Grizzlies Close Season with 4-0 Win; Open Playoffs Monday
Published on April 1, 2012 under ECHL (ECHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release
Bakersfield, California - The Utah Grizzlies (33-33-0-6) shutout Bakersfield 4-0 Saturday night at Rabobank Arena to close the regular season.
The win gives Utah their 15th season of .500 or better in the 18-year history of the organization. Utah finishes the season as the hottest team in the Western Conference at 8-3-0-1 in their last 13 games.
The Grizzlies will open their fifth-straight playoff appearance Monday and Tuesday against Las Vegas at Maverik Center.
Andrew Engelage earned his 25th win of the season and his third shutout by stopping all 31 shots that he saw in the game.
The Grizzlies built a 3-0 second intermission lead with all goals coming on special teams. Ryan Watson made it 1-0 shorthanded 10:19 into the first period as Derick Martin cleared a puck that was chased down by Gaelan Patterson. Patterson kept the play alive and fed Watson in the circle for the goal.
Utah made it 2-0 9:05 into the second period on another goal by Watson as he went top shelf from Justin Dowling and Ryan Turek as a power-play ran down. Ross Carlson snuck threw the right circle and made it 3-0 with 1:10 left in the second period.
Watson capped off his three-point night with an assist.
Watson barely missed his first pro hat trick, as a power-play goal late in the second, just missed the final buzzer.
Jeff Lovecchio added an empty-net goal with 43 seconds left to finish the scoring.
At both first round playoff games, there will be $2 Hot Dogs, $2 Fries, $2 Soft Drinks and $2 Draft Beers; in addition to $7 student tickets.
*Monday, April 2:* Las Vegas at Utah, 7:05 p.m., 1230 KFAN-2
*Tuesday, April 3*: Las Vegas at Utah, 7:05 p.m., 1230 KFAN-2
*Thursday, April 5:* Utah at Las Vegas, 8:05 p.m., 860 AM, Utah's Big Talker
***Friday, April 6:* Utah at Las Vegas, 8:05 p.m., 860 AM, Utah's Big Talker
***Saturday, April 7:* Utah at Las Vegas 8:05 p.m., 860 AM, Utah's Big Talker
ECHL Stories from April 1, 2012
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- Royals to Face Elmira Jackals in Eastern Conference - Reading Royals
- Wranglers Fall 4-3 in Final Regular Season Match - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Grizzlies Close Season with 4-0 Win; Open Playoffs Monday - Utah Grizzlies
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- Grizzlies Host Las Vegas Monday, Tuesday to Open Playoffs - Utah Grizzlies
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- K-Wings to Battle Nailers - Kalamazoo Wings
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