LAS VEGAS — Overtime has not been kind to the Utah Grizzlies in Orleans Arena, and that held true Tuesday night as the regular-season Northern Conference-champion Las Vegas Wranglers made short work of the extra period, scoring just 1:36 into the overtime for a 4-3 win and take a 2-0 lead in the conference finals over Utah.
Aki Seitsonen got the game-winner against Utah goalie Mike Mole.
The series now moves to the E Center for games Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m. with another set for Sunday at 4 p.m., should it be necessary in the best-of-seven series.
Utah has now lost four overtime games to the Wranglers and has gone 12 games without beating the Wranglers after winning the first game of the season.
With :05.4 seconds left in regulation, Rob Sirianni won a draw in the Grizzlies' offensive zone Tuesday, and teammate' Olivier Labelle scored with one second left in regulation to send Game 2 of the conference finals into overtime.
Referee Max Battimo immediately called it a goal and held his opinion despite complaints from Las Vegas that it had been scored after time expired.
It was Labelle's sixth goal of the playoffs and came after a shot by James Sanford was blocked. The Grizzlies had pulled goaltender Mole in favor of a sixth attacker hoping to get their third goal to tie. Labelle has scored four goals in his last four playoff games.
Micheal Haley had the other assist on the tying goal, giving him four points in the conference finals.
A second-year pro, Haley had his first pro hat trick at Las Vegas on Nov. 2. He scored three goals in three periods at Las Vegas again n two in Tuesday's first two periods combined with one he had scored in the third period of Monday's 5-2 loss. Haley now has seven playoff goals.
Haley's second goal Tuesday, at 3:31 of the second to tie the game at 2-2, was scored unassisted as he set sail with a Vegas turnover. He had the game-opening goals
Adam Cracknell of the Wranglers also has three goals through the first two games of the series, also getting two Tuesday to combine with one from Monday .