AHL Utah Grizzlies

Grizzlies shutout in Cincinnati

January 8, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


CINCINNATI, OHIO - On Elvis Pressley's birthday in Cincinnati on Saturday night it was referee Bob Langdon who was nothing but a hound dog as he sat and watched a hard fought hockey game until there was 1:28 remaining in regulation when the game was on the line and he decided to find his whistle and make a call against Utah icing their hopes of a comeback victory and a chance to end their five-game losing skid. The 2-0 loss for the Grizzlies marks the second straight night they have been shutout by Cincinnati and sets a franchise record with their seventh straight road loss.

The Grizzlies came out much stronger than the first period last night getting four of the first five shots on goal and having several early scoring chances. Cincinnati rebounded for a strong second half of the opening period eventually mustering 17 shots against David LeNeveu who stayed very sharp stopping all of the Ducks shots. Utah finished with eight shots on goal in the period.

The Ducks scored the first goal of the game on the power play in the second period when Kurtis Foster took a pass around a diving Erik Westrum and snapped a shot by LeNeveu for his seventh goal of the season and fourth in four games. Michael Holmqvist and Mark Popovic had the assists. Utah outshot the Ducks 11-8 in the period as Frederic Cassivi made 11 saves keeping the Grizzlies scoreless in Cincinnati through five periods dating back to last night's game.

The Grizzlies battled in the third period outshooting the Ducks 11-5 in the period but failed to find the back of the net for the second straight night against Cicny. The finish of the game for the Grizzlies was even hampered as Langdon who had lost his whistle for most of the night awarding just a total of six power plays in an extremely chippy game with loads of stick work decided he needed to *blow it* with 1:28 remaining in regulation calling veteran Terry Virtue for a hook which was common place all night long but went uncalled until the final two minutes. With the net empty and with the manpower advantage, the Ducks scored an empty-net goal when Joffrey Lupul notched his eighth point of the season against the Grizzlies and his team-leading 13th goal.

Both teams finished the night with 30 shots on goal as Cassivi earned his second shutout of the season and extended Cincinnati's home shutout streak to 314:25. LeNeveu was brilliant in net for Utah earning third star honors making 28 saves.

The Grizzlies now stand 0-6 on their road trip and have been outscored 26-4 over that stretch being shutout three times.

The Grizzlies will play travel to Rochester to face the Americans next Friday, January 14 in the Blue Cross Arena. Face-off is scheduled for 5:35 PM (mt).

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