Grizzlies defeat Manitoba
Published on January 30, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release
WEST VALLEY CITY, UTAH - Fans at the 'E' Center on Saturday night must have felt like they were seeing a mirror image of the game played 24 hours earlier as once again the Utah Grizzlies defeated the Manitoba Moose in a shootout after the Moose tied the game in the final minute sending it to an extra session. This time the final score was 3-2 and the hero in the shootout was Erik Westrum who scored twice giving Utah back-to-back victories for just the second time this season.
After most of the first period was a scoreless one, each team got on the board late in the frame with Utah scoring the first goal and a nice play by Fredrik Sjostrom who danced his way into position for a blast that Manitoba goaltender Wade Flaherty deflected out in front for Peter White to finish on for his ninth goal of the season assisted by Sjostrom. Manitoba tied things up with just 15 seconds remaining in the period with Jimmy Roy blasting his ninth goal of the season by Jean-Marc Pelletier. Utah outshot the Moose 14-12 in the period.
The only goal of the second period came from the Grizzlies when Kiel McLeod broke down the right side snapping a shot off of Flaherty and off of Moose defenseman Nolan Baumgartner across the goal line. For McLeod, it was his seventh goal of the season assisted by Peter Metcalf and Rick Berry. Each team had eight shots on goal in the period.
Once again in the third period the Moose battled back from a one-goal deficit in the final minute to tie the game and send it to overtime. This time the Moose did it with the Flaherty on the bench in favor of the extra skater and with a power play. Ryan Kessler was the benefactor of a bouncing puck after Pelletier had made several saves. For Kessler is was his 20th goal of the season.
In the overtime, the Grizzlies received a power play after Peter Sarno was called for an elbow. Utah had several scoring chances most notably Jarrod Skalde sitting on the doorstep taking a loose puck and seemingly having all the net to shot at but former Grizzly Flaherty somehow found the puck in his glove saving the game for the Moose.
For the second straight night the game went to a shootout with Erik Westrum scoring the only two goals for Utah, the last being the game deciding tally. Pelletier turned away five of six Moose skaters in the shootout earning his second straight victory and sixth of the season.
Manitoba outshot the Grizzlies 38-36 in the game as Pelletier finished with 37 saves and Flaherty stopped 33 shots.
Utah will host the Edmonton Road Runners on Tuesday night at the 'E' Center with face-off scheduled for 7:05 PM.
American Hockey League Stories from January 30, 2005
- Lock Monsters Outlast Monarchs In Shootout - Manchester Monarchs
- Olson's three goals rally Rampage past Ducks - Cincinnati RailRaiders
- Senators fall in shootout, 3-2 - Binghamton Senators
- IceCats' winning streak snapped - Worcester IceCats
- Bruins fall to Pens - Providence Bruins
- Record Crowd Sees Sound Tigers Beat Hartford - Bridgeport Islanders
- Monarchs Recall James From Bakersfield - Manchester Monarchs
- Amerks Edge Bulldogs - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Grizzlies defeat Manitoba - Utah Grizzlies
- Admirals power past Griffins, 3-2 - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Aeros down Wolves 3-2 in dramatic fashion - Houston Aeros
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