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WEST VALLEY CITY — After winning Game 1 of their first-round matchup against the Idaho Steelheads by a 7-1 margin last weekend, the Utah Grizzlies felt pretty good.
But just one week and three overtime games later, the Grizzlies find themselves in a 3-1 series deficit.
Saturday, the Grizzlies led the Steelheads in the third period of Game 2 before giving up a late goal that forced overtime. Idaho went on to win the game in overtime, 3-2.
Four days later, Utah found themselves in a similar situation, this time in Game 3. Leading the game 2-1, the Grizzlies gave up the game’s last two goals for a second-straight 3-2 defeat in overtime.
In Friday’s game, things looked good early for the Grizzlies. Utah struck first, scoring the only goal of the first period thanks to a Tim McGauley power-play goal. The power play has been a strength for Utah this season, as the Grizzlies post the league’s third-best power-play percentage at 20.3 percent.
Both teams found the back of the net three times in the second period. Idaho scored first, tying the game at 1-1 less than one minute into the period. Utah would respond with three-straight goals after that to take a 4-1 lead midway through the second period.
Leading 4-1 midway through the second period, fans at the Maverik Center must have felt pretty good about their Grizzlies. A win would have tied the series at 2-2 with one more game in Salt Lake City before the series heads back to Boise, Idaho, for Game 5.
That was not the case, however, as Idaho scored twice before the end of the second period and once more in the third to tie the game and send it to overtime.
Utah had their chances in the third period. But even the league’s third best power-play team had one more advantage for the last 1:39 of regulation and couldn’t capitalize. In overtime, it took just over eight minutes before the Steelheads were able to find the back of the net for the 5-4 win.
The loss puts the Grizzlies on the brink of elimination as they trail the series 3-1. Utah will need to win the next three games against the Steelheads to move on to the next round.
The Grizzlies first shot at redemption will be Saturday night as they host Game 5 in the best-of-seven series against the Steelheads. Face off is set for 7 p.m. MT at Maverik Center.
