Might as well start the pucks parlor game now and place your bet on how soon an American Hockey League team comes sniffing around, inquiring about John Lammers' services.

The Alaska Aces center bagged two goals and two assists Thursday night, giving him five goals in the last three games and propelling the ECHL club to a 5-2 win over the Las Vegas Wranglers in Nevada.

After playing the home-ice heavy in a three-game sweep of Victoria to open the season, Alaska easily ruled the road in its first away match of the 72-game campaign. The Aces blew out to a 5-0 lead before giving up a couple of goals late in the third period.

Lammers led the charge at Orleans Arena with a power-play goal, short-handed goal, power-play assist and short-handed assist in contributing to Alaska's first four goals. Combined with his two goals in a 2-1 win over Victoria on Monday and his late goal in a 5-3 win over the Salmon Kings on Saturday, Lammers had a hand in seven consecutive goals.

At 4-0-0, the Aces have matched the best start in franchise history.

Lammers played all last season in the American Hockey League, one step above the ECHL and just one step below the NHL. The fourth-year pro also played most of his rookie season in the AHL.

He has proved nearly impossible to contain in the ECHL. Two seasons ago, as a second-year pro, he scored 27 goals in 36 regular-season games for Idaho and, along with current Aces captain Scott Burt and current Aces winger Lance Galbraith, helped the Steelheads seize the Kelly Cup.

In 49 career regular-season games in the ECHL, Lammers has delivered 34 goals.

Lammers and linemate Colin Hemingway (two goals, one assist) gave the Aces some giddy-up right off the opening drop. Lammers scored on a power play a bit more than four minutes into the game and fed Hemingway for a short-handed strike less than two minutes later.

Hemingway added a power-play goal midway through the second period for a 3-0 lead. Lammers struck short-handed in the third period and Matt Stefanishion added an even-strength goal to drive the lead to 5-0.

Aces goaltender Sebastian Dahm stopped 26 shots, but the second-year pro missed a chance at his first play-for-pay shutout when Justin Bernhardt and Shay Stephenson scored goals in the last seven minutes.

Thursday's goaltending duel was between a second-year Dane (Dahm) and a Swede (Joel Gistedt). Gistedt, a second-round draft pick of the Phoenix Coyotes, stopped 23 shots.

The Aces killed the Wranglers' first five power plays to give them 21 straight kills to start the season before Bernhardt scored with the man advantage. The Aces have allowed opponents one power-play goal in 22 opportunities and have produced four short-handed goals.

With Galbraith out serving a three-game, league-imposed suspension for a secondary fight Monday against Victoria and rookie center Chris Morehouse serving a one-game suspension stemming from the same incident, winger Brett Hemingway and defenseman Lee Green made their season debuts.

Hemingway, Colin's younger brother, stepped into Galbraith's spot at left wing on the first line with his brother and Lammers. He assisted on Lammers' first goal and provided a screen on his brother's second goal.

Green played both defense and wing, as did Bryan Miller.

Thursday's game was the opener of a three-game set that continues tonight in Sin City and concludes Saturday.

Find Doyle Woody's blog at adn.com/hockeyblog or call him at 257-4335.

Aces 2 1 2 -- 5

Las Vegas 0 0 2 -- 2

First Period -- 1, Aces, Lammers 4 (Fast, B. Hemingway), 4:23 (pp); 2, Aces, C. Hemingway 1 (Lammers), 6:02 (sh). Penalties -- Miller, Las Vegas (hooking), 3:54; Stefanishion, Aces (roughing), 4:35; Las Vegas bench minor, served by Hagel (too many men), 17:44.

Second Period -- 3, Aces, C. Hemingway 2 (Lammers, Tuzzolino), 11:55 (pp). Penalties -- B. Hemingway, Aces (high-sticking), :25; Switzer, Las Vegas (hooking), 3:20; Switzer, Las Vegas (tripping), 11:49; Krischuk, Las Vegas (holding), 12:20; C. Hemingway, Aces (holding), 15:11.

Third Period -- 4, Aces, Lammers 5 (C. Hemingway), 7:41 (sh); 5, Aces, Stefanishion 2 (Imbeault, Combs), 12:07; 6, Las Vegas, Bernhardt 1 (Lawrence, Bina), 12:55; 7, Las Vegas, Stephenson 1 (Prudden, Bina), 17:32. Penalties -- Fast, Aces (interference), 5:08; Martin, Aces (interference), 6:28; Miller, Aces (hooking), 12:21; Switzer, Las Vegas (hooking), 19:36; Peluso, Aces (holding the stick), 19:36.

Shots on goal -- Aces 8-12-8--28. Las Vegas 9-7-12--28.

Power-play Opportunities -- Aces 2 of 5; Las Vegas 1 of 6.

Goalies -- Aces, Dahm, 3-0-0 (28 shots-26 saves). Las Vegas, Gistedt, 0-1-0 (28-23).

A -- 3,107 (7,773). T --2:17.

Referee -- Nick Krebsbach. Linesmen -- Wally Lacroix, Todd Owen.

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