Both teams worked through a physical start to the contest and didn’t have a shot on goal until Graves found space and pocketed his second goal of the year past Rhino netminder Michael Manzi to give Colorado an early 1-0 lead just 3:24 into the contest. Shots continued to be at a premium in the opening period, but the home side was able to find an equalizer. Winger Ben Norris beat Grit netminder Jack Erickson, polishing off a feed from Paavo Hiltunen, to tie the score at 1-1 with 8:49 remaining in the first period.

 

The Grit penalty kill was pressed into service in the middle frame and was forced to kill off three separate minor penalties. For the first time in seven games, the opposing power play generated a goal when a snapshot from El Paso’s Alexandre Pellerin slipped past Erickson and pushed the Rhinos ahead, 2-1, with 9:51 left in the period. Erickson gave his offense every chance he could while making 14 of his 29 saves in the middle frame. Twice, the Grit had power plays wiped out by penalties and the second time, the Rhinos used the open ice to pad their lead. Hiltunen added to his multi-point evening when he scored with 36 seconds left in the frame to give the home side a 3-1 lead headed to the second intermission.

 

The third period featured an early push from forwards George Poirier and Sheldon Rioux, who both nearly beat Manzi in the period’s opening six minutes. Looking for a goal to tighten the contest, the tally instead went the other direction. With 9:27 left in regulation, Ryder Many Gray Horses slipped the puck past Erickson to make the score 4-1 and effectively put the game on ice. The fireworks didn’t end there, however. Moments later, defenseman Evan Smutney objected to a cross-check from Rhino forward Duke Gentzler and the paid dropped the gloves and were given game misconducts for fighting. With just over six minutes remaining, Reyelts and Many Gray Horses exchanged post-whistle penalties as frustration continued to mount for Colorado down the stretch. The final act was a match penalty for spearing given to forward Luc Bydal with two minutes remaining as the Grit killed off a major power play until the final buzzer sounded.