ECHL Utah Grizzlies

Bakersfield Uses 3rd Period to Beat Exhausted Grizzlies

December 31, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


West Valley City, Utah - The Bakersfield Condors scored three in the third period, including a late empty-netter to break a 1-1 tie and beat a shorthanded, exhausted Utah Grizzlies (15-13-0-3) group 4-1 Saturday at Maverik Center.

Utah played with just 14 skaters a night after competing with 12 and closing out a 6-5 win against Bakersfield.

"The guys did battle, the majority left it all on the ice, you could just see that there was no gas left in the tank," said Grizzlies Head Coach Kevin Colley. "Goaltender Shane Owen played extremely well for us the whole game and our minds shutoff there as we got extremely fatigued and we left Shane out to dry in the third."

Utah tied the game at one 11:25 into the second period on Paul McIlveen's team-leading 13th goal of the year as the Grizzlies cashed in on a power-play. Nick Tuzzolino and Ryan Watson picked up assists as they setup McIlveen in the left wing circle. Utah evened the game 4:37 after Bakersfield took a 1-0 lead.

Utah Goaltender Shane Owen stopped 40 of 43 shots in the game.

The Condors scored two goals in 5:06 to build a 3-1 lead from 5:36 to 10:42 of the third period and added an empty-netter with 1:05 left in regulation.

Utah opens a four-game road trip Thursday in Alaska. Face-off is scheduled for 9:15 p.m.

The Grizzlies return home Friday, January 13 to host Idaho at 7:05 p.m.

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