Griffins woes continue with 4-3 loss in Utah

March 27, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release

West Valley City, Utah - The Grand Rapids Griffins (41-24-8-0) battled valiantly, but eventually dropped a 4-3 decision to the Utah Grizzlies (26-38-6-5) on Saturday night at the E Center.

Chicago defeated the Milwaukee Admirals, making the gap between Grand Rapids and Milwaukee four points in the race for West Division supremacy. The Griffins lead over Chicago is now six points. Grand Rapids will host Milwaukee Wednesday at 7 p.m.

After the Griffins took a 1-0 lead, the Grizzlies tallied the next three goals before Grand Rapids rallied to tie the score at three. Utah notched the game-winning goal with 5:40 remaining in regulation.

Grand Rapids opened the scoring when Ryan Barnes crashed the Utah net banging the puck into the Grizzlies cage 9:31 into the second period. Hugo Boisvert and Matt Ellis assisted on the goal.

Utah answered with three straight goals. Former Griffin David Gove tallied first for the Grizzlies from Rob Valicevic, a Michigan native, and Mike Siklenka 24 seconds after Barnes' goal.

Jarrod Skalde set Mathias Tjarnqvist up for a power play marker at 11:58 of the middle frame to give Utah a 2-1 lead. Antti Miettinen also assisted on the goal.

Utah gained a 3-1 lead when Valicevic tallied from Gove and Zenon Konopka.

Grand Rapids cut the lead to one goal when Nathan Robinson wristed a shot past Dan Ellis with 2:29 remaining in the second period. Jeff Nelson and Nic Bilotto assisted on the goal.

The Griffins battled to tie the score at 3-3 with a power play tally by Jiri Hudler with 8:19 remaining in the third period. Darryl Bootland and Anders Myrvold picked up the assists on the play.

Utah regained the lead when Siklenka redirected Gove's blast from the slot for a power play goal at 14:20 of the final frame. Valicevic also assisted on the goal.

Griffins netminder Joey MacDonald stopped 32 shots while Ellis turned away 24 of the Griffins attempts.

View this game's official box score on-line at griffinshockey.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 27, 2004

• Grizzlies Hold Off Griffins, 4-3 - Utah Grizzlies
• Griffins woes continue with 4-3 loss in Utah - Grand Rapids Griffins
• Red-hot Aeros storm back for 4-2 win over Rampage - Houston Aeros
• Falcons prevail over P-Bruins, 3-1 - Springfield Falcons
• Pirates stifle IceCats 4-2 - Worcester IceCats
• Phantoms shut out Senators 1-0 - Binghamton Senators
• Ducks, Barons settle for tie - Cincinnati RailRaiders
• Sound Tigers Lose 3-1 In Norfolk - Bridgeport Islanders
• Phantoms clinch playoff berth with 1-0 overtime win in Binghamton - Adirondack Phantoms
• Monarchs Clinch Playoff Spot With Victory Over Hershey - Manchester Monarchs
• Bears blanked by Monarchs 3-0 at Giant Center - Hershey Bears
• Sound Tigers Announce Three More Transactions - Bridgeport Islanders
• Aeros recall G Cloutier, D Storey, C McGrane from ECHL Louisiana - Houston Aeros
• Dan Cavanaugh Bobblehead Night is tonight at Toyota Center - Houston Aeros
• Cincinnati Mighty Ducks Preview - Cincinnati RailRaiders
• Grizzlies Look to Gain Ground in Playoff Race - Utah Grizzlies
• Brigley assigned on conditioning, Arsene up from Reading - Hershey Bears
• Perrin earns first NHL recall, will play tonight in Tampa - Hershey Bears
• Griffins add defenseman Nic Bilotto - Grand Rapids Griffins

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