For the first time in the three-game series against the Grizzlies, Bloomington struck first, capitalizing on a five-on-three power play at 9:26 of the first period. After drawing a cross-check penalty during a power play, Head Coach Phillip Barski called timeout and the team came through when play resumed. Kyle Jackson lined up at the blue line and passed to Sedov in the right circle before Riku Ishida closed the game with a one-time shot across the ice. Ishida’s seventh power play goal of the season moved him into first place among defensemen. The Bison continued to maintain the pace of the game, closing the frame with their 1-0 lead and an 11-6 shot advantage.
Early in the middle period, Bloomington denied Utah a power-play advantage and took a 2-0 lead minutes later. Ayden MacDonald sailed a puck across neutral ice from his own blue line and Brad Morrison snuck behind the defense to gain possession deep in offensive ice. Zak Karpa then provided reinforcements and freed the puck from the corner to Sedov, who fired an effort from the point tipped by Morrison at 9:36. More than four minutes later, Bloomington defeated Utah behind the net again to climb to a 3-0 lead. Shane Ott and Eddie Matsushima broke the puck loose around the net from the far corner, and Chris Ortiz drifted to the slot before potting a backhander. Tasked with another penalty kill before the end of the period, the Bison started the third with 54 seconds of handoff time.
Despite killing the rest of the minor penalty and keeping the Grizzlies on their own side of center ice for nearly the first full five minutes of the period, Bloomington finally yielded to a Utah shot at 6:01. A defenseman deposited the puck and after feeding it to the circle, the home team got on the board. Upon official review, the play was confirmed as a ‘good goal’. Three minutes later, the third-best power play in the ECHL erupted from Bloomington’s outstanding penalty shootout (which included nine perfect minutes on Saturday). The Grizzlies converted two power-play goals in a span of 98 seconds to tie the game 3-3 with nine minutes remaining. Callum Tung faced 15 shots in the third period and made 28 of 31 saves in regulation to earn his seventh win of the season.
Bloomington secured the win just 20 seconds into the extra frame. Matsushima won the opening faceoff against Sedov, who retreated behind his net to start a rushing play. Ott received a pass from Sedov and entered the attacking zone before returning the puck to the sender, who confirmed the victory.
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