Sports stats



AHL Utah Grizzlies

Grizzlies fall to Griffins in shootout

April 3, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Utah earned a point for the third straight night on Saturday as they dropped a shootout decision to Grand Rapids, 4-3. The Grizzlies held two separate one-goal leads but the playoff hungry Griffins kept battling back and eventually gained the two points. Erik Westrum scored twice for the Grizzlies.

Utah got in the board first in the opening frame with a blue-collar goal started by a point shot by Dustin Wood that eventually led to Eric Labelle banging home a loose puck in the goal crease by Joey MacDonald. For Labelle it was his first AHL goal and it came at the 8:24 mark of the first frame. Just 36 seconds later, the Griffins tied the game with a similar goal. Peter Vandermeer shoved a pass in front of the net and Ryan Barnes jammed it by Jamie Storr for his seventh goal of the season at the 9:00 mark of the period. Utah outshot the Griffins 9-6 in the period.

In the second, it was the penalty kill for Utah that stole the show. Fresh off last night's perfect night killing all 12 Griffins power plays, the Grizzlies got on the board with Erik Westrum scoring his team-leading 16th goal of the season and his third shorthanded goal assisted by Martin Sonnenberg. Once again, the Griffins answered with Brett Lebda throwing a pass throw the Grizzlies defense finding Jiri Hudler who streaked in and went top shelf by Storr for his 10th goal of the season assisted by Lebda and Bryan Helmer. Grand Rapids outshot the Grizzlies 9-8 in the period.

The Griffins took their first lead of the night in the third period with Eric Himelfarb snapping a shot by Storr for his 16th goal of the season assisted by Matt Ellis and Hudler. Utah would battle back with a 5-on-3 power play that saw Erik Westrum one-time a shot by MacDonald for his second goal of the night and 17th of the season. Terry Virtue and Kiel McLeod had the assists. The game eventually went to overtime and then to a shootout where the Griffins scored twice, Tomas Kopecky and Eric Manlow gaining the extra point.

The Griffins ended the game with 30 shots on goal and the Grizzlies finished with 29 shots. Storr made 26 saves and MacDonald finished with 27 earning his 32nd win of the season.

The Grizzlies will end their road trip tomorrow with a 3:00 PM (mst) face-off versus the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks in the Cincy Gardens.

Check out the Utah Grizzlies Statistics

• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...

American Hockey League Stories from April 3, 2005


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central