The Tahoe Knight Monsters returned to the ice for game forty-five of the season as they faced off against the Utah Grizzlies in a divisional matchup. Tahoe entered the contest sitting third in the division with a 23-17-4 record, firmly in the playoff picture but looking to respond after a recent loss to Utah. As the ECHL affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights, the Knight Monsters were focused on staying competitive in the standings and using this game as a bounce-back opportunity. Utah, meanwhile, came into the matchup in seventh place in the division with a 16-23-4 record. The Grizzlies, the ECHL affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche, were hoping to build momentum after defeating Tahoe on Wednesday and were eager to prove they can string together results against a division rival.
The Tahoe Knight Monsters continued their divisional slate as they took on the Utah Grizzlies. This game carried added importance after Utah earned a win over Tahoe earlier in the week, giving the Knight Monsters extra motivation to respond. The Knight Monsters have relied on structure, pace, and depth to stay competitive throughout the season. However, consistency has been a focal point, particularly following losses. A strong start would be key for Tahoe, as Utah has shown it can capitalize when given early momentum. The Utah Grizzlies entered the matchup looking to build confidence and climb the standings after their recent win over Tahoe. While the Grizzlies sat lower in the division, they’ve proven they can be dangerous when games stay tight and special teams play a role. For Tahoe, this game represents an opportunity to reset, respond, and reassert themselves against a divisional opponent. A complete sixty-minute effort would be required if the Knight Monsters want to flip the script and get back into the win column.
Forty-two seconds into the game, the Utah Grizzlies scored the first goal of the game. #12 Reilly Connors scored the opening goal of the game unassisted. Five minutes into the game, Danny Dzhaniyev of Utah was called for hooking. The Tahoe Knight Monsters tied the game on the power play. #19 Luke Adam scored the tying goal and was assisted by #94 Kevin Wall and #65 Devon Paliani. Nine minutes into the game, Linden Alger of Tahoe was called for elbowing. With under nine minutes left in the opening period, Casey Bailey of Tahoe was called for tripping. With under three minutes left in the period, Stepan Timofeyev of Utah was given a match penalty for slew-footing. With four seconds left in the opening period, the Knight Monsters took the lead. The goal was scored by #76 Trent Swick and assisted by #21 Adam Pitters and #65 Devon Paliani. The Tahoe Knight Monsters were leading the game 2-1 after the first period.
Twenty-four seconds into the second period, Luke Adam of Tahoe was called for slashing. On the power play, John Gelatt of Utah was called for slashing. Eight minutes into the second period, the Grizzlies tied the game. The tying goal was scored by #24 John Gelatt and assisted by #20 Aiden Hansen-Bukata and #96 Mikey Colella. With seven minutes left in the second period, the Knight Monsters retook the lead. #15 Jake McGrew scored the goal and was assisted by #25 Casey Bailey and #5 Kaelan Taylor. With under six minutes left in the second period, Samuel Mayer of Tahoe was called for hooking. The Tahoe Knight Monsters were leading 3-2 heading into the third period.
Three minutes into the third period, The Tahoe Knight Monsters scored. #94 Kevin Wall scored the goal and was assisted by #25 Casey Bailey. Seven minutes into the third period, Casey Bailey of Tahoe was called for interference on the goalkeeper. With under nine minutes left in the game, Samuel Mayer of Tahoe was called for tripping. With under five minutes left int he game, the Grizzlies scored. #11 Evan Friesen scored and was assisted by #3 Luke Antonacci and #59 Tyler Gratton. Less than a minute later #12 Reilly Connors scored for the Grizzlies to tie the game. His goal was assisted by #19 Yaroslav Yevdokimov and #6 Luc Salem. With under four minutes left in the game, Trent Swick of Tahoe was called for boarding. On the power play, the Grizzlies took the lead. #23 Reed Lebster scored the goal and was assisted by #26 Danny Dzhaniyev and #11 Evan Friesen. With under a minute left in the game, #59 Tyler Gratton scored an empty net goal for the Grizzlies. With under thirty seconds left in the game #23 Reed Lebster scored another empty net goal for the Grizzlies. The final score was 7-4, Utah Grizzlies.
https://echl.com/videos/utah-grizzlies-vs-tahoe-knight-monsters-feb-6-2026
The game ultimately unraveled in the final minutes, as the Tahoe Knight Monsters allowed five goals in under five minutes to turn a competitive contest into a disappointing finish. For most of the night, Tahoe showed flashes of structure and urgency, but once the game tightened late, the defensive breakdowns became impossible to ignore. Missed assignments, lost coverage in front of the net, and an inability to settle the puck under pressure opened the door for a rapid surge that completely shifted momentum. Goaltending again played a significant role in the outcome, as Tahoe struggled to get the timely saves needed to stop the bleeding. When a team allows goals in quick succession late in a game, it often reflects a combination of fatigue, confidence issues, and execution lapses, all of which surfaced in that final stretch. The Knight Monsters simply could not slow the game down or regain control once things began to spiral. This loss fits into a concerning pattern for Tahoe, as defensive discipline and late-game composure continue to be areas of concern. Games are won and lost in those closing moments, and until the Knight Monsters find a way to protect leads, or at least prevent collapses like this one, the results will remain frustrating. The effort was there for stretches, but hockey is a full 60-minute battle, and this one slipped away when it mattered most.
Zac Electrifly 
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