ECHL Utah Grizzlies

Ryan Hayes and Brandon Yip Join Grizzlies for 5-2 Road Win

Published on January 16, 2015 under ECHL (ECHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


Bakersfield, California - The Utah Grizzlies (17-15-4-2) scored two late empty-netters to defeat the Bakersfield Condors 5-2 Friday night at Rabobank Arena.

The win improves Utah to 2-0-1-0 on their current four-game in five-night road trip and to 4-0-1-0 in their last five games.

"It's been a great road trip, and everything that's happened today and this whole past week is behind us," said Barry Almeida who scored Utah's first goal and assisted on the second. "We're focused on getting the two points Saturday to make it a good road trip."

After killing two early penalties and getting some great saves by Ryan Faragher, the Grizzlies took the 2-0 first period lead after Bakersfield built an 11-1 lead on shots. In his Grizzlies debut on the same day he was traded from Stockton, Ryan Hayes led the Grizzlies up ice on a two-on-one and fed Almeida for his eighth goal of the year 13:01 into the first.

Utah made it 2-0 5:07 later at 18:08 as Almeida won a face-off, and Connor Hardowa fed Brandon Yip for a blast in his Utah debut a day after being assigned by Anaheim's AHL affiliate in Norfolk

"Playing with those guys was a lot of fun tonight," said Almeida on Yip and Hayes. "Obviously Yip has a lot of NHL experience and makes it's very easy to play and Ryan Hayes is also an exceptional player; he made a great play on that two-on-one and it's going to be a lot fun playing with these guys."

Utah made it 3-0 in the second period as Johnnie Searfoss and Danick Paquette grinded it out in the Condors end and found Camden Wojtala for his second goal in three games and his third score of the year.

Bakersfield struck back early in third period with two goals in 2:10, including a power-play marker to make it 3-1 and then 3-2 with 15:50 left in regulation.

As Bakersfield pulled their goalie to go six-on-four on the power-play late, Michael Pelech won a face-off and Corey Finehage found an empty-net from the length of the ice to make it 4-2. Hayes (two assists) and Paquette (two assists) then setup Searfoss for another empty-netter and 5-2 was the final.

Grizzlies goaltender Ryan Faragher stopped the first 28 shots that he saw and made a season-high 36 saves to improve to 9-6-2-0. The Grizzlies goaltender stopped the final nine shots that he saw after Bakersfield made it 3-2.

"Faragher has been a rock back there," said Almeida. "And we'll keep scoring goals."

The Grizzlies complete four games in five nights Saturday in Bakersfield at 8 p.m.

Check out the Utah Grizzlies Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



ECHL Stories from January 16, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central