MILWAUKEE — The Utah Grizzlies concluded their first American Hockey League regular season with a 3-2 overtime loss to the Milwaukee Admirals on Sunday at the Bradley Center. Bryan Lundbohm netted the game-winning goal just 34 seconds into the extra session.
The setback, though, proved irrelevant as far as Utah's seeding in the upcoming Calder Cup playoffs is concerned. The Grizz (40-3-6-4) were relegated to fifth in the Western Conference and third in the West Division by virtue of Houston's 4-3 win over Chicago. The Aeros (39-26-10-5) finished with 93 points — two back of division champion Grand Rapids and three better than Utah.
Houston and Utah will begin their best-of-5 Western Conference quarterfinal series Thursday and Saturday at the Compaq Center. Action shifts to the E Center on Tuesday, April 16. The Grizz won the regular season series with the Aeros 6-4-1-1, including a 3-2-1-0 advantage in Houston.
In Sunday's loss to the Admirals, the Grizz jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second period on a goal by Cameron Mann. Utah remained in front until Mark Mowers and Adam Hall put Milwaukee ahead in the final period. The Grizz, however, forced overtime when John Purves scored late in the game.