WEST VALLEY CITY — The Las Vegas Wranglers invaded the E Center on Saturday night and jumped on the Utah Grizzlies so fast they didn't have time to catch their collective breath.
The Wranglers rolled to a quick 4-0 lead and went on to win 6-3, taking a 2-1 advantage in their ECHL first-round playoff series leaving the Grizzlies without much excuse.
"They worked hard and they wanted it more," said Grizzlies coach Kevin Colley. "They just showed more character."
The Grizzlies' James Sixsmith concurred, saying, "We came out flat. The effort wasn't great."
Sixsmith came into the game as Utah's leading scorer in the playoffs and, although he didn't get a goal, he contributed two assists. Ryan Kinasewich scored two goals to lead Utah's offense. But Colley said his team needed to come out with more offensive firepower.
"We've got to bring more attack," he said
Las Vegas did not lack in intensity, as it came out slapping shots in bunches, but Grizzlies goalie Mikko Koskinen caught the first four zingers and no damage was registered initially.
But when the first penalty of the game was called on the Grizzlies at the 9:20 mark of the first period, the Wranglers wasted no time getting on the board 44 seconds later to take a 1-0 lead.
At the 6:15 mark, the Wranglers were called for high-sticking. Not only could the Grizzlies not take advantage, but Vegas scored its second goal while a man down to go up 2-0. With 44 seconds left in the first period, the Wranglers struck once more when Koskinen appeared to catch a long slap shot, but the puck bounced out of his glove and a Wrangler pushed it into the net.
In the second period, the Grizzlies changed goalies, putting in Mike Morrison, but the Wranglers hardly slowed down, punching in another goal less than five minutes in to run the score to 4-0.
Matt Sorteberg slapped in Utah's first goal 8:15 into the second period to get the Griz on the board. Less than a minute later, Utah was assessed a tripping penalty and then the Griz turned the tables on Vegas, with Kinasewich slapping in a short-handed goal a mere 22 seconds later.
The Griz held off the Wranglers the remainder of the penalty and then things really got wild. At 8:21 of the second period, it appeared Utah had scored another goal. But the whistle had blown, negating the goal. The ensuing melee resulted in seven penalties in all and the Grizzlies going a man down. The teams battled evenly until only 48 seconds remained, when Utah was called for another penalty The Wranglers punched in another goal with only 11 seconds remaining in the period to go up 5-2.
Just 34 seconds into the third period, Kinasewich drove his second goal of the night into the net to give the Grizzlies some hope. But Las Vegas tacked on another goal less than five minutes into the period to pretty much secure the victory.
The two teams tangle again Sunday in Game 4 at 4 p.m. in the E Center.
ECHL Kelly Cup playoffs
Best-of-five
(Las Vegas leads, 2-1)
Today's game
Las Vegas at Utah, 4 p.m.
Tuesday's game
Las Vegas at Utah, 7 p.m.*
*if necessary
e-mail: wjewkes@desnews.com