The Tahoe Knight Monsters faced off against the Utah Grizzlies in their thirty-fourth game of the season, bringing another important divisional matchup to the ice. As the ECHL affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights, Tahoe entered the contest sitting third in the division with a solid 17-12-3 record. Positioning themselves firmly in the playoff race. Meanwhile, the Utah Grizzlies, affiliated with the Colorado Avalanche, sat seventh in the division with a 13-14-3 record. Utah would be looking to close the gap in the standings, while Tahoe aimed to strengthen its hold near the top, setting the stage for an intense and competitive showdown.
The Tahoe Knight Monsters entered this matchup in search of their nineteenth win of the season as they looked to bounce back from a tough loss against the Allen Americans. With the division race tightening, Tahoe was focused on staying competitive near the top of the standings and proving they belong among the league’s stronger teams. On the other side, the Utah Grizzlies were chasing their fourteenth win of the year and hoping to snap a two-game losing streak. Desperate for momentum, Utah would be fighting for every battle on the ice as they tried to climb out of the bottom of the division and get their season back on track.
#34 Jordan Papirny got the start in net for the Tahoe Knight Monsters. It was his twelfth game played this season for Tahoe. #32 Dylan Wells
got the start in net for the Utah Grizzlies. It was his eighteenth game played this season for Utah.
Four minutes into the game, #16 Jake Durflinger scored to give the Tahoe Knight Monsters the first goal of the game. His goal was assisted by #86 Craig McCabe and #10 Mike O’Leary.
Nine minutes into the game, the Tahoe Knight Monsters took a two-goal lead thanks to #14 Connor Marritt. His goal was assisted by #12 Blake Wells and #48 Anthony Collins.
There were no penalties in the opening period. The score was 2-0 Tahoe Knight Monsters after the first period.
Blake Wells of Tahoe was called for tripping three minutes into the second period. The Utah Grizzlies got on the board with a goal from #26 Danny Dzhaniyev. His goal was assisted by #6 Luc Salem.
Tahoe was called for too many men nine minutes into the second period. On the power play, the Utah Grizzlies tied the game. The tying goal was scored by #24 John Gelatt. His goal was assisted by #14 Saige Weinstein and #92 Maxim Barbashev.
With under five minutes left in the period, the Tahoe Knight Monsters retook the lead. The goal was scored by #38 Jordan Gustafson. His goal was assisted by #65 Devon Paliani and #26 Nate Kallen.
With under two minutes left in the second period, #25 Casey Bailey scored to give the Knight Monsters a two-goal lead. His goal was assisted by #19 Luke Adam and #5 Kaelan Taylor.
The Tahoe Knight Monsters had a 4-2 lead going into the third period.
The Utah Grizzlies scored again just forty-nine seconds into the third period. The goal was scored by #23 Reed Lebster. His goal was assisted by #22 Neil Shea and #20 Aiden Hansen-Bukata.
The Tahoe Knight Monsters regained their two goal lead just four minutes into the final period. #65 Devon Paliani scored the goal. His goal was assisted by #76 Trent Swick.
With under nine minutes to go in the game, Kaelan Taylor of Tahoe was called for delay of game. On the power play, Tyler Gratton of Utah was called for holding. With under four minutes left in the game, the Knight Monsters scored an empty net goal. #65 Devon Paliani scored his second goal of the game. His goal was assisted by #38 Jordan Gustafson and #26 Nate Kallen.
The final score was 6-3 Tahoe Knight Monsters.
https://echl.com/videos/utah-grizzlies-vs-tahoe-knight-monsters-jan-9-2026
The Tahoe Knight Monsters came out flying and wasted no time setting the tone, jumping out to a 2–0 lead by the end of the first period. Utah refused to go away quietly, tying the game and forcing Tahoe to respond. The Knight Monsters did just that, rallying late in the second period to regain control and rebuild a two-goal cushion heading into the intermission. The Grizzlies made things interesting early in the third with a quick goal, but Tahoe stayed composed and answered back with two more goals of their own to put the game away.
Overall, it was a complete and convincing performance from the Knight Monsters. They consistently won puck battles, held their own physically, and limited time spent defending in their own zone. Tahoe dictated the pace of play for most of the night, showing confidence and structure in all three zones. It was the kind of all-around effort that highlights why this team continues to be a tough matchup in the division.
The Tahoe Knight Monsters are set to face the Utah Grizzlies in their thirty-fifth game of the season. This matchup is the second of three in a row at home. The puck is dropping on Saturday, January 10th, 2026, at 7:00 PM.
Zac Electrifly 
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