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Wranglers Lose Home Preseason Game 3-1

The Las Vegas Wranglers lost their only home preseason game of the 2011-12 season, falling 3-1 to Ontario Reign.

Reign center C.J. Stretch scored the first goal of the game midway through the first period at 13:18. He was assisted by forward Kyle Kraemer and defenseman Ian McPhee. Tying the game 1-1 at 19:59 in the first, in the literal last second, was Wranglers center Chris Francis with the goal and defender Michael Busto and forward Kyle Laughlin with the assists.

Ontario took the lead again early in the second, with Stretch scoring his second, and game-winning, goal of the game at the 1:31 mark during a power play. He was assisted by forward Jordan Morrison, and the score became 2-1 in favor of Ontario. The Wranglers were given a penalty shot, taken by forward Eric Lampe at 15:16, but it was narrowly blocked by Reign goalie Beau Erickson, leaving Ontario still up at the end of the second.

Unable to score in the third period, the Wranglers went down 3-1 after Reign forward Bill Bagron scored an unassisted, short-handed goal at the 12:30 mark, which was the final score of the game. The Wranglers had previously been 2-0 for their away preseason games.

Las Vegas opens the season on the road against the Alaska Aces on Friday, Oct. 14, and Saturday, Oct. 15. They’ll return for the home opener against the Reign on Friday, Oct. 21, at 7:05 p.m. at Orleans Arena.

The full box score of tonight’s game can be found here.

The Wranglers host Opening Night, billed as “The Last Professional Hockey Game on Earth,” on Friday, Oct. 21 at 7:05 p.m. against Ontario Reign. 2011-12 season seat packages, starting at $30, are on sale now at 702-471-PUCK. The Wranglers play all 36 regular season home games at the Orleans Arena, located next to the Orleans Hotel and Casino at 4500 W. Tropicana Ave.  www.lasvegaswranglers.com