Separated by a point in the standings, it was to be expected that the contest between the Utah Grizzlies and Tulsa Oilers would be a chippy affair.
Featuring plenty of fighting and tied at 1-1 with 20 minutes of hockey remaining, it was the Oilers who scored twice in the period as Tulsa drew first blood in the three-game series, skating to a 3-1 victory.
Despite being outshot by a 2-to-1 ratio in the first period, it was Utah who got on the board first.
Gritty defenseman Chris Leibinger received a crisp pass from Kyle Thomas, skated a few feet closer to the net, and fired a laser for the Grizzlies’ lone goal of the contest.