Utah Wins 5-4 in Dramatic Fashion
West Valley City, Utah – Charle-Edouard D’Astous scored the game winning goal with 7.8 seconds left in regulation as the Utah Grizzlies scored 2 goals in the final 43 seconds of regulation as they defeated the Rapid City Rush 5-4 at Maverik Center to take a 2 games to 0 series lead in the Mountain Division Finals.
Colton Leiter scored a power play goal 2:23 in on a one-timer from the left circle. D’Astous tied the game 16:15 in on a power play goal. The score was tied 1-1 after 1 period with Utah outshooting Rapid City 17 to 4 in the frame.
Avery Peterson scored 2 power play goals in the second period as the Rush led 3-1 after 2 frames. Rapid City outshot Utah 26 to 4 in the frame.
In the third period Utah’s Dylan Fitze cut into the lead 3:47 in. Rapid City extended the lead as Stephen Baylis scored 3 seconds into the start of a power play 9:16 into the third as the Rush led 4-2. Fitze scored again 13:48 in to make it a one goal game. Utah got a 5 on 3 power play late in regulation as Ryan Zuhlsdorf got a tripping minor 17:35 in and Calder Brooks got a delay of game penalty 18:38 in. Nick Henry tied the game on a one timer from the left circle with 43 seconds left. D’Astous got the game winner with 7.8 seconds left on a one timer from a Ben Tardif pass.
D'Astous led Utah with 2 goals and 1 assist. Dylan Fitze added 2 goals. Ben Tardif and Tarun Fizer each had 2 assists. Fitze, Luke Martin and Luka Burzan were each a +2 for Utah. Trent Miner saved 38 of 42 in the win as he goes to 5-2 in the playoffs. Rapid City’s Lukas Parik saved 36 of 41.
Rapid City was 4 for 6 on the power play. Utah was 3 for 7. Rush outshot Utah 42 to 41.
The scene shifts to The Monument in Rapid City for games 3-5 on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Face-off all 3 nights is at 7:05 pm.
3 stars
- Charle-Edouard D’Astous (Utah) – 2 goals, 1 assist, 6 shots. GWG with 7.8 seconds left.
- Dylan Fitze (Utah) – 2 goals, +2, 6 shots.
- Nick Henry (Utah) – Game Tying Goal with 43 seconds left. 6 shots.
Adirondack Thunder
Allen Americans
Atlanta Gladiators
Bloomington Bison
Cincinnati Cyclones
Florida Everblades
Fort Wayne Komets
Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Idaho Steelheads
Indy Fuel
Iowa Heartlanders
Jacksonville Icemen
Kalamazoo Wings
Kansas City Mavericks
Maine Mariners
Norfolk Admirals
Orlando Solar Bears
Rapid City Rush
Reading Royals
Savannah Ghost Pirates
South Carolina Stingrays
Tahoe Knight Monsters
Toledo Walleye
Trois-Rivières Lions
Tulsa Oilers
Utah Grizzlies
Wheeling Nailers
Wichita Thunder
Worcester Railers