ECHL Utah Grizzlies

Grizzlies Outlast Ontario 1-0 in Overtime on 36 Bobkov Saves

March 6, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


West Valley City, Utah - The Utah Grizzlies (28-21-5-3) defeated the Ontario Reign (30-16-4-5) 1-0 in overtime Friday night at Maverik Center as Ryan Hayes scored his 22nd of the year 1:30 into overtime and Igor Bobkov made a season-high 36 saves.

The scoring shift lasted over 50 seconds and started with Hayes being denied on a breakaway before the Grizzlies stuck with it and kept the play going and Barry Almeida ultimately fed a wide open Hayes who went one-on-one with Ontario goaltender Jussi Olkinuora and buried the winner top shelf. T.J. Syner picked up an assist as well as him and Hayes extended their scoring streaks to seven games on the play. Jacob Johnston started the breakaway up ice and was also involved in the game-winning sequence.

"We put three forwards out there in overtime with Johnston; Syner's line did a good job springing Hayes for the breakaway and then just stuck with it," said Grizzlies Head Coach/General Manager Tim Branham.

"We created another turnover and got the puck down low, hit Hayes behind the net and it was a great shot. Those guys were good. They generated a lot of scoring opportunities the entire game, to be honest. It was good to see them get rewarded for it."

Bobkov (13-7-2-0) finished 36 for 36 in the game and also made a season-high 20 saves in the second period to keep the game scoreless.

"It's a team effort, guys blocking shots," said Bobkov. "I feel confident playing with the guys. They helped me a lot. We didn't play very well in the 2nd period but I tried to cover as much as possible. I just ask them to take the sticks and I'll grab the puck."

Utah outshot Ontario 17-7 over the final period of regulation and overtime as they kept the pressure on and were able to get game-winner.

"Ontario is a good team," said Branham. "That was no slouch of a team we were playing. They have a few guys back from injury to play against us. They have a lot of fire power up front. They have a lot of defensemen at the backend that can move the puck and they have a solid goaltender. Proud of our effort, proud of the way that found a way to win against a good team. We just got to keep it going into tomorrow."

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