Barons Lose Game 2 At Utica

Alexandre Grenier scored the game-winning goal in overtime to help the Utica Comets to 2-1 victory over the Oklahoma City Barons and tie the Western Conference Seminfals series at a game apiece.

For a second consecutive night at the Utica Memorial Auditorium, overtime was required to settle a 1-1 tie. But unlike Thursday's affair, the Comets came out ahead Friday when Adam Clendening sent a shot from the point that Grenier deflected downward, causing the puck to sail under the glove of Barons goaltender Richard Bachman to even the best-of-seven series at one 3:32 into the extra frame.

After amassing 67 shots in the previous game, Oklahoma City was held to just 23 shots on goal, while Utica held a heavy advantage with 38. The Barons managed just six total shots in the final 23:32 of play to the Comets' 15.

The Barons jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first period when twin brothers Connor and Kellen Jones teamed up at 8:50 of the frame. After Kellen Jones sent a shot on net that deflected off Utica defenseman Travis Ehrhardt, Connor Jones grabbed the puck near the front of the Comets crease and flipped a shot past net minder Jacob Markstrom.

One minute, thirty-one seconds into the third period, Utica tied the game, scoring for the first time on Bachman in more than eight periods, when Clendening sent a shot from the point that fluttered through traffic and over Bachman's shoulder.

Grenier's game-winner came on Utica's second shot of the overtime period. Oklahoma City did not register a shot on goal in overtime.

The loss was Oklahoma City's first of the 2015 postseason.

The series now turns to Oklahoma City, where the teams meet for Game Three on Monday, May 11, in a 7 p.m. start at the Cox Convention Center.