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ECHL Utah Grizzlies

Grizzlies Win Sixth Straight at Home

December 27, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


Utah picked up on home ice right where they left off over a week ago as they won their sixth straight game at the E-Center on Friday night 7-2 against Cleveland.

The first minute of the first period was one the Grizzlies will want to forget and not repeat for a long time. Cleveland's Chris Longo got set up behind the Utah net by Graig Mischler and Jeff Jillson, Longo skated to the far side of the net and scored on a quick wrap around that fooled Bacashihua. Barons took a 1-0 lead only 49 seconds into the stanza.

Five minutes later the Grizzlies poured on the pressure having a man advantage. Jim Montgomery missed on a quick wrister in front of visiting goal tender Vesa Toskala, who got a piece of it and the rebound found the wood of Steve Gainey crashing the net. Gainey gathered the puck and sent a back-handed shot over a sprawled out Toskala. Utah tied it at 1-1 at the 5:48 mark. Mid-way through the first the Grizzlies schooled Cleveland with some nifty tic-tac-toe passing. Justin Cox dumped the puck off to Marcus Kristoffersson at his own blue line and then Kristoffersson gave it up to a streaking Gavin Morgan who went untouched all the way up to five feet inside the Baron blue line and drilled a hard slap shot between a couple of Cleveland defenseman, using them as a screen to beat Toskala over his blocker. Grizzlies go ahead 2-1.

Another five minutes transpired and the Grizzlies were looking fresh again. This time Eric Chouinard and Eric Landry set up the newest addition to the team. Mike Garrow recorded his first goal as a Grizzlie, sneaking one by Toskala and pulled Utah to a two goal cushion, 3-1 at the 15:42 mark.

The first three quarters of the second went scoreless but that didn't make it dull. Both teams showed a genuine dislike for each other as the play got physical. Utah had 5 penalties and Cleveland tallied 4 for a combined 9 penalties in the period. 15:11 into the period the Grizzlies lit the lamp as Eric Landry got his team-leading 14th goal of the season. Barrett Heisten took a stab at the net, Toskala made a pad save but the rebound rolled right to Landry waiting at the side of the net on the near side. Landry sent it home and gave Utah a 4-1 lead.

With just over a minute left in the second, the Grizzlies were in trouble with a man down. Mark Wotton found Steve Gainey streaking up the far boards along with Jim Montgomery along the near side and they broke out of their own zone for a 2 on 1 opportunity. Just as the Cleveland defenseman committed to take Gainey, Steve dropped the puck off to Montgomery who chipped it in over the glove of the Baron net minder.

Jim Montgomery recorded his 200th professional goal and it extended the lead to 5-1 at the end of two periods. Utah had out shot Cleveland 41-14.

The third period started where the second left off, with the Grizzlies in total command. At the 1:05 mark Justin Cox and Dan Jancevski hooked up with Marcus Kristoffersson who tallied his 4th goal of the season putting Utah up 6-1. Everyone had a little case of déjà vu four minutes later. Marcus Kristoffersson got his second of the night as Jeff Bateman found him all alone in front of the net. Marcus had all day as Bateman drew a couple defenders down in the corner, Kristoffersson even took a few moments to set up and finally delivered a shot that proved to be too much for Kotyk who had relieved Toskala in net. Utah improved lead to 7-1.

Cleveland would add another goal but the damage had already been done. When all was over, the Grizzlies peppered Cleveland's net 54 times, the Barons mustered only 25 shots on net. Each team spent relatively the same time in the box, Grizzlies had 10 penalties for a total of 34 minutes, Cleveland had 11 penalties for a total of 28 minutes.

Three Stars: 1. Jim Montgomery: 1 goal, 1 assist 2. Justin Cox: 3 assists 3. Eric Landry: 1 goal, 1 assist

Next Game: The Grizzlies will go toe-to-toe with Cleveland again tomorrow night, Dec. 28th, 2002 at the E-Center. Puck drops 7PM.

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