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ECHL Utah Grizzlies

Grizzlies Fall 3-1 In Bakersfield

December 12, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


West Valley City, Utah - The Bakersfield Condors (15-6-2-0) defeated the Utah Grizzlies (14-7-1-0) 3-1 Friday night at Rabobank Arena in a battled of first place in the Pacific Division in Bakersfield and second place in the West Division in Utah.

Bakersfield jumped up 1-0 with just 54 seconds left in the first period after first-game Islanders assignee Tony Romano blocked a shot for Utah, but hit the ice hurt. Bakersfield took advantage of the one-man advantage with Eric Regan burying the Condors 13th shot of the night. Van Buskirk kept Utah in the game early, stopping 13 of 14 in the first period. Romano returned in the second period.

The Condors struck early in the second period, scoring 34 seconds in on a lose puck in the crease following the opening face-off. Utah made it 2-1 14:37 into the period on Shea Guthrie's fourth goal in the last three games and his seventh of the year overall one second after Utah's second power-play of the night ended. Vlady Nikiforov picked up an assist on a beautiful cross-ice setup.

Bakersfield added a goal with 6:31 left in the third period as captain Shawn Weller blasted a shot off of Parker Van Buskirk's glove and into the back of the net. Utah had a six-on-four power-play situation with an extra-attacker in the final two minutes of the game but was unable to surpass the one-goal plateau.

Utah and Bakersfield meet again Saturday at Rabobank Arena. Face-off is scheduled for 8 p.m.

The Grizzlies return home next Friday and Saturday when they will welcome Bakersfield to the E-Center. Face-off both evenings is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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