STOCKTON, Calif. – The fourth place Utah Grizzlies will take on the fifth place Las Vegas Wranglers in a best-of-five series beginning Tuesday, April 6 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. Both teams had their ups and downs during the season, but have finished relatively equal on paper. Utah’s record of 34-29-4-5, and 77 points overall is very similar to Las Vegas’s 34-30-4-4, and 76 points. At the end of the regular season, changes in goal tending prevailed for both teams.
The Grizzlies face the Wranglers for the second time in the last three years. Las Vegas defeated Utah 4-0 in 2008. During the regular season, Utah was 10-4 against Las Vegas. In their last nine regular season games, Utah was 6-2-1.
Utah’s offense has been lead by Ryan Kinasewich, with five goals and five assists in six games versus the Wranglers this year. He finished the regular season third in the league in points, first in goals and third in assists, with 103 points, 48 goals, and 55 assists. Another key player will be A.J. Perry, who finished the season with a solid 78 points (30, 48). James Sixsmith and Dylan Hunter also finished with 64 points and 53 points respectively.
When it comes to special teams, Utah leads the league in power plays with 22.7 percent. Their penalty kill unit hasn’t done too badly either. With an 81.3 percent success rate, they can hold their own.
In the net for Utah is Mikko Koskinen, who finished the season 6-0, with a 2.50 goals against average and a .960 save percentage. New comer back-up will be Mike Morrison, who finished the season with 3.17 goals against average and an .890 save percentage, primarily with the Florida Everblades.
The Wranglers will mark their fifth consecutive post season appearance. In 2007-08, they lost the Kelly Cup final to Cincinnati. They finished the season 5-4 in their last nine games. On paper the team is lacking in special teams capabilities, having a 79.9 percent penalty kill and ranking second to last in their power play with 15.8 percent.
Key offensive players to watch on the Wranglers include Adam Miller, fifth in the league in points, with 86 and fourth in assists (33, 53). Ned Lucacevic, Mick Lawrence and Alex Bourret finished strongly with 65, 52 and 46 points respectively.
The Wranglers blue-line includes key scorers like Jason Krischuk and Mike Madill; both finished the season with 34 points.
In the net, Joel Gistedt has a 4.06 goals against average and an .874 save percentage, while their latest signee goal tender, Jimmy Spratt appeared in fourteen game, with a 2.92 goals against average and a .913 save percentage.
Subsequent games will be on Wednesday, April 7, also in Las Vegas, followed by games three through five, in Utah on April 10, 11, and 13 (as needed)
PREDICTION: Look for the series to go at least four games, but the Grizzlies will prevail in the end. What Utah lacks in goaltending, they will make up for in their offensive scoring. While Las Vegas has held their own over the regular season, they lack the defensive abilities necessary to stop players like Kinasewich and Perry. However, look for the final scores to be tight.
Contact the writer at Shellie.Lima@prohockeynews.com
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