SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Grizzlies seemed to have their sights set on playing Rapid City in round 2 of the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

Up three games to two in round one, and after a dominating 5-1 win in Tulsa, the Grizzlies seemed to be set for an easy victory to close out the series.

Tulsa saw it another way.

Even after going down 1-0 on a Grizzlies power-play goal by Charlie-Edouard D’Astous, Tulsa controlled the game and outworked Utah in every aspect of the game except goaltending. The Oilers used physical play to get under Utah’s skin.

Tulsa tied the game at the 10:09 mark of the first period and kept grinding. At the end of the opening period, Tulsa had outshot Utah 19-8. D’Astous took an uncharacteristic double minor at the end of the first period as Utah’s frustration started to show through. 

Utah’s goaltender Trent Miner was spectacular in the net, stopping 48 of 51 shots. As impressive as that sounds, it almost undervalues his game. He was under siege while the Grizzlies’ penalty kill seemed to have a hard time clearing the zone. Miner also made a huge save on a 2-0 breakaway. 

It wasn’t all bad for the Grizzlies though. They had a great counterattack that created some exciting moments in the game. Mason Mannek scored his 2nd powerplay goal of the series at the 14:45 mark of the third period to bring the game within reach, with the Grizzlies trailing 3-2.

The Grizzlies managed a couple of scramble plays and had Tulsa goalie Daniel Mannella out of position several times, but seemed to refuse to shoot. When the Grizzlies did take shots they seemed to hit the post every time.

With time running out and their goalie pulled for an extra attacker, the Grizzlies gave up the empty netter to send this series to Game 7 on Wednesday night at the Maverik Center.