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ECHL Utah Grizzlies

Grizzlies Take Out Hartford, 6-5

November 16, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


West Valley City, Utah - Heading into tonight's game, both teams had something to prove. The Wolf Pack - that they couldn't be beat consecutive nights in Utah. The Grizzlies - That they wouldn't let one win draw them into another complacent offensive drought. Well, neither club would disappoint. In what proved to be the most exciting and thrilling game of the season, Utah displayed the offensive power everybody's been waiting for, in front of this year's largest crowd (6, 829), edging the Wolf Pack 6-5.

It was all Hartford in the early going of the game. The Wolf Pack peppered Jason Bacashihua with 5 shots in the first minute of play. At the 3:32 mark, Hartford's aggression paid off. Straight from the face-off on the right side of 'Cash', Roman Lyashenko won the drop, sending the puck back to the point for Richard Lintner who wasted no time delivering a hard slap shot at the net, beating Bacashihua who didn't even see it coming. For Lintner, it was his second goal in two nights and it gave Hartford a 1-0 lead.

After a John Erskine and Garrett Burnett fight, the Grizzlies would take advantage just after a Hartford minor penalty had expired by Mark Wotton keeping the puck in the offensive end by gloving the puck down and slapping a quick shot at Meyer. The rebound trickled to David Gosselin and he delivered another shot at Meyer who got a piece of it, the rebound went to Marcus Kristoffersson waiting near the crease on the left side, he makes the easy put back tying the game at one goal apiece.

Hartford didn't get discouraged, pushing the puck in the Grizzlies end, John Tripp took the puck behind Bacashihua and flipped the biscuit to a streaking Benoit Dusablon who beat Bacashihua through the legs and gave the Wolf Pack a 2-1 lead. Under three minutes to play in the period, Grizzlies find themselves on the power play as Greg Hawgood kept a clearing attempt by Hartford from getting by and rifled one at the net, Jim Montgomery in the right spot at the right time redirected the puck past Meyer bringing the Grizz back once again from a one-goal deficit to tie the game.

The Grizzlies would take the lead just past the five minute mark of the second period when Gavin Morgan on the near side sent a vicious wrister at the Hartford goalie on the glove side, Meyer couldn't catch up with it, Utah goes up 3-2. Less than two minutes later, Grizzlies fore-checking creates another opportunity. Jon Sim fought for the puck on the far boards, escaped from his man and went toward the net, after a back hand is denied by Meyer, Eric Landry had enough wood on the rebound to trickle one passed the mouth of the net. Grizzlies get some insurance, 4-2.

Corey Hirsch came out at the beginning of the third period after Bacashihua left the game due to a strained muscle. Unfortunately for Hirsch, The Wolf Pack started the third like they did in the first. At the 3:04 mark, Ken Gernander fired a one-timer, beating Corey Hirsch on the far side getting the Wolf Pack within one, 4-3.

After two Hartford penalties gave the Grizzlies a two-man advantage, Jon Sim made a great pass to Gavin Morgan at the left side of the crease, banking it home for the two-goal lead once again. Only 25 seconds later, Steve Ott registers his third of the season, which would prove to be the eventual game winner, after redirecting a Mark Wotton shot. Morgan would earn his third point of the night on the play with the second assist.

Hartford would keep it interesting with goals from David Inman and Billy Tibbetts pulling the Pack to within a goal once again but Utah would hold on in the late going and receive some fortuitous help from the referees as they called a late penalty on Hartford.

The Grizzlies outshot the Wolf Pack for the game 36-32 marking the second time this season that the Grizz have come out on top on the shot board. Utah improves to 7-9-0-0 with the victory.

The Grizzlies will take the ice tomorrow night when they face Chicago. Face-off is scheduled for 7:00 PM.

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