Tuesday, March 25, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
SALT LAKE CITY -- When the Las Vegas Thunder acquired Alexander Semak, it expected this type of performance. The same can't be said of the Utah Grizzlies' expectations of Mick Vukota.
Nevertheless, the rugged Vukota matched the sleek Semak point for point and spurred the Grizzlies to a 4-3 IHL victory over the Thunder at the Delta Center Monday night.
Semak, obtained last week from the Vancouver Canucks, was an offensive machine. He tallied two goals and an assist, giving him four points in his two games with the Thunder. He fired nine of the Thunder's 20 shots, including all six of the team's first-period attempts, and seven of the team's first eight.
But it wasn't enough to overcome the deeds of Vukota, a roguish right wing who never has registered a double-digit goal total in his nine previous pro seasons. On only two shots, he scored his 10th and 11th goals of the season and assisted on the game-winner.
Las Vegas, now 36-29-6 and one point behind Utah for third place in the Southwest Division, plays the Manitoba Moose tonight at 7:05 at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Despite a combined 46 shots, the game featured several magnificent saves from both goaltenders. Mark McArthur rose to 25-19-5, while Parris Duffus fell to 25-15-5.
Trying to kill a penalty 20 seconds into the game, Duffus made a brilliant save against a breaking Ray Whitney. The Thunder controlled the rebound, but failed to clear the puck. The Grizzlies capitalized as Vukota opened scoring.
Semak, who also scored in his only other game with the Thunder, tied the game at 5:28 of the second period as Patrice Lefebvre recorded the lone assist.
Lefebvre then gave the Thunder a 2-1 lead at 13:22 off a pass from Semak. Lefebvre's shot from behind the right circle was tipped by McArthur, but still found its way across the goal line. The score marked his 19th goal and team-leading 79th point of the season.
Barely four minutes later, Vukota tied the game with his second goal of the night.
Utah extended its lead to 4-2 with a pair of goals in the third period. Vladimir Orszagh scored while being hooked down by Ruslan Salei at 13:20 and Whitney scored with an assist from Vukota at 17:06.
Semak then gave the Thunder a late chance. With 1:43 left to play, Semak scored in spite of being hooked to his knees as he skated in on McArthur.
After coincidental roughing minors with 52.5 seconds left, Las Vegas pulled Duffus for the 5-on-4 advantage, but did not score.
The Thunder lost left wing Ken Quinney in the first period when he strained the medial collateral ligament of his left knee. He did not return.
Las Vegas also was without four other players. Right wing Andrei Bashkirov, defenseman Jeff Serowik and backup goalie Andre Racicot stayed home with injuries. Forward Jason Simon was serving a suspension for an accumulation of game misconducts.
Despite the loss, the Thunder still holds the season series edge, 4-2-1, with three games remaining between the teams before the playoffs. Their next meeting is Friday at 7:05 p.m. at the Thomas & Mack Center.
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