Utah leads series 2-1

 

STOCKTON, Calif. – The Utah Grizzlies defeated the Stockton Thunder in game three with a final score of 4-2 in the ECHL Western Conference Quarterfinals and now lead the best-of-five series 2-1.   There were 4,559 in attendance at the Stockton Arena as the Thunder came home to play in their first home-stand of the post-season.    The Thunder came out hot and scored early in the first with a goal that went top-shelf over Jean-Philippe Lamoureux by Jordan Fulton at 1:18.   Utah’s Simon Ferguson evened the score at 7:49 on a goal that was tipped in past Tyson Sexsmith.   This was Ferguson’s third goal of the post-season.   In the second period, Ryan Constant took a slap-slot from the top of the slot that found the back of the net in a power play goal to give the Thunder the 2-1 lead again.   But Hugo Carpentier took the puck on a breakaway and scored a short handed goal at 14:01, and Utah never trailed again.  The third period saw a goal by Matt Reber and Marcus Carroll sealed the game with an empty net goal with 13 seconds remaining on the clock to end the game 4-2.   Both teams were one-for-four on the man-advantage tonight.   Sexsmith had 19 saves, while Lamoureux had 27.   Ferguson had a four point night, with the goal and an assist on all three additional Utah goals.   The Stockton Thunder face elimination in game four at the Stockton Arena on Sunday.   Contact the writer at Shellie.Lima@prohockeynews.com Contact the Photographer at Jack.Lima@prohockeynews.com