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AHL Utah Grizzlies

Slow start dooms Grizzlies

December 15, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


WEST VALLEY CITY, UTAH- The Grizzlies spotted the Griffins three goals on their first four shots but battled back to pull to within one goal before finally falling to the Grand Rapids Griffins 4-2. Blake Sloan, Todd Robinson and Niklas Kronwall each totaled two points for the first place Griffins who with the Milwaukee loss to San Antonio own first place all by themselves.

It was a first period to forget for the Grizzlies who fell behind 3-0 in a 6:31 stretch. Eric Himelfarb started the scoring taking advantage of a rolling puck in front of Grizzlies goaltender David LeNeveu for his sixth goal of the season assisted by Blake Sloan and Peter Vandermeer. The Griffins would add to their lead when Sloan scored his ninth goal of the season assisted by Todd Robinson and Niklas Kronwall at the 10:25 mark of the period. The trio of first period markers would be finished off by Kronwall who made a great move to get through two Grizzlies defenders and eventually he would bury the puck behind LeNeveu for his ninth goal of the season. Todd Robinson drew the only assist. Despite outshooting the Griffins 12-5 in the period they trailed 3-0 after the first twenty minutes.

In the second period, the Grizzlies rallied back with goals from Peter White and Fredrik Sjostrom. White's goal came on a breakaway after a Jeff Taffe pass was tipped behind the Griffins defense. For White it was his fourth goal of the season and second with the Grizzlies. Matthew Spiller and Taffe were credited with the assists. Utah's second goal came on a power play from a point shot by Spiller that Sjostrom (sixth goal of the season) re-directed behind Grand Rapid's goaltender Joey MacDonald. Terry Virtue and Spiller drew the assists. Utah outshot the Griffins 10-9 in the period and led 22-14 for the game.

The third period went scoreless into the final two minutes before the Griffins found an empty net with Eric Manlow scoring his 11th goal of the year.

Utah outshot the Griffins 32-24 on the night but MacDoanld made 30 saves earning his 14th victory of the season.

Utah will face Grand Rapids again on Friday night at the 'E' Center with face-off scheduled for 7:05 PM.

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