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Arpad Mihaly capped off a three-goal Las Vegas comeback in the third period with the go-ahead and eventual game-winning with 2:46 remaining in regulation as the Wranglers defeated the Phoenix RoadRunners 5-3 before a crowd of 6,125 at US Airways Center in ECHL action Saturday.

A spirited first period saw Las Vegas and the RoadRunners each find the back of the net once. The Wranglers (37-12-4) opened the scoring at 9:21 on the power play as Joe Tallari banged home Arpad Mihaly’s rebound for a 1-0 lead. Phoenix (25-34-5) responded off a turnover when Jeff Kyrzakos beat Las Vegas goalie Mike McKenna with a slap shot from the right-wing circle at 13:41 to tie the contest at 1-1.

Olivier Latendresse gave the RoadRunners their first lead in six games as he buried Brian Yandle’s rebound through McKenna at 1:08 of the second period on the power play to make it a 2-1 hockey game.

Lance Monych tallied the RoadRunners second power play goal of the night just 2:45 into the third period to give Phoenix at the time a commanding 3-1 lead. The Wranglers started their comeback with a shorthanded goal from defenseman and Captain Mike McBain at 8:41 to cut the deficit to a single goal. Jason Josza netted the equalizer from the top of the left-wing circle as he fired a slap shot through the pads of RoadRunners goalie Cody Rudkowsky at 13:17 to tie the game at 3-3. Mihaly gave Las Vegas their first lead since the opening period 3:57 seconds later at 17:14 as he capitalized off a Phoenix turnover and twisted the puck around Rudkowsky and into the net. Nick Anderson sealed the win for the Wranglers with an empty-net goal at 19:47.

Las Vegas out-shot Phoenix 37-22. Rudkowsky stopped 32 but took the loss to fall to 8-17-2 on the season. The RoadRunners went 2-5 on the power play while Las Vegas was 1-6 with the man-advantage.

Notes: Phoenix dropped their season-high sixth straight game and their sixth in a row at US Airways Center...The RoadRunners fell to 17-5-0 when leading after two periods...Defenseman Mathew Deschamps was activated off the injured reserve prior to the game. Deschamps had been sidelined with an injury since Feb. 20 and missed the last 11 games. Defenseman Mat Snesrud was placed on the three-day injured reserve.

Phoenix returns to US Airways Center at 7:11 p.m. Saturday, March 24 as they welcome the Fresno Falcons in the 2006-07 regular season home finale. It will be “Fan Appreciation Night and the first 2,000 fans will receive a 2006-07 Phoenix RoadRunners Team Poster.

Individual game tickets for the 2006-07 regular season start as low $7 in the lower section and can be purchased at the US Airways Center Box Office and at all Ticketmaster outlets including Ticketmaster.com. Information on season tickets, half-season packages, and flex plans are available by calling (602) 462-GOAL.