Wranglers blank Aces

The Alaska Aces' dismal five-game road trip ended on an especially somber note tonight -- they were shut out for the first time this hockey season.

The Las Vegas Wranglers used two first-period goals from captain Greg Collins to register a 4-0 ECHL win, sweep the three-game set from the Aces and extend Alaska's season-worst losing streak to five games.

The Aces' margin of defeat at Orleans Arena in Nevada was their largest of the season.

Joe Fallon made 20 saves for Las Vegas to notch his second shutout this season.

Alaska played with a short bench of nine forwards and five defensemen, and those 14 skaters were two shy of the league maximum.

Veteran defenseman Bryan Miller missed his third consecutive game since taking a check to the head in Bakersfield on Friday night. Defenseman Russ Sinkewich is out for at least a month after suffering a lower-body injury in Sunday's 5-2 loss at Las Vegas and has been put on the 21-day injured reserve list. And first-line left wing Scott Howes sat out -- he's on the three-day IR with an undisclosed victory.

Rookie goaltender Adam Courchaine (19 saves), yanked after allowing four goals in 26 minutes Sunday, got the start. He surrendered a goal to Collins 69 seconds into the game -- granted, Collins cashed in on a 2-on-1 rush -- and in the third period misplayed the puck behind his net, which led to a Wranglers goal. Courchaine also misplayed the puck Sunday, which likewise led to a Las Vegas goal.

The Aces are scheduled to fly home today. They entertain the Victoria Salmon Kings on Friday and Saturday nights at Sullivan Arena. That series opens a five-game homestand.
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