A sluggish first period saw the teams combine for just 11 shots on goal, one of those a backhander by John Lammers that broke a scoreless tie in the final minute of the frame, his 20th goal in 25 ECHL games this season.  After a tip-in by Tim Crowder tied the contest at 7:54 of the second period, the game turned on a key sequence shortly thereafter.  ECHL All-Star center Nick Mazzolini thought he had regained the lead for Alaska on a wrap-around, but the play was ruled no goal.  A few shifts later, Hugo Carpentier gave the Grizzlies their first lead at 5:10 on a similar play, one that was argued at length by the Aces and resulted in a two-minute unsportsmanlike conduct penalty assessed against Derick Martin.

 

Patrick Asselin scored his first goal of the season 48 seconds later on the ensuing power play, and followed with his second of the night with 1:24 left in the period to give Utah a commanding 4-1 bulge at the break.  After a failed power play early in the third period, Alaska saw the Grizzlies put the game away on an unassisted goal by Vladimir Nikiforov with 7:04 remaining.  Scott Reid absorbed the defeat in net, finishing with 19 saves.  The loss marked only the third for the Aces in 26 games against Utah at Sullivan Arena (22-3-1).  Meanwhile the Grizzlies snapped a six-game winless streak and claimed just their second victory in 14 games.