Grizzlies pay back Wranglers

After taking a seemingly big step forward Thursday in a dominant shutout victory over Utah, the Wranglers took a step backward Friday in a 5-3 loss to the Grizzlies in front of a crowd of 6,278 at the Orleans Arena.

Las Vegas twice came from behind to tie the game, the second time at 3-3 in the third period when defenseman Robbie Bina scored a power-play goal on a blast from the top of the left circle.

But Utah needed only 36 seconds to regain the lead for good, as Dylan Hunter buried a rebound in front of the net to give the Grizzlies a 4-3 edge.

"It's unfortunate we have a big high and the next shift we go out and get scored on," Wranglers coach Ryan Mougenel said.

Utah made it 5-3 90 seconds later as A.J. Perry capped an odd-man rush with Ryan Kinasewich with his second power-play goal of the game.

It was Las Vegas' fourth loss to Utah (7-4-0) in five meetings -- all at the Orleans Arena -- and the Wranglers (6-7-0) have been outscored 22-10 in the defeats.

"We're making that team believe they're better than us, and I don't believe they are," Mougenel said. "I thought we outplayed them."

Las Vegas, which went 1-for-3 with the man advantage, hit several posts and crossbars and outshot Utah 26-25.

"We just have to learn how to finish the game," said Wranglers center Adam Miller, who tied it 2-2 with a short-handed goal late in the first period. "We come back in the third period and score that big third goal, and our next shift's got to be the best shift of the game. But we didn't do that. They scored a quick goal, and we kind of fell apart from there."

Dustin Friesen and James Sixsmith scored less than three minutes apart, on similar shots from the point, to give the Grizzlies a 2-0 lead 8:05 into the game.

But the Wranglers responded with two goals less than three minutes apart by Justin Bernhardt and Miller to tie it.

Perry gave Utah a 3-2 lead early in the second period when he lifted the puck into the top of the net from a sharp angle.

• NOTE -- Wranglers right wing Mick Lawrence missed his second straight game with an undisclosed injury and is on the three-day injured reserve.

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or at 702-383-0354.