ECHL Utah Grizzlies

Grizzlies Drop Tough Decision To Grand Rapids

Published on April 2, 2003 under ECHL (ECHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


West Valley City, Utah - Splitting their previous eight meetings with four wins apiece, the ninth match of the year between Utah and Grand Rapids ended in typical fashion as each club went the distance, but after sixty minutes of play, the visiting Griffins overcame a late charge by the Grizzlies and squeaked by with a 2-0 victory thanks to an amazing effort by goalie Joey MacDonald who stopped 34 shots in the winning effort.

In the first period the visiting Griffins got on the board first at the 9:54 mark. Grand Rapids forward Rob Collins controlled the puck behind the Utah net and as the Grizzlies defense collapsed on him, he sent the puck out front to teammate Mark Mowers who was all alone in the slot. Mowers moved to his right and Corey Hirsch went for it, falling to the ice, then Mowers brought the puck back and slid it into the net on the left side, giving the Griffins a 1-0 lead. Utah saw their best chance in the waning moments of the first period while the penalty-killing unit was on the ice. Justin Cox drove towards the Griffins net along the near side and took a quick shot at visiting goalie Joey MacDonald. The shot went off his stick and Jeff MacMillan got the rebound and sent another shot on goal but MacDonald stood firm and denied the put back. After twenty minutes of play, Utah out shot the Griffins 9 to 7 but most of the momentum went to the visiting Grand Rapids club.

In the second period both goalies were brilliant, denying everything that came their way. A little under five minutes into the stanza, Grizzlies Dylan Gyori got the puck in front of the Grand Rapids net and took a quick wrister that MacDonald got a piece of and the rebound came right back to Gyori's stick giving him another chance. This time the shot beat MacDonald through the skates and hit the post. The lamp was lit for a brief second but then was turned off. Play continued and referee Justin St. Pierre didn't give any signal of a goal. The rest of the period went back and forth free of any penalties. At the end of forty minutes, the Grizzlies held a 20 to 16 advantage for shots on goal.

In the third period the Grizzlies came out of the gates with renewed energy and much of the action was spent in the Griffins end of the ice. Early in the stanza, Utah was on the power play and John Erskine came in from the far blue line and received a cross ice pass which he one timed on net, but somehow MacDonald got back in time and made an amazing save. That was the story throughout the third. MacDonald was playing his 'A' game and stoned the Grizzlies, even on scoring chances that in most cases would end up in the back of the net. Grand Rapids added an empty net goal by Stacy Roest at 18:59, which ended Utah's hopes of a heroic last second come back. MacDonald stopped 34 shots en route to his third shutout of the year. Hirsch finished with 17 saves in the loss.

Three Stars: 1. Joey MacDonald (GR) 34 saves 2. Corey Hirsch (UT) 17 saves 3. Mark Mowers (GR) GW goal

Next Game: Utah and Grand Rapids will hit the ice again Friday, April 4th, for the last regular season game at the E-Center. Puck drops at 7PM.

Check out the Utah Grizzlies Statistics

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ECHL Stories from April 2, 2003


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