AHL Utah Grizzlies

Grizzlies split series with fifth place Ducks

March 15, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


A LOOK AT LAST WEEK (1-3-0-0)

Wednesday Vs. Cincinnati Win 4-0
Friday Vs. Cincinnati Loss 4-1
Saturday @ Milwaukee Loss 4-1
Sunday @ Chicago Loss 5-1

The Grizzlies pulled within two points of the fifth and final playoff spot when Jason Bacashihua blanked the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks with 31 saves at the ‘E' Center Wednesday in front of 6,771. David Gove led the scoring for the Grizzlies with a goal and two assists. 84 minutes of penalties were dealt out during the emotional contest, the most of any Grizzlies game this season. Utah racked up three goals in the first period including the fastest consecutive goals scored this season. David Gove struck first on Cincinnati netminder Ilya Bryzgalov at the 8:08 mark assisted by Rob Valicevic and Dan Jancevski. Only 30 seconds later Tim Wedderburn would get his second of the season with a long swat that found the net from near the blue line. Antti Miettinen and Jarrod Skalde helped out with the assists. The two goals were the fastest scored since Skalde put in two within 35 seconds on December 19. The Grizzlies had the man advantage when Rob Valicevic registered his 9th goal of the season with Gerard DiCaire and Gove picking up the assists at 14:44 of the third. Bryzgalov was replaced by Eddy Ferhi after the Grizzlies' third goal. Bacashihua turned away 12 goals in the first period. Cincinnati held off Utah's offense during a scoreless second period which saw the Grizzlies get off only 7 shots on goal. Bacashihua turned away all 10 shots that came his way during the frame. The third period was more of the same as each defense held its ground until less than a minute remained. Dan Jancevski registered the final goal of the game assisted by Gove with 49 seconds remaining. Bacashihua finished with 31 saves. The Grizzlies took an early lead but fell to the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks Friday by giving up four consecutive goals. Cincinnati's Ilya Bryzgalov had 28 saves giving up only a penalty shot to earn the 4-1 victory. Instead of catching the Mighty Ducks in the division standings to compete for the fifth and final playoff position, the Grizzlies fall four points behind Cincinnati with only 14 games left this season to get back in contention for a postseason berth. Utah looked to carry over the success of Wednesday's shutout over the Ducks when Barrett Heisten was tackled on the breakaway and awarded a penalty shot at 6:07 of the first period. Heisten made good on the shot, the first for any Grizzly this season. However, Cincinnati responded quickly with two power play goals. The first came at the 8:14 mark off the stick of Mike Mottau who one-timed a shot behind Bacashihua from the right side. Tony Martensson would give Cincinnati the 2-1 lead going into the intermission by catching the net from an unlikely angle. Bacashihua finished with 29 saves. Cincinnati would add two more goals in the second period to put the game out of reach. Dan Bylsma scored at the 16:57 mark with Stanislav Chistov picking up his second assist of the night. Only 16 seconds later Joel Perrault would add the Mighty Duck's final goal as they took the 4-1 victory. There was no scoring in the third frame, but the emotion of the game took its toll.19 penalties were called with less than 25 seconds remaining after a 4-on-4 fight broke out. The Grizzlies accumulated more penalty minutes than they had in any other contest this season (99). Cincinnati's record against Utah improved to 6-2-0-0. Before the drop of the puck, Grizzlies center Jarrod Skalde was honored for playing in his 900th professional game.The Grizzlies couldn't get much going in the Bradley Center on Saturday night as Tony Hrkac scored a pair of goals as Milwaukee continued their hot play winning their 19th game in their last 24 by a final score of 4-1. The Admirals came out flying getting the first six shots on net and scoring at the 5:28 mark when Simon Gamache pushed a rebound past Dan Ellis after a Greg Zanon shot. Wyatt Smith and Zanon drew the helpers on Gamache's 20th goal of the season. The only power play in the period went to Milwaukee and they capitalized with Tony Hrkac cleaning up a loose puck on the doorstep for his 16th goal of the season assisted by Andrew Hutchinson and Brandon Segal. The Admirals are now 10 for 39 on the power play this season versus Utah. Milwaukee outshot the Grizzlies 12-9 in the opening frame. Utah would play a terrific second period outworking the Admirals but were still unable to make up any ground as each team scored a goal. The Grizzlies marker would come 1:19 into the frame when Jeff MacMillan's blast would beat Brian Finley for his second goal of the season and first since early November. Rob Valicevic and Antti Miettinen would draw the assists on the goal. Miettinen would factor in on the other goal in the period but this time assisting on Milwaukee's goal. In his own end, Miettinen would turn the puck over to the veteran Hrkac would score his second goal of the night and 17th of the season regaining the two-goal lead for the Admirals. Utah outshot the Admrials 13-10 in the period but trailed 3-1 after 40 minutes.In the third, the Admirals would weather the storm scoring the only goal late in the frame with Vernon Fiddler banking a shot off Ellis' leg for his eighth goal of the season. The Admirals finished the game outshooting the Grizzlies 30-28 improving to 5-2 versus Utah this season with three games in the ‘E' Center remaining. The Grizzlies would take a third straight loss when they fell to the Chicago Wolves 5-1at the Allstate Arena Sunday. Frederic Cassivi picked up the win for Chicago with 25 saves. Utah outshot the Wolves 10-8 in the scoreless first period. Chicago was first on the board at 7:15 of the second when Eric Healey caught the net. The Grizzlies would respond when Timo Helbling scored his second goal as a Grizzly only 36 seconds later. Antti Miettinen and Mathias Tjarnqvist picked up the assists. The third period saw the Wolves rack up four unanswered goals. Brian Moloney scored unassisted before recording the helper on a Stephen Baby goal. Healey picked up his second goal of the night on a breakaway at the 15:35 mark. Baby would also register a second goal by getting past Jason Bacashihua with just under three minutes remaining. Bacashihua finished with 29 saves.

ROSTER REPORT

Left wing Charles Linglet was released from his player tryout. Left wing Brett Draney and center David Bararuk were recalled from the Idaho (ECHL). Defenseman David Cornacchia was signed to a contract and loaned to Idaho. Left wing Mike Sgroi was also loaned to Idaho.

THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT

Milwaukee – 39-17-7-3, 88 pts. (tied for 1st - West Division)...The Admirals are on a six-game winning streak which has assured them a playoff position. The streak includes two wins over the Grizzlies.

Chicago – 34-22-8-3, 79 pts. (3rd - West Division)...The Wolves have won their last two games and are 6-3-1-0 in their last 10. Saturday's meeting will be the Grizzlies' last of the season with the Wolves. Chicago has posted 21 third-period goals against Utah this season. Utah has managed only one win in nine tries this season.

Cincinnati – 24-32-8-1, 57 pts. (tied for 5th - West Division)...The Mighty Ducks are clinging to a tie for fifth place with San Antonio after losing 1-0 at Grand Rapids on Saturday. Cincinnati has a 6-2 record against Utah after splitting the two-game series in the ‘E' Center last week. The Grizzlies will meet the Mighty Ducks for the last time this season on Sunday.

GRIZZLIES THREE STARS OF THE WEEK

1.) David Gove – a goal and two assists in the victory over Cincinnati on Wednesday
2.) Antti Miettinen – three assists in four games this week
3.) Jason Bacashihua – earned his third shutout of the season on Wednesday

GRIZZLIES AWARD BANQUET

The 2004 Utah Grizzlies Award Banquet has been set for Monday, April 5th at a TBD time and location. Be sure to reserve your seats by calling Marilyn Hunnewell at (801) 988-8039 to get your seat at the best table.

GRIZZLIES HOTLINE

Be sure to check out the Utah Grizzlies Information Hotline at (801) 988-8005 to get the latest news and information about the Grizzlies and while your surfing the web check out www.utahgrizzlies.com for all the latest growls from your favorite hockey team.

WHAT'S ON TAP

Wed. Mar. 17 – Vs. Milwaukee Admirals, ‘E' Center - - 7:05 PM mst – ESPN Radio 1230-AM
Fri. Mar. 19 – Vs. Milwaukee Admirals, ‘E' Center - - 7:05 PM mst – ESPN Radio 1230-AM
Sat. Mar. 20 – @ Chicago Wolves, Allstate Arena - - 6:00 PM mst – ESPN Radio 1230-AM
Sun. Mar. 21 – @ Cincinnati Mighty Ducks, Cincinnati Gardens - - 3:05 PM mst – ESPN Radio 1230-AM

SLAP SHOTS

~Jarrod Skalde played in his 900th professional game on Friday against Cincinnati
~Antii Miettinen notched three assists in four games this week
~Barrett Heisten scored the season's first penalty shot for the Grizzlies on Friday
~Tim Wedderburn's first two goals of the season game in consecutive games on March 7 and March 10
~Jason Bacashihua earned his third shutout on Wednesday
~The Grizzlies had a season high for penalty minutes on Friday with 99.
~The Grizzlies' fastest consecutive goals of the season came 30 seconds apart during Wednesday's victory

Check out the Utah Grizzlies Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from March 15, 2004


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