ECHL Utah Grizzlies

Grizzlies Win Seventh Straight at Home

Published on December 28, 2002 under ECHL (ECHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


After last night's poor performance, it was expected that Cleveland would come into tonight's match up looking for redemption. Instead, the Grizzlies defeated the visiting Barons once again in front of 7,349 fans at the E-Center. Utah out skated, played and executed Cleveland on all ends of the ice to the tune of a 6-1 victory en route to their seventh straight home win (one shy of the franchise record set in 1998).

The visiting Barons got in trouble early as the Grizzlies took advantage of the power play just under the five-minute mark of the first period. Jon Sim had just been sent back from the Dallas Stars, created a beautiful play by reeling around the back of the Cleveland net and dropping the puck out front to Jim Montgomery who one-timed it past Vesa Toskala. Grizzlies 1-0 at the 4:45 mark.

Cleveland got the equalizer on a power play of their own, courtesy of undisciplined play by the Grizzlies. Jesse Fibiger received the puck in the slot and delivered a hard wrist shot through traffic that beat Jason Bacashihua and tied the game at 1-1. The Grizzlies almost doubled Cleveland with shots on net after 20 minutes of play, 17-10.

It was all Utah in the second stanza. Three minutes into the period, Eric Landry battled for the puck just inside the blue line of his own zone, got enough wood on it and shoveled it forward to Marcus Kristoffersson along the boards. Kristoffersson and Justin Cox broke out for a 2 on 1 and Kristoffersson decided to wind up and take the shot himself and beat Toskala giving the Grizzlies a 2-1 lead.

Roughly ninety seconds later, Jason Bacashihua sent the puck up to Eric Chouinard along the far side and Chouinard rifled a sharp pass across center ice to a bolting Eric Landry who went head to head against Toskala. Landry banked the puck off the Baron goalie. Grizzlies led 3-1.

At the 14:01 mark, the Grizzlies had a man advantage and Greg Hawgood hit Eric Landry down ice on the near side of the Cleveland goalie and Landry sent the puck across the top of the crease to Steve Gainey who slid one by Toskala just inside the far post. Grizzlies had a three-goal lead, 4-1. At the end of forty minutes, Utah had dominated their opponent, going 2 for 2 on the power play and out shot Cleveland 33 to 19.

The third period gave way to fancy play and got ugly as members of each team dropped the gloves and introduced their knuckles to one another. A total of 4 penalties were called, Utah spent 14 minutes in the box as Cleveland spent 14 also (10 minutes for fighting on each team). Through all the rumble and tumble, the Grizzlies managed to make things even worse for the Barons. 16:44 left to go, Steve Gainey scored with helpers from Eric Chouinard and Eric Landry. Then at the 18:04 mark, Jim Montgomery got away from the Baron defense and released a hard slap shot from the near circle that went through the five hole of visiting goalie Toskala. Grizzlies won convincingly, 6-1.

The Grizzlies schooled Cleveland again with 42 shots on net. The Barons managed only 25. Utah went 2/4 on the power play while the Barons went 1/6. In the two game sweep over the Barons, the Grizzlies outshot Cleveland 96-50 and outscored them 13-3.

Three Stars: 1. Eric Landry 2. John Erskine 3. Steve Gainey

Next Game: Utah Grizzlies at Grand Rapids, December 30, 2002.

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ECHL Stories from December 28, 2002


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