ECHL playoffs: Wranglers' strong start dooms Grizzlies to defeat

WEST VALLEY CITY — The Las Vegas Wranglers invaded the E Center on Saturday night and jumped on the Utah Grizzlies so fast they didn't have time to catch their collective breath.

The Wranglers rolled to a quick 4-0 lead and went on to win 6-3, taking a 2-1 advantage in their ECHL first-round playoff series leaving the Grizzlies without much excuse.

"They worked hard and they wanted it more," said Grizzlies coach Kevin Colley. "They just showed more character."

The Grizzlies' James Sixsmith concurred, saying, "We came out flat. The effort wasn't great."

Sixsmith came into the game as Utah's leading scorer in the playoffs and, although he didn't get a goal, he contributed two assists. Ryan Kinasewich scored two goals to lead Utah's offense. But Colley said his team needed to come out with more offensive firepower.

"We've got to bring more attack," he said

Las Vegas did not lack in intensity, as it came out slapping shots in bunches, but Grizzlies goalie Mikko Koskinen caught the first four zingers and no damage was registered initially.

But when the first penalty of the game was called on the Grizzlies at the 9:20 mark of the first period, the Wranglers wasted no time getting on the board 44 seconds later to take a 1-0 lead.

At the 6:15 mark, the Wranglers were called for high-sticking. Not only could the Grizzlies not take advantage, but Vegas scored its second goal while a man down to go up 2-0. With 44 seconds left in the first period, the Wranglers struck once more when Koskinen appeared to catch a long slap shot, but the puck bounced out of his glove and a Wrangler pushed it into the net.

In the second period, the Grizzlies changed goalies, putting in Mike Morrison, but the Wranglers hardly slowed down, punching in another goal less than five minutes in to run the score to 4-0.

Matt Sorteberg slapped in Utah's first goal 8:15 into the second period to get the Griz on the board. Less than a minute later, Utah was assessed a tripping penalty and then the Griz turned the tables on Vegas, with Kinasewich slapping in a short-handed goal a mere 22 seconds later.