Grizzlies Rally Past RoadRunners 4-1
December 18, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners News Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. - James Sixsmith had two goals and an assist as he led the Utah Grizzles past the Phoenix RoadRunners 4-1 Thursday night in front of 2,826 fans at US Airways Center.
After a scoreless first period, the RoadRunners (11-11-2) opened up the scoring at 7:29 of the second on a two-man advantage power play when Daniel Sisca scored off a pass from Kimbi Daniels, giving Phoenix a 1-0 lead. Ashton Rome had the other assist. The Grizzlies (11-11-2) came back at 11:12 to tie the game when Sixsmith redirected a shot by Evan Stoflet past RoadRunners' goalie Craig Kowalski. Ryan Kinasewich also assisted as the score would remain tied through the second intermission.
"We had a slow start," RoadRunners' Head Coach Brad Church said. "We had a decent second period but our defense isn't good enough and we're getting beat in our own end."
Utah took a 2-1 lead early in the third when Stoflet netted the biscuit past Kowalski at 2:11. Sixsmith and Mike Walsh assisted. The Grizzlies then went up 3-1 when Sixsmith capitalized on a Phoenix turnover and scored a shorthanded goal on Kowalski, who thought he made the save but the puck just trickled through his five-hole. At 11:24 of the third, Walsh made the score 4-1 Utah when he tipped the puck in the net off a shot by Tim Maxwell with Kinasewich getting the other assist.
"We were out-muscled and got beat in front of the net," Church said, adding that the team had a hard time making passes and starting plays. "We're having a tough time and our defense just needs to be better."
Utah out-shot Phoenix 36-26. Kowalski stopped 32 shots but dropped to 8-8-1 on the season. The RoadRunners went 1-6 on the power play while Utah was 0-7 with the man-advantage.
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