Six-goal third period, Dzhaniev hat trick leads to Grizzlies victory on Sunday | Pro Hockey News

Tulsa, Okla. – The Utah Grizzlies scored six goals in the third period to overcome a 3-1 deficit as they defeated the Tulsa Oilers 7-4 on Sunday afternoon at BOK Center.

Neither team scored in the first period. Utah’s Reilly Connors scored unassisted 2:34 into the second period. Tyler Poulsen, Konnor Smith and Coulson Pitre each scored goals in the second period for Tulsa as they led 3-1 after two frames.

Utah scored three goals in 1:57 early in the third period to take a 4–3 lead. Danny Dzhaniyev scored a power-play goal in 2:01. 57 seconds later, Reed Lebster scored his team ahead by 14^e of the campaign. Exactly one minute later, Dzhaniyev scored his second goal of the afternoon. Tulsa’s Dylan Fitze scored a power play goal at 6:40 to tie the game. Stepan Timofeyev gave Utah a 5-4 lead in 10:41. Timofeyev scored 1 goal and 3 assists in the win. Evan Friesen got some assurance at 16:09 when he scored from the left wing. Dzhaniyev completed the hat trick with an empty net goal in 18:41.

Dzhaniev became the 9th^e player in the Grizzlies ECHL era to have 2 or more hat tricks in a single season. Dzhaniyev is now tied for the league lead in points among rookies with 25 (9 goals, 16 assists).

The six goals for the Grizzlies are the most in a third period in team history. It is also the most goals in a single period for Utah since scoring seven goals in the second period against Wichita on January 25, 2025. The seven goals for the game ties a season high, which was just two days ago on December 19.^e in a 7-4 win at Kansas City.

Dylan Wells earned his team a seventh lead^e won when he saved 28 of 32. Tulsa’s Vyacheslav Buteyetes stopped 38 of 44 in the loss. Utah was 1-on-6 on the power play, Tulsa was 2-on-2.

Reilly Connors and Evan Friesen each had 1 goal and 2 assists. Utah’s record moves to 12-13-2 this season. They are 9-6-1 on the road, outscoring their opponents 59 to 51. Utah has scored 20 goals in their last four games.

The Grizzlies will host the Idaho Steelheads in a two-game series at the Maverik Center from December 26-27. The showdown on both nights is at 7:10 PM and tickets are available at utahgrizzlies.com.

3 stars

1. Danny Dzhaniyev (Utah) – 3 goals, 1 assist, +4, 8 shots.
2. Evan Friesen (Utah) – 1 goal, 2 assists, +5, 6 shots.
3. Dylan Fitze (Tulsa) – 1 goal, 1 assist, 3 shots.