Forward Nick Noble scored his third goal of the season and Grit netminder Jack Erickson made 22 saves but a buzzer-beater in overtime saw the Grit fall 2-1 to Amarillo at the Greeley Ice Haus on Saturday night. Despite outshooting the visitors 10-9 in the opening period, it was the Amarillo Wranglers that got the scoring started for the second night in a row. With the assist from Salvatore Cerrato and Morley Phillips, With 3:30 to play in the period, Amarillo forward Aidan Dres was able to get the puck around Colorado’s goaltender Jack Ericksonwith 3:30 remaining in the first period.
The goaltending duel between Erickson and Wrangler netminder Charlie Zolin continued across the second period with no goals scored during the frame. Unfinished business from Friday night around ejections to Grit defenseman Evan Smutney and Amarillo forward Divyne Apollon came to a head midway through the second period. With just under thirteen minutes to play in the period, Smutney finished his check on Wrangler Ben Cameron and Apollon threw his gloves on the ground as Smutney took some pretty big jabs before the officials pulled Apollon and Smutney apart. As Apollon was ejected from the game, Colorado gained a major power play out of the situation, but were unable to cash in after four of their 36 total shots were kicked aside by Zolin.
The third period started 1-0 and Colorado continued to pepper Zolin with shots, outshooting the Wranglers 11-4 in the final frame. Grit winger Nolan Shaw and Amarillo winger Nolan Davis exchanged punches and received matching misconduct penalties following the tilt outside the Wrangler goalmouth. A late power play provided the opportunity Colorado had been searching for. With a great rotation of the puck, forward Lucca Ori had the initial shot and Zolin spilled the rebound off his right pad. Noble was right there to pounce for his third goal of the weekend and tie the game, 1-1, with 3:30 to play in regulation.
Much like regulation, the Grit controlled the shots and offensive opportunities during most of the extra session. With 3:07 remaining in overtime, Ori flew down the left wing and had a wrist shot swallowed up on a 2-on-1 breakout. Moments later, Helgeson had a breakaway opportunity that didn’t result in a shot after the puck rolled off his stick while trying a backhand effort. The game looked destined for a shootout until Amarillo defender Salvatore Cerrato intercepted a pass with three seconds left and barreled to the front of the net. His deke slid the puck under Erickson with less than a second to play and gave the Wranglers the 2-1 overtime win.
