Utah Grizzlies open homestand with 5-1 win

WEST VALLEY CITY — The Utah Grizzlies skated past the Ontario Reign 5-2 Friday night at the E-Center in Game 1 of a six-game Utah home stand.

Utah (18-16-2-2) was led by AJ Perry's goal and three assists, while Utah went 4-of-7 on the power-play. The Grizzlies are now 3-1-0-1 in their last five games.

Ryan Kinasewich gave Utah a 1-0 lead as he knocked in a rebound for his 26th goal of the year 4:24 into the game. Utah made it 2-0 with two seconds left on its first power-play goal 9:45 into the second period, as James Sixsmith centered Vlady Nikiforov for his eighth goal of the year.

The Reign made it 2-2 less than four minutes later with two goals in a 22-second span.

The Grizzlies took the game back over with Sixsmith's 10th goal of the year with 2:56 left in the second period. Utah added third-period goals from Perry and Tim Crowder to make the final 5-2.

The same two teams tangle again tonight at 7:05 p.m.