Grizzlies Cruise Past Aeros
December 15, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release
The Grizzlies (16-12-0-1) won their third straight home game on Saturday night 5-2 against the west Division leading Houston Aeros (16-9-2-0). David Gosselin and Eric Landry each collected a goal and an assist as Corey Hirsch stopped 30 Aeros shots.
Midway through the first period the Grizzlies lit the lamp as Eric Chouinard found a streaking Landry in the neutral zone straight out of the penalty box after serving a double minor. Landry went on to go one-on-one against visiting goalie Dieter Kochan and beat him with a hard wrist shot on the stick side. Grizzlies lead 1-0 at the 12:55 mark. Two minutes later the Grizz get a face-off in the Houston zone, Gavin Morgan won the drop and Jeff MacMillan came in from the blue line to pick it up. MacMillan went untouched as he drifted into the slot and decided to let loose a backhanded shot that fooled Kochan. Grizzlies lead 2-0 after one period of play.
Early in the second, Kyle Wanvig took advantage of the Grizzlies getting too complacent in their own zone. Houston had a 3 on 2 situation and Wanvig drilled a drop pass from Tomas Hradecky and beat Corey Hirsch 4:14 into the stanza. From there the Grizzlies got back on track and the momentum shifted. David Gosslein made a charge for the net and delivered a beautiful cross-ice pass in front of the Houston goal mouth and found Jim Montgomery streaking on the far side who chipped the puck into the back of the net. Grizzlies took the 3-1 lead. Just over a minute left in the period, Jim Montgomery got called for what proved to be a costly unsportsmanlike penalty. On the ensuing power play, Houston's Mark Cullen drilled a shot past Hirsch and gave the Aero's a breath of hope. Grizzlies up 3-2 after 60 minutes of play.
In the third, veteran Greg Hawgood pushed the puck up ice to Jeff MacMillan in the neutral zone and MacMillan stretched the defense out on the near side creating a seem for David Gosselin between the Houston defense; Macmillan dropped the puck to Gosselin in front of the net and Gosselin sent a quick shot at Kochan that deflected off his body and into the net. That proved to take the wind out of Houston's sails and the visiting team couldn't answer back. Gavin Morgan would add an empty netter giving the Grizzlies a 5-2 victory.
With the victory the Grizzlies pull to within one point of Houston for the division lead.
Three Stars: 1. David Gosselin: 1 goal, 1 assist 2. Corey Hirsch: 30 saves 3. Greg Hawgood: 2 assists
Next Game: The Grizzlies will play Wednesday the 18th versus the Hartford Wolf Pack in the Hartford Civic Center. Face-off is scheduled for 5:05 mst.
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