Utah Grizzlies win as Kinasewich sets team record

WEST VALLEY CITY — The Utah Grizzlies (8-4) defeated the Las Vegas Wranglers 8-3 Saturday night at the E Center. Ryan Kinasewich tallied a hat trick — two assists and in the second period tied and overtook Chris Taylor to become the all-time leading scorer in team history with points 278 and 279.

Utah jumped up 3-0 in the first 11:27 of the game with goals from AJ Perry (1:07), Kinasewich (5:07) and Matt Caria to quickly take control of the game.

After Las Vegas made it 3-1 at 6:21 of the second, Utah responded with five-straight goals; including three in the period to lead 6-1 at the second intermission. Kinasewich tied Chris Taylor atop the all-time team lead at 10:29 on a centering pass to AJ Perry who buried his second of the night to put Utah up 5-1. Kinasewich then fired a shot redirected home by James Sixsmith with 1:11 left in the period to pass Taylor atop the all-time team lead with his 279th point.

Kinasewich finished the storybook evening with a hat trick to give Utah a 7-1 lead 3:37 into the third period. Sixsmith then finished off the Utah scoring at 6:10 of the period walking in on goaltender Joel Gistedt who relieved Michael Ouzas at the start of the period.

Mitch O'Keefe stopped 21 of 24 shots in the game for his fourth-straight win as he improved to 4-1. Five other Utah players besides Kinasewich had multiple-point nights; including James Sixsmith (two goals, two assists), AJ Perry (two goals, one assists), Matt Caria (one goal, one assist), Vic Bartey (two assists), and Dylan Hunter (two assists).

The Grizzlies and Las Vegas meet again next Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the E Center. Friday and Saturday's games start at 7:05 p.m.

Sunday's game is scheduled for 4:05 p.m.