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Utah Grizzlies

Grizzlies Insider Adam Turner on 4-2 Win

February 10, 2019 - ECHL (ECHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


The Utah Grizzlies smelled blood Saturday night as the wounded Idaho Steelheads skated onto the Maverik Center ice for the final contest of a three game set. Having defeated Idaho in impressive fashion in the first two matchups, the Grizzlies weren't about to let a golden opportunity go to waste and went for the proverbial jugular. Utah forward Mitch Maxwell and goalie Kevin Carr answered call and led the attack. With a pair of goals by Maxwell and 23 of 25 saves by Carr, Utah obtained the sweep in front of an electrified crowd of 9,065, skating to a 4-2 victory.

"It comes down to team effort and Carr was great in net," Maxwell said. "When we had lulls he kept us in it. We wouldn't have won these three games without him. We're a confident team right now and we're capitalizing on our opportunities and we're executing well. It's fun to be back wearing a Grizzlie uniform."

As good as Utah was in the first period, however, they struggled in the second. A spectacular goal by Caleb Herbert notwithstanding, Utah was outshot 15 to 3 in the frame and had it not been for the superb goaltending of Carr, things might have unraveled for the home team. Although Carr surrendered two goals, one was on a 4 on 3 power play and the other was on a turnover that allowed an unchecked Steven McParland to do what he does plenty of, score the puck. They were the only goals that Carr would allow and made several mesmerizing saves with glove, stick and pads.

"He's playing every game now (Carr) and everyone is seeing just how good he is," head coach Tim Branham said. "He was tremendous and calm and steady back there and made some huge saves."

Utah, though, rallied in the third. The Grizzlies' defense, led by Teigan Zahn anchoring the corps, is playing its best hockey of the season. Having held the high-powered Steelheads to just six goals in the three contests, the defense has been quite possibly more impressive than the offense. And at the end of the contest, all that mattered was the final score and a mission accomplished of sweeping one of the best teams in the league.

"Our boys came together on our last road trip and have learned what it takes to win," Branham said. "We're proving when we have our lineup and play our style that we're extremely tough to beat."

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