of the year for 2008. This is the second straight year season he lead all defensemen in points and assists while earning first-team all-ECHL honors. Other significant contributors from Alaska include Matt Shasby and Derick Martin.
The Aces are most confident with their goalies. Marek Schwarz had a tremendous series against Idaho and is presumed to be the starting goalie for the first game of the second round. Schwarz will start with a .951 save percentage and a 1.83 goals-against-average. His backup in the net is Chris Beckford-Tseu, who recently returned from a stint with the Peoria Rivermen. Beckford-Tseu has playoff experience and was in the net during eight of the 2006 Kelly Cup wins, and was 12-4 during the regular season.
These two teams will make an exciting battle and will most likely go at least six games. On paper, the Aces are more of a rounded team; they all contribute equally, while the Wranglers have a few players that really stand out.
|
|
| Game
1 |
Alaska
0 - Las Vegas 8 |
|
by
Shellie Lima - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Las
Vegas Leads Series 1-0 |
Las
Vegas, NV - This game one is a bit like déjà vu. The Wranglers shut-out the Aces with a score of 8-0, just as they did in the same series back in 2006 (that difference was a 5-0 win). The difference this year, the Wranglers hope not to finish the same as 2006; they lost four of the next five games.
The Wranglers dealt the Aces their largest gap loss of the season, while several of the Wranglers team members made franchise record history last night. Peter Ferraro and Adam Miller both had a five point game, and Marco Peluso had four assists in a single playoff game.
At 14:25 into the first period, Shawn Limpright scored the first goal of the game on a deflected pass from Jason Jozsa, and assist to Peter Ferraro. The Wranglers out-shot the Aces during this period with 16-8 shots-on-goal.
Most of the Wranglers game was in the second period. Adam Miller scored on a shot from the slot at 2:43 into the period, with assists by Ferraro and Peluso. At 9:09, Ferraro put the puck in the top of the net past Marek Schwarz, with an assist going to Miller and Peluso. Then at 11:08, Limpwright’s second goal of the night came when he buried the puck in the net, with assists by Miller and Ferraro. Twenty seconds later, Ferraro would send the puck into the top of the net again, on a slap-shot, with assists to Miller and Peluso. Tyler Mosienko, on a Las Vegas power-play, put the puck past Schwarz with assists to Curtis Fraser and Peluso to end the period at 6-0, Wranglers.
The third period, Miller scored on a breakaway at 9:50 into the period, and with just over six minutes remaining in regulation, Fraser knocked in the final goal of the game, with assists going to Gerry Burke and Aki Seitsonen, to a final score of 8-0.
The Wrangler’s goalie, Kevin Lalande got his fourth shutout of the season, while the Ace’s man in the net Marek Schwarz, took home his first playoff loss.
Las Vegas managed to kill six of six Alaska power plays during this game increasing their overall playoff power-play record to allowing only one in thirty-one opportunities.
Las Vegas hopes this game win momentum will carry over to subsequent games, while the Aces aren’t too worried; a loss is a loss, no matter how big. The trick will whether they can get back up and show how they beat Idaho in the first round in a four game sweep.
The next game will be Saturday, April 26th in Orleans Arena.
Shellie.Lima@prohockeynews.com
|
|
| Game
2 |
Alaska
1 - Las Vegas 3 |
|
by
Shellie Lima - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Las
Vegas Leads Series 2-0 |
Las
Vegas, NV - In Game 2 of the ECHL National Conference seminals, the Wranglers took advantage of home ice again in their second win against the Aces with a score of 3-1.
Between the poles for the Aces Chris Beckford-Tseu had 40 saves, but it just wasn’t enough to give the Aces a much needed win. In the first period, Wranglers’ Adam Cracknell fired a shot past Beckford-Tseu at 5:26 into the period, with assists from Kelly Czuy and Aaron Power, ending the period with the Wranglers up 1-0.
The Wranglers Peter Ferraro had a goal waived off midway into the second period, but it wasn’t long until Jason Jozsa dropped the puck into the net at 14:03 into the period, with an assist from Shawn Limpright and Ferraro. The second period ended with the Wranglers ahead 2-0.
The Aces Matt Shasby scored their first goal of the series at 6:08 into the third period, with assists from Brett Hemingway and F.P. Guenette, to close the gap 2-1. At 13:30, Curtis Fraser put the Wranglers up 3-1, in a shot that lifted up and over the shoulder of Beckford-Tseu, with an assist from Jozsa, giving him is fourth goal in only his third playoff game, since returning from the American Hockey League.
Kevin Lalande has continued to be a key contributor in the net for the Wranglers, defending 22 shots against the Aces during this game, while allowing only one. During the playoffs, he’s 6-2 with a .905 percent average.
Cracknell and Tyler Mosienko of the Wranglers are among players tied for third place in post-season, each with 11 points (4 goals and 7 assists) to-date.
Both teams are headed to Alaska for the next three games. Game 3 is scheduled for Tuesday, April 29th at Sullivan Arena.
Shellie.Lima@prohockeynews.com
|
|
| Game
3 |
Las
Vegas 5 - Alaska 2 |
|
by
Shellie Lima - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Las
Vegas Leads Series 3-0 |
Anchorage,
AK - The Las Vegas Wranglers won Game E of the EHCL National Conference Semi-finals over the Alaska Aces with a score of 5-2. The Wranglers have never trailed the Aces in this series.
The Wranglers’ Adam Miller scored the first goal of the game at 2:10 into the first period with a feed from Adam Cracknell that went past Aces goalie Chris Beckford-Tseu, putting the Wranglers up 1-0.
The second period Las Vegas continued to reign superior against the Aces. At 4:46 into the period, Marco Peluso scored his first of two goals, with an assist from Cracknell and Tyler Strachan. The Aces’ Derek Martin scored their first goal dropping a wrist shot through traffic past Kevin Lalande at 6:14 into the period. With less than five minutes left in the second Peluso scored his second goal on a power play with assists from Shawn Limpright and Tyler Mosienko. This would be the only power play goal of the game, despite nine chances. Then nineteen seconds later, Gerry Burke scored putting the Wranglers up 4-1 at the end of the period.
Marek Schwarz went in to replace Beckford-Tseu as goalie for the Aces at the start of the third period. Midway into the third period, Aces’s Kimbi Daniels scored on a pass from Matt Shasby, but it wouldn’t be enough. The Wranglers’ Jason Dest scored his first goal of the season, on an empty net with 23 seconds remaining in regulation, to end the game at 5-2.
Beckford-Tseu stopped 15 of 19 shots and Schwarz stopped the other eight for the Aces. The Wranglers’ primary goalie, Kevin Lalande (7-2) stopped 37 shots and has only allowed three goals in this series. Despite the Aces outshooting the Wranglers 39–27, they couldn’t get the puck past Lalande.
The Aces will need to win the next four games straight to advance to the next series. The Wranglers will attempt to complete the series in Game 4 on Thursday night in Anchorage, Alaska at the Sullivan Arena.
Shellie.Lima@prohockeynews.com
|
|
| Game
4 |
Las
Vegas 5 - Alaska 6 (OT) |
|
by
Shellie Lima - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Las
Vegas Leads Series 3-1 |
Anchorage,
AK - The Alaska Aces won Game 4 against the Las Vegas Wranglers on Thursday night in Anchorage at Sullivan Arena, earning another game. The win gives them hope to be the first team in ECHL history to come back from a 3-0 deficit.
The first period ended scoreless. At 1:06 into the second period, Wranglers’ Kelly Czuy scored the first goal of the night. At 4:23, Bruce Mulherin dropped his second goal of the post-season past Marek Schwarz, giving the Wranglers a two goal advantage. Just over a minute later, Matt Robinson scored his first goal of post-season, to put the Aces on the board 2-1. But, with less than two minutes left in the period, Shawn Limpright's goal seemed to dash the hopes of the Aces fans, putting the Wranglers up 3-1 at the end of the period.
The third period strategy for the Aces was to throw everything they had at the net. The Aces outshot the Wranglers 16 -9 during the third period. Alaska came out fighting with a power-play goal at 1:20 by F.P. Guenette, assisted by Kimbi Daniels and Craig Keith, closing the gap. At six minutes into the period, Olivier Filion and Josh Soares would score two more power-play goals to give the Aces their first lead of the game, 4-3. The Wranglers’ Peter Ferraro answered back with two more goals at 14:01 and 17:37, again attempting to extinguish the hopes of a game 5, to put the Wranglers up 5-4.
An Aces penalty late in the period by Peter Metcalf, forced Schwarz to be pulled in favor of an extra skater. With only 50 seconds left, Aces’ Cam Keith got the lucky shot of the night, with a shot just off the net, ricocheted off the skate of Wranglers’ defender Aaron Powers past Kevin Lalande, resulting in a short-handed goal, to tie the game 5-5 at the end of regulation.
In sudden death overtime, despite a turn at a player advantage for each team, a wrist shot fired in by F.P. Guenette over the shoulder of Lalande gave the Aces an opportunity to advance to Game 5.
Schwarz had 26 saves, while Lalande had 28 saves for the game.
Game five will be Friday, May 02, 2008, at Sullivan Arena.
Shellie.Lima@prohockeynews.com
|
|
| Game
5 |
Las
Vegas 6 - Alaska 3 |
|
by
Shellie Lima - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Las
Vegas Wins Series 3-1 |
Anchorage,
AK - For the first time in Las Vegas Wranglers history the Wranglers are headed to the National Conference Finals. The Wranglers won Game 5 with a score of 6-3 in the semi-finals against the Aces.
The Wranglers have finally advanced to the next level. For the past three years, they were one of a small handful of teams in the ECHL to break 100 points in a season, but had difficulty in the post season. This will be their first time to advance past the second round.
In a hard-fought game by both teams, the Wranglers did not lead until halfway through the third period, but they were able to keep the lead and take the win.
Daniel Manzato was in the net for the first time during the series for the Wranglers and it appeared early on the strategy would backfire. At 2:14 into the first period Derick Martin of Alaska was the first to net a goal assisted by Josh Soares and Olivier Filion on a power-play. The Wranglers answered back at 5:53 with a power-play goal by Peter Ferraro, assisted by Aaron Power and the period ended with the teams tied at one.
During the second period F.P. Guenette scored early for Alaska with assists by Soares and Peter Metcalf, only to be answered by the Wranglers’ Gerry Burke at 3:24 into the period. Burke's goal was assisted by Shawn Limpright and Ferraro. Midway into the period the Aces Corbin Schmidt scored with assists by Cam Keith and Matt Robinson. At 12:34 Ferraro scored on another power-play opportunity, his seventh goal of the post-season, with assists by Limpright and Tyler Mosienko to tie the game at the end of the second period 3-3.
In the third period, the Wranglers turned up the heat. Curtis Fraser scored the Wranglers first go-ahead goal at 11:24 into the game on an assist by Adam Miller. The Aces pulled Schwarz for an extra skater at 18:53 in an effort to tie the game and live to play another day. Unfortunately for Alaska they allowed two empty net goals, the first by Limpright (his fifth of the post-season) and the second by Kelly Czuy, with only 48 seconds remaining in regulation play to seal the win for the Wranglers 6-3. The game ended with Marek Schwarz of the Aces having 30 saves while Daniel Manzato had 29.
Las Vegas’ Peter Ferraro leads the league with 17 points on seven goals for the post-season to date while Adam Cracknell is third with 14 points with 10 assists to his credit.
The Las Vegas Wranglers will meet the winner of the Utah-Victoria series, with Utah currently leading the series 2-1. Those team's next game is tonight and Game 5 is set for Sunday. If they need all seven games, the series winner will be determined by May 7.
Shellie.Lima@prohockeynews.com
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
POWER
PLAY |
4TH
- 20.5 |
PENALTY
KILL |
7TH
- 84.4 |
FORWARDS |
PETER
FERRARO |
36-37-73
(+25) |
ADAM
CRACKNELL |
29-30-59
(+12) |
TYLER
MOSIENKO |
22-37-59
(+12) |
DEFENSEMEN |
AARON
POWER |
9-27-36
(0) |
SEAN
OWENS |
5-9-14
(+8) |
MIKE
MADILL |
4-10-14
(+7) |
GOALTENDERS |
DANIEL
MANZATO |
24-5-4
(3 SO)
2.37 GA
.921 PCT |
|
KEVIN
LALANDE |
17-5-1
(3 SO)
2.05 GA
.932 PCT |
|
|
|
