AHL Utah Grizzlies

Grizzlies Shutout By Bridgeport 4-0

December 10, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


Bridgeport * Something had to give on Wednesday night as both Utah and Bridgeport entered their third contest of the season on winning streaks but thanks to Dieter Kochan's 25 saves the Sound Tigers defeated the Grizzlies 4-0 in the Arena at Harbor Yard. The loss ended Utah's three-game winning streak and began their current four-game road trip on a sour note.

Bridgeport's Jeff Hamilton, the AHL's leading goal scorer, put the Sound Tigers on the board first with his 18th goal of the season, assisted by Cole Jarrett and Blaine Down, scored at the 9:29 mark of the first period. A questionable call by referee Kevin Hansen at the 12:35 mark of the opening period (interference against Regan Darby) would give Bridgeport their third power play of the period and they would capitalize with Derek Bekar scoring his eighth goal of the season assisted by Ben Guite and Eric Manlow. Bridgeport outshot the Grizzlies 8-6 in the first 20 minutes.

Utah turned up the heat in the second period but Dieter Kochan stood tall stopping all 11 shots he faced from Utah. The Sound Tigers did not get their first shot on net until the period was nearly half over but the Grizzlies could not take advantage of the lopsided advantage in offensive ice time as neither team scored in the second period. David Oliver came into the game on a four-game point streak and he had the best opportunity to beat Kochan at the 12 minute mark of the period but he couldn't find the back of the net.

Bridgeport put the game out of reach in the third period with a pair of goals scored by Bekar (his ninth and 10th of the season respectively) giving him the hat trick. Kochan wouldn't budge and he received great defensive support earning his second shutout of the season.

Hamilton finished the night with three points (1g, 2a) Manlow finished with a pair of helpers. Both Oliver's four-game point streak and Jarrod Skalde's five-game point streak came to ends with the shutout loss.

Utah ended the game 0 for 5 on the power play and Bridgeport finished 1 for 3.

The teams will meet again on Sunday afternoon but Utah will have to worry about Manchester on Friday and Hartford on Saturday before they face Bridgeport in the re-match. Face-off for Friday's game in Manchester is scheduled for 5:35 PM (mst).

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American Hockey League Stories from December 10, 2003


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