Wranglers in familiar hole

Trailing Idaho 3-2 in the National Conference semifinals, Las Vegas will try to stave off elimination for the second straight game in Game 6, set for 6:10 p.m. at Qwest Arena in Boise.

After losing three straight games in regulation for the first time all season to fall behind the Steelheads 3-1 in the best-of-7 series, the Wranglers responded with a convincing 4-0 victory in Friday’s Game 5 at the Orleans Arena.

Las Vegas also trailed Idaho 3-1 in last year’s playoffs before becoming the second team in ECHL history to erase that deficit to win a series.

The Wranglers won Games 6 and 7 at home last year, but they’ll have to take Game 6 on the road today to force a Game 7 at home, which would take place at 7:05 p.m. Monday.

“It makes it tougher, but obviously we’ve got a good road record, and we’re comfortable playing wherever,” Wranglers left wing Steve Crampton said. “It doesn’t matter where it’s going to be, we’re going to be ready. (Tonight is) do or die for us.”

The Wranglers, who won Game 1 at Idaho and are 5-2-1 there this season, are 3-1 on the road in the playoffs and lost only five road games in regulation during the regular season, finishing 22-5-9.

“We’ve been a good road team all year long. We enjoy playing on the road,” Las Vegas left wing Shawn Limpright said Saturday afternoon as the team prepared to board a flight to Idaho. “The guys are in good spirits. We definitely have the momentum in the series. We outplayed them, we outhit them and we outchanced them (Friday). We’re looking forward to getting back on the ice and to see what they’re made of and how they’ll respond to (Friday’s) win.

“Right now, we’re the underdog team. Our (playoff) lives are on the line every single shift. We need to win, and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”

Idaho right wing Marty Flichel played in last year’s series against Las Vegas and is wary of another Wranglers’ comeback.

“We feel pretty fortunate to be up 3-2 now going into Game 6 trying to finish it off,” he said. “But in the back of your mind you’re thinking about last year. They’re just as good, if not better, than they were last year.

“We want to put in a solid Game 6 here, and hopefully that’s enough for us. We just have to come out hard and try to get after them like we did in (Games) 2, 3 and 4.”

Idaho got most of the bounces in its three wins, but Las Vegas had fortune on its side in Game 5, when the Steelheads shot the puck into their own net on a delayed penalty.

“We didn’t get the bounces the first couple games, but the puck is starting to go our way now,” Wranglers left wing Marco Peluso said. “That’s why they play seven games.”

A key to today’s game could be in net, where ironman Idaho goalie Steve Silverthorn will start his sixth game in eight nights. Wranglers coach Glen Gulutzan hasn’t named his starter, but it probably will be Kevin Nastiuk, who came up huge in Game 5, stopping 36 shots in place of regular starter Mike McKenna.

“He hasn’t played in quite some time, but he made it look real easy,” Limpright said of Nastiuk. “To see that was a big boost for the guys playing in front of him. It’s comforting to know you’ve got a guy there who will make a big save for us right now.”

Nastiuk, 3-0 in the playoffs, said he was excited to get the start in Game 5 and hopes to be in goal again today.

“It’s playoff time, and every single guy in the locker room wants to be out there contributing,” Nastiuk said. “Hopefully I can get in a little groove.”