Grizzlies Pull Away with 5-3 Win Overnight in Vegas
Published on December 28, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release
Las Vegas, Nevada - The Utah Grizzlies (16-9-3-1) pulled away and defeated the Las Vegas Wranglers (15-7-2-1) 5-3 in a game that started just after midnight Monday in Las Vegas.
The loss was the Pacific Division leading Wranglers first one at home since October 29 and their first non-home win since Utah beat them 3-2 in overtime November 5.
"Andrew Engelage and Riley Emmerson did a great job in the first period to whether the storm," said Grizzlies Head Coach Kevin Colley. "The rest of the guys responded in the second and third to earn a great team victory. It was obviously a little odd starting a game at midnight, but there are no excuses and our guys used none."
Utah was outshot 13-4 in the first period and gave up a goal 7:12 into the game as they struggled in their own end and Las Vegas took a 1-0 first intermission lead.
The Grizzlies came alive with two goals in 3:58 early in the second period as Matt Clarke (3) and Simon Ferguson (5) both added goals in transition to give Utah a 2-1 lead just prior to the game's halfway point. The Wranglers made it 2-2 on a power-play goal late to force the tie at the second intermission.
Utah made it 3-2 4:13 into the third period as Tyler Ruegsegger fed Tim Crowder (9) off of a turnover and the Grizzlies leading scorer tapped it home. Just 1:47 later, Ruegsegger picked up a turnover in the neutral zone and fired a puck home for his sixth goal of the season.
Ferguson (6) added an empty-netter with 24 seconds left to give Utah some late insurance after Las Vegas made it 4-3 with a four-on-four goal with 10:10 left to play.
Andrew Engelage improved to 8-3-2-1 by stopping 26 of 29 shots as he stood tall for the Grizzlies.
The Grizzlies return home Wednesday to host Bakersfield at 7:05 p.m. Utah continues the home stand Friday at 6:05 p.m. and Saturday at 7:05 p.m. with Victoria.
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