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AHL Utah Grizzlies

Grizzlies earn points in two of four games versus playoff bound teams

March 14, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


The Utah Grizzlies started the four-game week with a pair of games against the top team in the Atlantic Division, the Hartford Wolf Pack. On Monday, Utah held two separate one-goal leads but fell eventually in overtime 3-2. Kiel McLeod scored the game's first goal in the first period giving Utah a 1-0 lead. After the Wolf Pack tied the game, Erik Westrum scored his team-leading 13th goal of the season regaining the advantage for Utah heading into the third period but Hartford battled back tying the game sending it to overtime where Jeff Hamilton scored the game winner on a power play. David LeNeveu made 30 saves. On Wednesday, the Grizzlies and Wolf Pack had their rematch but Steve Valiquette made 26 saves earning his sixth shutout of the season. Utah's power play struggled going 0 for 11 in the game. The Grizzlies than hosted the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks for a pair of games over the weekend and dropped a 4-2 decision on Friday. Martin Sonnenberg scored the first goal of the game and Jarrod Skalde scored the final goal but Cincy posted four goals in between handing Utah their fourth straight decision without a victory. The Grizzlies responded well in the rematch on Saturday as Skalde lit the lamp once again for his eighth goal of the season. Michael Holmqvist tied the game for the Ducks and the decision would be made in a shootout where the Grizzlies scored with each of the four shooters that took the ice and LeNeveu stopped the fourth and fifth shooters earning the victory.

Mar. 7 Grizzlies 2 Hartford 3 (OT) Wolf Pack's game winner scored on PP in overtime
Mar. 9 Grizzlies 0 Hartford 3 Utah goes 0 for 11 on the PP and allows GW Shorthanded goal
Mar. 11 Grizzlies 2 Cincinnati 4 Jarrod Skalde scores first goal in 22 games
Mar. 12 Grizzlies 2 Cincinnati 1 (SO) All four Grizzlies shooters in SO score

GRIZZLIES NOTEBOOK
The 17 shots on goal in Utah's 2-1 victory over Cincinnati on Saturday was their second fewest shot total in a game this season...Jarrod Skalde has scored goals in each of the last two games after going 22 games without finding the back of the net...The Grizzlies ended a 0 for 30 stretch on the power play with Skalde's PP goal on Saturday night...Utah's win on Saturday ended a four-game home winless streak...The Grizzlies have scored just six goals in their last five games...Martin Sonnenberg played in his 400th AHL game on Saturday and has a goal and two assists in his last four games...David LeNeveu has earned points in four of his last five decisions (2-1-1-1).

WEST DIVISION STANDINGS: GRIZZLIES THREE STARS OF THE WEEK
Milwaukee 39-18-3-4 85 pts. 1. David LeNeveu (1-2, .928 save %)
Chicago 38-19-5-2 83 pts. 2. Jarrod Skalde (2G)
Cincinnati 33-26-1-4 71 pts. 3. Peter White (GDG in shootout)
Houston 30-23-6-3 69 pts.
Grand Rapids 31-28-2-1 65 pts.
San Antonio 24-36-3-5 56 pts.
Utah 17-40-1-4 39 pts.

SKALDE FINDS SCORING TOUCH
~Veteran Jarrod Skalde experienced one of his longest scoring droughts in his career failing to find the back of the net in 22 straight games. His last goal came on January 16 at Rochester but the three-time Grizzly has caught fire lately scoring in each of the team's last two games. On the season he has eight goals and 19 assists (seven goals and 14 assists since joining the Grizzlies in November).

POWER OUTAGE
~The Grizzlies power play was clicking on all cylinders during their last road trip scoring five times in two games but since returning home it has gone dormant seeing a stretch that had them 0 for 30 including an 0 for 11 showing versus Hartford on March 9. In Saturday's 2-1 victory over Cincinnati, Jarrod Skalde scored a power play goal for the Grizzlies ending their long stretch of futility.

TEXAS-SIZED SCHEDULE AHEAD

Upcoming Schedule:
Mar. 16 – Utah vs. Houston The Grizzlies are 2-3 versus the Aeros this season
Mar. 18 – Utah vs. Houston Houston and Utah have averaged 102 PIM/game
Mar. 19 – Utah at San Antonio Utah and San Antonio have split eight games this season
Mar. 20 – Utah at San Antonio The Grizzlies are 1-2 at the SBC Center

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