AHL Utah Grizzlies

Storr helps Grizzlies end streak

February 12, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Welcome to Utah Jamie Storr. The veteran goaltender acquired yesterday made 40 saves and Terry Virtue scored a couple of power play goals as the Grizzlies defeated the Grand Rapids Griffins 5-2 ending their 13-game road losing streak.

Utah came out flying in the first period with several quality scoring chances that saw Dana Lattery and Erik Westrum each miss goals by a close margin but the Grizzlies finally took the lead on a great top shelf shot by Aaron Gavey, his third goal of the season, assisted by Martin Sonnenberg and Rick Berry. Utah would add to their lead with great passing on the power play that found Terry Virtue alone in the left wing circle for a one-timer that he buried behind Joey MacDonald for his second goal of the season. Keith Ballard and Gavey drew the assists for the Utah power play goal. Jamie Storr's first period with Utah saw him make 16 saves on 16 shots.

The Grizzlies added to their lead in the second period with Virtue scoring a second power play goal, assisted by Ballard and Peter White at the 2:33 mark of the period. Justin Cox made it 4-0 with his third goal of the season on a great slap shot while flying down the right wing. Gavey drew the only assist on Cox's second goal of the year versus Grand Rapids. Utah wasn't done in the frame as Erik Westrum took a turnover and blasted a shot by Drew MacIntyre who replaced MacDonald after Cox's goal. For Westrum, it was his 10th goal of the year tying him for the team lead and making the score 5-0. The goals by Cox and Westrum were separated by just 42 seconds. Matt Ellis finally got the Griffins on the board at the 13:19 mark of the period with his ninth goal of the season on a back hander that beat Storr. Grand Rapids outshot the Grizzlies 13-11 in the period and had a two period total lead of 29-19 but Storr had turned aside 28 shots through two periods. Late in the second period, Ryan Barnes was called for a five-minute major penalty for checking from behind giving Utah an extended power play for the last three minutes of the second period and the first couple minutes of the third period.

The Griffins scored the only goal of the third period with Todd Robinson blasting a one-timer by Storr for his seventh goal of the season assisted by Eric Himilfarb and Robin Bouchard at the 4:10 mark but that would be the final goal of the game as Utah prevailed 5-2.

Grand Rapids outshot the Grizzlies 42-22 as Storr won his first game with the Grizzlies making 40 saves. MacDonald took the loss dropping to 18-20-1.

Utah will face Milwaukee tomorrow in the final game of their six-game road trip with face-off scheduled for 12:30 PM (mst).

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