This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Utah Grizzlies faced a team with many similarities on Wednesday night in the Atlanta Gladiators.
The two biggest markets in the ECHL faced off with nearly identical records and average shots per game. Both are even coached by Wisconsin natives.
The teams played to an identical score in regulation, tied at 4 and going to overtime. But the Grizzlies got the separation it needed with Ryan Hayes scored with 8.4 seconds remaining in overtime for a 5-4 win at the Maverik Center.
Hayes led a 3-on-1 break up ice before shooting instead of passing.
"I'm just happy the puck found its way into the back of the net," Hayes said. "We needed those two points."
Down 2-0 less than five minutes into the affair, the Grizzlies rallied with four consecutive goals to surge ahead.
Defenseman Mike Ratchuk started things off for the home team, launching a slapshot from the blue line on a power play to reduce the deficit to 2-1. Gathering momentum, Josh MacDonald scored two of Utah's next three goals; the first was at 7:44 of the second period. Then, following an Erik Higby goal less than one minute later, MacDonald scored again with 1.2 seconds remaining in the second period.
Atlanta fought back in the third behind goals from Thomas Frazee and Garry Nunn to force overtime before Hayes' game-winner. —
ECHL standings
EASTERN CONFERENCE
East GP W L OL SL Pts GF GA
Manchester 50 31 14 1 4 67 158 138
Adirondack 48 28 16 2 2 60 130 117
Reading 51 24 19 5 3 56 154 134
Elmira 51 25 22 3 1 54 141 157
Norfolk 51 21 27 2 1 45 139 167
North GP W L OL SL Pts GF GA
Toledo 48 30 13 2 3 65 147 119
Wheeling 49 23 21 2 3 51 143 152
Kalamazoo 48 20 23 4 1 45 140 162
Brampton 48 15 23 6 4 40 124 168
South GP W L OL SL Pts GF GA
Florida 49 33 15 0 1 67 151 110
South Carolina 50 27 17 4 2 60 149 119
Atlanta 50 26 18 4 2 58 143 152
Greenville 49 24 19 6 0 54 146 159
Orlando 48 22 20 2 4 50 153 155
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Central GP W L OL SL Pts GF GA
Missouri 48 39 6 2 1 81 167 101
Allen 50 29 18 2 1 61 152 141
Tulsa 48 25 18 3 2 55 127 119
Wichita 51 10 31 5 5 30 98 178
Midwest GP W L OL SL Pts GF GA
Fort Wayne 47 28 15 3 1 60 156 121
Cincinnati 49 25 19 3 2 55 144 138
Indy 52 25 25 2 0 52 129 137
Quad City 49 23 21 3 2 51 129 141
Evansville 47 18 23 5 1 42 133 162
West GP W L OL SL Pts GF GA
Utah 51 29 19 2 1 61 162 144
Idaho 52 27 20 4 1 59 141 134
Colorado 48 25 21 2 0 52 143 120
Alaska 49 19 25 2 3 43 133 157
Rapid City 49 19 26 2 2 42 113 143
Wednesday's games
Manchester 4, Reading 3, OT
Indy 5, Orlando 3
Wheeling 3, Elmira 2, OT
Norfolk 4, Florida 2
Toledo 4, Colorado 3
Utah 5, Atlanta 4, OT
Rapid City 2, Idaho 0
Thursday's game
Indy at Orlando, 7 p.m.