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ECHL hockey: Utah Grizzlies’ rally falls short against Adirondack Thunder

Thunder 3, Grizzlies 2 • Adirondack scores only goal of 3rd period.

Adirondack forward Dana Fraser scored the only goal of the third period as the Thunder beat the Utah Grizzlies 3-2 on Saturday night in the rubber match of a three-game series between the teams in the ECHL.

The Grizzlies trailed 2-0 before rallying in the second period to tie the game before the Thunder's third-period goal.

"I honestly felt like we were going to win that game," Utah coach Tim Branham said. "I don't know how many chances and open nets we missed. But it was a really good hockey game and we battled. Our first period was good, our second was really good, as was the third. We definitely had our chances."

Trailing by two goals and with Adirondack in control, Utah suddenly sprang into life. The Grizzlies were presented with their first power play of the night and made the most of it when Brandon McNally's one-timer beat Thunder goalie Mason McDonald.

And although the Grizzlies were in a short-handed situation late in the period, that proved no problem for recently acquired Erik Bradford. The forward seized a loose puck, glided up the ice, and fired a shot that barely trickled through the pads of McDonald. Utah thus was given a clean slate as the game headed to the third period with the game tied at 2.

"I gave it my all tonight but unfortunately we didn't get the two points," Bradford said. "I thought we played a really good game but when you only score two goals, you aren't going to win a lot of hockey games. Overall we've got to do a better job putting the puck in the back of the net."

For the first time this year at home, the Grizzlies failed to score the game's first goal. Instead, it came courtesy of the stick of Thunder forward Peter MacArthur. Adirondack wasted little time in adding to its lead as the second period began. With only 57 seconds having transpired, the Thunder made it 2-0 when Ty Loney's shot found the back of the net.