LAS VEGAS, Nev – Hard to imagine the Utah Grizzlies are where they are when just weeks ago they were a non-threat for the post season. But here they are facing the Las Vegas Wranglers in round one of the ECHL playoffs.
Utah (34-29-4-5) overtook the Wranglers (34-30-4-4) by one point in the standings. However Utah had the clear advantage over Las Vegas during the regular season, going 10-4 in the season tilts.
This series opened in Las Vegas where the Wranglers host games one and two while the Grizzlies will host games three through five (if needed) in Utah. With the higher seeding, Utah made the decision to start the series in Vegas and hope for a split at a minimum.
Wednesday eveni9ng the Wranglers made the Utah task a bit more difficult with a 6-4 home ice win and a chance to put Utak in a hole with another win in game two.
However, Utah was the first to strike in this match and do it early with their first shot just 35 seconds into the game. The 1-0 lead held up for about five minutes until a turnover led to an effective three on two breakout for the Wranglers and a tie score.
The grizzlies responded with two additional goals for a 3-1 lead that evaporated in the desert heat in a span of 11 seconds in the second period.
Jimmy Spratt. Photo by Jack Lima
Kyle Hagel got the scoring going in the comeback with a shot (unassisted) from the left circle at 5:16 and then delivered a perfect feed pass to assist on Chris Neiszner;s tying goal just 11 seconds later at 5:27. Those two goals ignited Las Vegas leading to two more goals and a 5-3 advantage.
Hager had two goals on the night for Vegas.
In net, rookie Jimmy Spratt stopped 17 of 21 shots on the night and clearly kept the Wranglers in the game when it mattered making the necessary and the easy saves.
Game two is set for Wednesday night in Vegas before the series swit5ches to Utah for the final three games of this best of five.
Contact Lou.Lafrado@prohockeynews.com
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