BY MICHAEL DAVID

The East Coast Guttersnipes traveled cross-country with hopes of sweeping a two-game series against the Sun Valley Suns.

But Sean O’Grady put an end to those plans with an overtime goal on Friday night at the Campion Ice House. O’Grady’s game winner gave the Suns a 9-8 victory in Game 1 in front of another packed house in Hailey.

Despite a lot of size and a lot of NHL experience on the visitors’ squad, the Suns were able to use their speed and stamina to outlast the Guttersnipes in a game of scoring streaks.

The Snipes, owned by legendary comedic film maker, Bobby Farrelly, jumped on top 1-0 a minute and 17 seconds into the first period. But three minutes later, Spencer Brendel countered for the Suns, taking a beautiful centering pass from Christian Manila at the blue line and beating the goalie in the top right corner to tie the game at 1-1.

The Suns would reel off three straight goals to take a 4-1 lead early in the second period. However, two minutes into the second stanza, the boys from back east proceeded to rip off three goals of their own in less than a minute to tie the score 4-4.

Manila scored for the Suns at the 7:18 mark of the second period to put the home team back on top. But the Guttersnipes struck back, tying the game at five goals apiece with two minutes remaining in the third. A Ryan Enrico goal with 1:27 remaining gave the Suns a 6-5 lead at the second intermission.

Mike ‘Taco’ Curry, with help from Manila and Brendel, opened the third period scoring a minute in, providing Sun Valley with a 7-5 lead. The Snipes scored less than two minutes later to pull within a goal, only to fall behind by two again after another Manila score.

The Suns were unable to hold off the East Coasters, as the Snipes scored at the 5:41 and the 2:52 marks to tie the game at 8-8 and force the sudden death overtime.

O’Grady, who said he was gassed, found himself with the puck and nothing but open ice between him and the goalie midway through the five-minute overtime period. He didn’t waste that chance, beating the Snipes goalie, igniting a celebration on the ice and in the grandstands.

The Suns and Guttersnipes will go at it again tonight—Saturday, Jan. 21—in Hailey.  The puck drops at 7 p.m., and a portion of the ticket sales will go to support Blaine County Recreation District’s Park Penguins.