WEST VALLEY CITY — At least for one night, St. Louis could change its nickname from the "Steamers" to the "Answers."
Because every time the Utah Freezz did something right or scored a goal, St. Louis had an answer in its 6-5 win on Saturday night.
And the Freezz lost by the same score for the second night in a row against very different opposition. Utah gave first-place San Diego all it could handle in a 6-5 overtime loss on Friday before falling to the cellar-dwelling Steamers on Saturday.
Freezz player/coach Jeff Betts said his team had tired legs in its game with St. Louis but wouldn't use it as an excuse. He said inexperience was more of a factor.
The inexperience was never more apparent than the game's most critical moment. With the game tied 5-5, the Steamers' Kevin Quigley had the ball near the boards and a Freezz defender in front of him who tried to steal the ball. But Quigley spun away from him and kicked the winning goal past Freezz goalie Nick Vorberg.
"When you're a young player you're always thinking, 'Go get the ball,' " Betts said. "He made a mistake, and sometimes those mistakes cost you games."
Betts said his team will build on this loss.
"These kind of games turn young players into veterans," he said.
Utah started the game on fire with two goals in the first 10 minutes. But it took only 38 seconds for the Steamers to answer and cut Utah's lead to 2-1. St. Louis tied the game in the second period. The Freezz then seemed to reclaim control of the game when Sterling Wescott scored 2.3 seconds before halftime to put the Freezz up 3-2.
St. Louis scored twice in the third to go up 4-3 when the fourth period started. Utah tied the game 4-4 and 5-5, but the Steamers answered Utah's scores each time.
Scott Jones scored two of Utah's goals. Betts and Matt Smith also scored.
Saturday's game was much different than the last time the two teams met. Vorberg recorded only the third shutout in league history in Utah's 3-0 win on Sept. 9. Vorberg and the Freezz defense weren't as impressive this time, though. Vorberg saved 29 shots, and the Steamers had several open looks at the net during the game.
The Freezz, now 3-3, next play at home on Oct. 5.
E-mail: aaragon@desnews.com