Grizzlies Close Season with 5-3 Win in Rapid City
April 10, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release
Rapid City, South Dakota - The Utah Grizzlies (39-27-3-3) wrapped up the 2015-2016 regular season with a 5-3 win over Rapid City Saturday night at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.The Grizzlies will open the first round of the playoffs against Colorado. The full series schedule will be announced soon.
Bryan Moore scored Utah's first two goals and Barry Almeida scored the final two. Jon Puskar scored Utah's third goal on the power-play to give the Grizzlies their first lead of the night 1:21 into the second period. Mike Ratchuk and Alex Krushelnyski picked up assists on the redirected goal.
"It may not mean anything standings wise but that was a huge game for us and we all know that," said Almeida. You don't want to go into the postseason losing two in a row and it was huge to bounce back tonight and get the win."
The Grizzlies tied the game at one 24 seconds after falling behind 1-0 1:51 into the contest, marking the ninth time this season and the third time in Rapid City that the Grizzlies have tied a game at one less than a minute after falling behind 1-0. The Grizzlies got Moore's second goal of the night 15:38 into the first period 1:22 after the Rush took a 2-1 lead.
T.J. Syner and Ryan Hayes assisted both Almeida's goals; including the game-winner to break the 3-3 tie with 2:36 left in regulation. The final goal was scored into an empty net with 18 seconds left. Erik Higby assisted both Moore goals.
The Grizzlies killed 49 seconds of a five-on-three shorthanded situation in the final three minutes to hold the lead.
Mark Owuya stopped 19 of 22 shots to improve to 8-6-0-1. The Grizzlies outshot the Rush 41-22.
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