Simchuk's 28 saves not enough for Thunder

WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah -- Dave Archibald scored with five seconds left in the second period to give the Utah Grizzlies a 2-1 International Hockey League victory over the Las Vegas Thunder Wednesday night before a sellout crowd of 10,207 at the "E" Center.

The win assured the Grizzlies of finishing over .500, making this the first season since 1993-94 that an IHL team has won more than half its games and failed to qualify for the playoffs.

Lorne Towes gave the Thunder a 1-0 lead 6:11 into the game.

Konstantin Simchuk faced 30 shots in goal for the Thunder, and made 28 saves.

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