We’ve got to be better. We were much better last weekend, being able to make plays, being able to come out of our own end, coming up through the neutral zone, creating offense. We didn’t do that here tonight. – Grizzlies head coach and GM Tim Branham

The Allen Americans (3-2) added a late empty-netter and defeated the Utah Grizzlies (2-1), 4-2, on Friday night at Maverik Center before 5,335 fans on opening night.

“Our determination, at times, was OK. We had spurts of pushes and intensity,” head coach and GM Tim Branham said. “We’ve got to be better. We were much better last weekend, being able to make plays, being able to come out of our own end, coming up through the neutral zone, creating offense. We didn’t do that here tonight.”

Fifty-nine seconds after Allen took a 1-0 lead eight seconds into a first period power-play, the Grizzlies responded and tied the game at 15:08. ECHL Player of the Week Barry Almeida scored his sixth goal in the first three games with Ryan Walters and Corey Fienhage drawing assists as Utah answered back up ice.

“There were some very small, minor mistakes that happened that ended up with the puck in the back of our net, which obviously we can’t do,” Branham said. “It’s early on in the season. We’ve got to make sure we clean up a few things and we’ll be all right.”

Allen made it 2-1 six seconds after a power-play expired 6:07 into the second period. Utah killed two penalties going down the stretch to keep it 2-1 going to the third period.

The Grizzlies came out strong in the third and got some good chances, while goaltender Bryan Hogan stopped a breakaway to keep it 2-1 early in the third. The Americans though took advantage of a Utah turnover to get a 3-1 lead 6:52 into the period.

Utah made it 3-2 with 5:34 left in the game on an Alex Krushelnyski power-play goal assisted by Anaheim prospects Bryan Moore and Matt Berry. Utah though went back to the penalty box on a delay of game penalty with less than four minutes left as it worked to tie.

Allen goaltender Joel Rumpel continued his great start to the season as he stopped 24-of-26 Utah shots. Grizzlies goaltender Bryan Hogan stopped 23-of-26 Allen looks with Ryan Faragher coming up under the weather.