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ECHL Utah Grizzlies

Koskinen Stops 34 In Utah Debut: Grizzlies Beat Stockton 6-2

March 20, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


Stockton, California - The Utah Grizzlies scored six unanswered goals after falling behind 1-0 in the first period and Islanders rookie prospect Mikko Koskinen stopped 34 of 36 shots in his ECHL debut as Utah (29-27-3-5) defeated the Stockton Thunder (29-25-2-7) 6-2 Friday night in California.

Utah broke open a 1-1 tie with four goals in an 8:16 stretch of the second period to take a 5-1 lead. Vlady Nikiforov tapped in his 17th of the year 3:30 into the frame and AJ Perry scored his 25th of the year 2:21 later on the power-play before Ryan Kinasewich (40,41) potted two shorthanded goals in 2:24 to break the game open; while also overtaking Victoria's Wes Goldie (40) for the league lead in goal scoring.

Tom May (21) took a centering attempt from James Sixsmith 1:15 into the third period to cap the Utah scoring and make it 6-1.

Both Stockton goals came on special teams, including the first one 4:14 into the game as James Bates scored his 28th of the year on the power-play. Simon Ferguson (1) redirected home a Matt Sorteberg shot at 10:19 to tie the game. Koskinen kept Utah in the contest in the first period by stopping 14 of 15 Thunder shots.

11 Utah players scored in the game, including: May (one goal, one assist), Sixsmith (two assists) and Dylan Hunter (two assists) who joined Kinasewich with multiple-point nights.

Utah and Stockton play again Saturday at 8:30 p.m. and Sunday at 5:05 p.m.

The Grizzlies return home for their final three home games of the year starting March 24 when they will host Bakersfield to start a Wednesday, Friday, Saturday series. Face-off all three nights is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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