Series Preview: Grizzlies Host Bakersfield Friday, Saturday
Published on April 14, 2014 under ECHL (ECHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release
Game 1: Friday, April 18, Bakersfield at Utah, 7 p.m.
Game 2: Saturday, April 19, Bakersfield at Utah, 7 p.m.
(KMYU TV: 2.2, 12 on satellite, 22 on cable)
Game 3: Tuesday, April 22, Utah at Bakersfield, 8 p.m.
Game 4: Thursday, April 24, Utah at Bakersfield, 8 p.m.
***Game 5: Friday, April 25, Utah at Bakersfield, 8 p.m.
***Game 6: Sunday, April 27, Bakersfield at Utah, 7 p.m.
***Game 7: Wednesday, April 30, Bakersfield at Utah, TBA
***If Necessary
All games are broadcast live on 1320 KFAN, 1320KFAN.com, iHeart Radio by searching "1320 KFAN" and for $8 PPV at UtahGrizzlies.com.
The Situation
The Grizzlies open the playoffs as the third seed and will play sixth seeded Bakersfield beginning Friday at Maverik Center in the first ever playoff meeting between the two teams. The winner will play the winner of the 2 versus 7 Ontario/Stockton series.
Tickets
Playoff tickets are on sale now at www.utahgrizzlies.com, Maverik Center box office or any Ticketmaster location.
Group discounts for parties of 10 or more and catered luxury suites are available for purchase by calling (801) 988-8800.
Season Series
The Grizzlies went 4-2 against Bakersfield this season and 2-0 at Maverik Center. The Grizzlies won four-straight to close the season series to the Condors after falling in two-straight in Bakersfield during their seven-game winless skid in December.
Further Explanation
Aaron Dell and Igor Bobkov combined to go 4-0 against Bakersfield, allowing just six goals in four games. Both Utah losses to the Condors occurred with Ben Meisner in goal when the Grizzlies gave up nine goals in 2 games.
Big Late Addition
Charles Sarault had three goals and seven assists in 8 games with Utah, including four multiple-point nights after being assigned to the Grizzlies on March 8 by the Anaheim Ducks.
Stability
While ECHL rosters are not known for staying intact from start to finish, 17 players from the Grizzlies opening day roster expect to be on their playoff roster.
Playoff Experience
Grizzlies leading scorer David Vallorani won an ECHL Kelly Cup Championship with Tim Branham last year in Reading, Pennsylvania along with second leading scorer Danick Paquette. Aaron Dell, Adam Pineault and Drew Daniels were members of the 2013 CHL Champion in Allen, Texas. Despite suffering a late season injury on Wednesday, the Grizzlies look forward to having Mathieu Aubin and his 3 professional championships in the locker room and back at Maverik Center very soon
THE MATCHUP
LOTS OF SIMILIARITIES
Strong Finishers
Bakersfield started the year 1-10-0-1 and Utah started 7-14-1-2. The Grizzlies finished the season 31-10-2-4 in their final 47 games. Bakersfield finished 35-20-2-3 in their last 60 games.
Getting The First Goal
Utah went 24-7-1-1 this year when scoring the first goal in a game, Bakersfield was 27-7-1-1.
Penalty-Killing
Utah finished fifth in the ECHL with a 85.6-percent effectiveness on the penalty-kill, Bakersfield was fourth at 85.9-percent. Utah went 5-28 on the power-play against Bakersfield and 24-26 on the PK against the Condors.
The Goaltenders
Without question, this series has the potential to showcase the three top goaltenders in the ECHL at the end of the season. Aaron Dell at 19-7-0-3 with a 2.14 goals-against-average and a .920 save percentage, Ducks prospect Igor Bobkov, remains in Norfolk of the AHL, but finished the season with a 17-8-2-2 record with a 2.04 goals-against-average and Bakersfield's Laurent Brossoit went 26-9-2-0 record a 2.01 goals-against-average and a .926 save percentage.
The Coaches
Grizzlies Head Coach/General Manager Tim Branham and Bakersfield Head Coach Troy Mann both coached in the Washington Capitals organization last year. Branham as an Assistant Coach of the ECHL's Kelly Cup Champion Reading Royals and Mann as an Assistant Coach of the AHL's Hershey Bears. That said, both teams play very similar systems.
ECHL Stories from April 14, 2014
- Weekly Update: 72 Games in the Books; Condors Heading into the Playoffs - Bakersfield Condors
- Series Preview: Grizzlies Host Bakersfield Friday, Saturday - Utah Grizzlies
- Condors Sign Western Hockey League Scoring Champion Holmberg - Bakersfield Condors
- Calgary Reassigns G Olivier Roy to Alaska from Abbotsford - Alaska Aces
- Lewis, Shaw, Megan, Madore Return from San Antonio - Cincinnati Cyclones
- ECHL Transactions - April 14 - ECHL
- Peter Sivak Named AMI Graphics ECHL Plus Performer of the Year - Alaska Aces
- Road Warriors to Play Kalamazoo Wings in Round One - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- K-Wings Weekly - Kalamazoo Wings
- The Weekly Warrior - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Rapuzzi Selected as CCM ECHL Rookie of the Year - Idaho Steelheads
- Idaho's Rapuzzi Named CCM ECHL Rookie of the Year - ECHL
- Elmira Jackals End of Season Review - Elmira Jackals
- 2013-14 Gwinnett Gladiators Season in Review - Atlanta Gladiators
- Alaska's Sivak Is AMI Graphics ECHL Plus Performer of the Year - ECHL
- Marino Wins ECHL Scoring Title - Fort Wayne Komets
- K-Wings to Meet Road Warriors in Eastern Conf. Quarters. - Kalamazoo Wings
- Fort Wayne's Marino Wins ECHL Scoring Title - ECHL
- Stingrays Weekly: Stingrays Kick off 2014 Kelly Cup Playoffs Friday and Saturday at Coliseum - South Carolina Stingrays
- Schedule Announced for Conference Quarterfinals of 2014 Kelly Cup Playoffs - ECHL
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