Utah Grizzlies crush Condors in home season finale

WEST VALLEY CITY — The Utah Grizzlies defeated the Bakersfield Condors 7-4 Saturday night at the E Center before 7,772 fans in their final home game of the regular season.

The win guarantees Utah a winning season and their fourth season of .500 or better in the last five years.

Utah (32-28-4-5) scored two goals in a 15-second span in the final 1:05 to break open a tight game. James Sixsmith picked up his second of the night and 24th of the year at 18:55 of the third period followed by Ryan Kinasewich's 45th of the year 15 seconds later.

Utah took a 4-2 lead into the third before Tom May made it 5-2 on his 25th of the year as he crossed the middle and gave the Grizzlies a big insurance goal just 2:56 into the frame. The Condors though fought back to make it 5-4 with 2:20 left in regulation.

Utah broke a 2-2 tie in the second as Matt Clarke went coast-to-coast for his fourth goal of the year as goaltender Mikko Koskinen picked up the assist. Utah made it 4-2 as Peter Vandermeer centered Dylan Hunter in transition for his 16th goal of the season. AJ Perry gave Utah a 2-1 lead as he knocked in his own rebound for his 29th goal of the year 2:31 into the second period, but Bakersfield answered 42 seconds later.

The Grizzlies tied the game at one on a James Sixsmith power-play goal as he started his three-point night 10:49 into the first period. Bakersfield took a 1-0 lead 5:01 into the first period as the Grizzlies struggled in their own end and the Condors scored on their first shot after Utah took the first six shots of the game.

Goaltender Mikko Koskinen improved to 4-0 with Utah stopping 26 of 30 shots.

Utah completes the regular season with three games in Victoria, British Columbia, on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.