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The goal was simple for the Utah Grizzlies: win Friday night and clinch their 10th straight playoff appearance.
Someone forgot to tell the Missouri Mavericks.
Despite being eliminated from playoff contention, the Mavericks played the role of spoilers, defeating Utah 3-2. The Grizzlies still control their destiny, however. A Utah victory Saturday or a loss by the Alaska Aces on Friday or Saturday against the Idaho Steelheads and a postseason berth is secure.
"I was disappointed in our effort, and we dug ourselves a hole with a two-goal deficit and you can't play like that," head coach Tim Branham said. "We have to be hungry. The question is how bad do we want it. I don't want to leave it to chance with Idaho. We need to come out tomorrow and show what we're made of."
Only one goal was scored in the third period and unfortunately for Utah, it was recorded by the Mavericks. Missouri broke a 2-2 tie at the 7:38 mark of the third period on a two on one when Connor Bleakley threaded the needle to Matt Robertson, who lobbed the puck just out of the reach of Utah goalie Kevin Boyle.
The Grizzlies offense came out of the gates stagnant and they paid the price. Before Utah had even managed a shot on goal, the score was 2-0 Missouri. A pair of top-shelf goals was tallied by Dane Fox and Eric Scheid less than two minutes apart.
Utah would turn on the jets in the second period. Sandwiched around 19 minutes of hockey was a goal at the beginning and end of the period to tie the score at 2-2. A loose puck was batted at by several Grizzlie players until Mathieu Aubin's attempt was successful just 40 seconds into the period. Still trailing by a goal with just 11.9 seconds left, Austen Brassard fired a slapshot through the pads of Mavericks goalie Zach Nagelvoort to tie the contest.
"It was pretty disappointing and that slow start woke us up," Brassard said. "But we have to move past it and we have an opportunity to get the job done tomorrow and that's what we're focused on."
ECHL standings
EASTERN CONFERENCE
North GP W L OL SOL Pts GF GA
Adirondack 71 40 20 7 4 91 261 218
Reading 71 40 25 4 2 86 251 215
Brampton 71 39 24 3 5 86 258 252
Manchester 71 37 23 7 4 85 260 247
Wheeling 71 34 29 8 0 76 242 234
Elmira 71 17 46 7 1 42 171 274
South GP W L OL SOL Pts GF GA
Florida 71 45 21 2 3 95 265 219
Greenville 71 40 25 5 1 86 249 246
South Carolina 71 39 28 3 1 82 223 208
Orlando 71 36 25 7 3 82 260 248
Cincinnati 71 36 29 5 1 78 197 205
Atlanta 71 26 37 6 2 60 228 276
Norfolk 71 26 39 6 0 58 212 267
Western Conference
Central GP W L OL SOL Pts GF GA
Toledo 71 50 17 2 2 104 292 191
Fort Wayne 71 44 19 6 2 96 258 209
Quad City 71 40 27 2 2 84 231 214
Kalamazoo 71 37 30 1 3 78 217 235
Tulsa 71 27 36 6 2 62 193 236
Indy 71 23 41 3 4 53 196 280
Wichita 70 20 43 6 1 47 182 273
Mountain GP W L OL SOL Pts GF GA
Allen 71 48 17 4 2 102 290 201
Colorado 70 46 19 2 3 97 260 201
Idaho 70 41 22 5 2 89 230 204
Utah 71 35 29 5 2 77 220 236
Missouri 71 33 29 4 5 75 230 236
Alaska 70 32 28 3 7 74 216 226
Rapid City 70 25 37 8 0 58 210 251
Friday's games
Greenville 3, Cincinnati 2, OT
Orlando 5, Florida 3
Adirondack 7, Elmira 1
South Carolina 3, Atlanta 2
Manchester 4, Brampton 1
Reading 4, Norfolk 3, OT
Toledo 3, Indy 2
Wheeling 7, Kalamazoo 2
Allen 4, Tulsa 3
Fort Wayne 5, Quad City 2
Missouri 3, Utah 2
Colorado at Rapid City, late
Idaho at Alaska, late