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AHL Utah Grizzlies

Grizzlies end week on five-game point streak

March 29, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


WHAT'S ON TAP
Fri. Apr. 2 – Vs. San Antonio Rampage, ‘E' Center - - 7:05 PM mst – ESPN Radio 1230-AM
Sat. Apr. 3 – Vs. San Antonio Rampage, ‘E' Center - - 7:05 PM mst – ESPN Radio 1230-AM
Wed. Apr. 7 – Vs. Milwaukee Admirals, ‘E' Center - - 7:05 PM mst – ESPN Radio 1230-AM
Fri. Apr. 9 – @ Cleveland Barons, Gund Arena - - 7:05 PM mst – ESPN Radio 1230-AM

SLAP SHOTS
~ Jason Bacashihua, Mike Smith and Dan Ellis all earned a shutout against Grand Rapids this season.
~The Grizzlies sit just two points out of the final playoff spot which is currently held by Cincinnati
~David Gove had five-points this week (3 G, 2 A) and assisted the game-winner on Saturday
~Mike Siklenka contributed a game tying goal in Houston and a game winning goal against Grand Rapids this week
~Rob Valicevic had two goals and four assists for the Grizzlies this week
~Timo Helbling had a goal and an assist and was a +5 on the week

A LOOK AT LAST WEEK (2-0-1-0)
Tuesday @ Houston Tie 5-5
Friday Vs. Grand Rapids Win 4-0
Saturday Vs. Grand Rapids Win 4-3

Utah's five-point week began in Houston on Tuesday. The Grizzlies battled back four times to erase a one-goal deficit gaining a 5-5 tie in against the Aeros in the Toyota Center. With the point, Utah pulled to within one point of the idle Cincinnati Mighty Ducks for the fifth and final Western Division playoff spot. Houston took the lead less than five minutes into the game when Jason Beckett took a pass from Dan Cavanaugh and beat Jason Bacashihua on the near side for his third goal of the season. The Grizzlies then took advantage of three power play opportunities in the first period by capitalizing twice once on a five-on-three with a slap shot by Nick Naumenko that beat Houston goaltender Johan Holmqvist. For Naumenko it was his fifth goal of the season and it extended his point streak to a season-long five games (2-4 –6). Utah, still on the power play, would get a fortunate bounce just over a minute later when Mathias Tjarnqvist threw a pass into the far corner but before the puck arrived it hit Michael Schutte's leg redirecting the puck past Holmqvist giving Utah a 2-1 lead after one period of play. The Grizzlies outshot the Aeros 17-7 in the period (the most first period shots this season for the Grizzlies) and finished 2 for 3 on the power play. Houston came out blazing in the second period scoring two quick goals. The first came from Travis Roche and the second on the power play when Kyle Wanvig redirected a Roche shot past Bacashihua for his 23rd goal of the season. Utah would answer the bell 39 seconds later when Justin Cox banged home the rebound off a Naumenko shot for his 12th goal of the season tying the score for the third time at 3-3. Late in the period, Utah would have a breakdown in their own zone that led to a blast from Jordan Krestanovick for his fifth goal of the season regaining the lead for the third time for Houston. Utah led on the shot board 31-21 after two period but Holmqvist made 28 saves. Utah would quickly tie the game in the third period when Zenon Konopka scored his sixth goal of the season off a rebound from a Barrett Heisten shot tying the game at four goals apiece. Houston would regain the lead about five minutes later when Jeff Hoggan scored his 18th goal of the season beating Bacashihua up high after a Christoph Brandner shot. The Grizzlies would battle back for the fourth time to tie the game when Mike Siklenka banked a shot off the back of Holmqvist for his second goal of the season and it would serve as the game tying goal for Utah. In overtime, Bacashihua faced eight shots including a point blank blast from Roche in the final minute of the extra session that Bacashihua made a stunning glove save on. Utah outshot the Aeros 47-41 in the game. On Friday the Grizzlies used 18 saves from Dan Ellis to blank the Grand Rapids Griffins for the third time this season at the 'E' Center. David Gove contributed two goals and Rob Valicevic had a goal and two assists to help Utah to the 4-0 decision in front of 6,323. Utah was aggressive throughout the first period on the offensive side of the ice outshooting the Griffins 14-8 in the frame. The Grizzlies opened the scoring when Valicevic sent a long shot towards Griffins netminder Joey MacDonald and the puck took a strange bounce to find the net at the 5:55 mark. It was Valicevic's 10th goal of the season with Gerard DiCaire and Nick Naumenko notching the assists. In the second the Grizzlies were shorthanded when Valicevic centered the puck with a perfect backhanded pass that found David Gove who banged a second goal past MacDonald. Valicevic would help out again at the 16:38 mark when Gove got his second of the night and his 13th of the season to give the Grizzlies a 3-0 advantage going into the second intermission. Timo Helbling concluded the scoring for the Grizzlies in the third period by swatting a fourth shot past MacDonald at the 2:13 mark. MacDonald would finish with 36 saves while Utah would complete the offensive barrage with a 40-18 shot advantage. The win evened up the season series as Utah improved to 3-3-1-0 against the Griffins. Ellis picked up his second shutout for Utah in 15 tries this season.
The Grizzlies got a dramatic win Saturday over the Grand Rapids when Mike Siklenka scored a late game winner to give Utah the 4-3 decision at the 'E' Center in front of 7,198. The win pulled Utah within two points of the fifth and final playoff spot that is currently held by Cincinnati. Utah fought through the scoreless first period outshooting the Griffins 14-10. It wasn't until 9:31 of the second period that the offensive fireworks began. Griffin Ryan Barnes put up the first goal getting past Dan Ellis in traffic. The Grizzlies were quick to strike back with three consecutive goals. David Gove put in his 14th of the season and third of the two-game series only 24 seconds after the Barnes goal. Mathias Tjarnqvist gave the Grizzlies a 2-1 lead at the 11:58 mark and Rob Valicevic put Utah up by two at 13:31 of the second. Grand Rapids would make up the deficit with two big goals. Nathan Robinson forced one past Ellis at 17:31 of the second. Jiri Hudler had the man advantage when he tied the score at 11:41 of the third. Ellis would finish with 24 saves in a game that the Grizzlies oushot the Griffins 36-27. It was at the 14:20 mark that
Mike Siklenka gave Utah the goal and the victory by flipping one by Joey MacDonald. MacDonald, who finished with 32 saves exited the game with 40 seconds remaining. Utah finishes the season series with Grand Rapids with a 4-3-1-0 record.

ROSTER REPORT
Defenseman Trevor Daley and goaltender Jason Bacashihua were re-called by the Dallas Stars. Goaltender Miguel Beaudry was signed to a Player Try-out.

WESTERN DIVISION STANDINGS
Rank Team W L T OTL PTS
1. x-Milwaukee 43 20 7 3 96
2. x-Grand Rapids 41 24 8 0 90
3. x-Chicago 36 25 9 3 84
4. Houston 27 33 12 4 70
5. Cincinnati 27 35 10 1 65
6. Utah 26 38 6 5 63
7. San Antonio 26 36 8 0 60

x- clinched playoff berth

THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT
San Antonio – 26-36-8-0, 60 pts. (7th - West Division)...The Rampage helped out Utah's cause with 2-0 win over Cincinnati on Sunday as Travis Scott earned his fourth shutout of the year. The win ended a five-game winless streak for San Antonio who meets the Ducks for a rematch on Tuesday. Right wing Denis Shvidki leads the Rampage in scoring with 48 points.

GRIZZLIES THREE STARS OF THE WEEK
1.) David Gove – Had a five-point week ( 3 G, 2 A) and assisted the game winner on Saturday
2.) Rob Valicevic – Accumulated six points this week ( 2 G, 4 A)
3.) Dan Ellis – Posted two wins this week including his second shutout with the Grizzlies on Friday

GRIZZLIES AWARD BANQUET
The 2004 Utah Grizzlies Award Banquet will be held at the ‘E' Center on Monday, April 5th at 6:00 pm. Be sure to reserve your seats by calling Marilyn Hunnewell at (801) 988-8039.

GRIZZLIES HOTLINE
Be sure to check out the Utah Grizzlies Information Hotline at (801) 988-8005 to get the latest news and information about the Grizzlies and while your surfing the web check out www.utahgrizzlies.com for all the latest growls from your favorite hockey team.
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