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ECHL Utah Grizzlies

Three-Game Win Streak Highlights Past Week

February 24, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


UINTA BEER WHAT'S ON TAP

Wed. Feb. 26 -- vs. Milwaukee Admirals, E-Center - - 7:00 PM mst – ESPN Radio 1230-AM
Fri. Feb. 28 -- at Milwaukee Admirals, Bradley Center - - 6:12 PM mst – ESPN Radio 1230-AM
Sat. Mar. 1 -- at Chicago Wolves, Allstate Arena - - 6:00 PM mst – ESPN Radio 1230-AM
Sun. Mar. 2 – at Chicago Wolves, Allstate Arena - - 2:00 PM mst – ESPN Radio 1230-AM

SLAP SHOTS

~The Grizzlies three-game win streak matches the longest of the season for Utah
~Utah is without a win in their last four West Division games (0-3-0-1)
~Bubba Berenzweig has four points (2-2-4) and is a +4 in his last four games
~The Grizzlies have scored power play goals in each of their last 15 games (19-93, 20.4%)
~Utah has outshot their opponent in seven of the last 10 periods
~Marc-Andre Thinel has three assists in his last three games
~David Gosselin has three goals and an assist in his last three games
~Utah is first in the AHL averaging 28.2 PIM's per game

A LOOK AT LAST WEEK (3-1-0-0)

The week started with Utah winding up a three-game West Division road trip in Milwaukee on Tuesday night with a 7-4 loss making it six consecutive games for the Grizzlies without a win. Utah jumped out to a 2-0 first period but lead but soon found themselves trailing the Admirals 4-2. Goals by David Oliver (his second of the game) and Jim Montgomery pulled the Grizzlies even but Milwaukee answered a minute later with Wyatt Smith re-gaining the lead for Milwaukee. Two goals in the final minute inflated the score to 7-4 in favor of the Admirals. Oliver finished the game with four points (2-2-4) and Marcus Kristoffersson had three points (1-2-3). Utah was back on the ice Wednesday versus Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in Utah and had to muster everything they had to continue in a streak that saw the Grizzlies play seven games in nine nights. A shorthanded goal by Alexandre Daigle made things look grim for the Grizzlies but Mark Wotton answered with a shorthanded goal of his own. Oliver continued his torrid pace scoring a goal for the third straight game giving Utah the lead they would not relinquish in route to a 5-2 victory. David Gosselin scored a pair for the Grizzlies and Kristoffersson scored for the second straight game. Mike Smith made 28 saves improving his record to 3-2 on the year. The rematch with the Penguins came on Friday night and Utah skated as well as they have all season. Oliver scored for the fourth straight game early in the first period and pushed the Grizzlies to a 2-0 lead after one period. A goal by Colby Armstrong pulled the relentless Penguins within one but Utah proceeded to rattle off three straight gaining a 5-1 lead in the second period. Kris Beech would later score two goals and Daigle would add another making it interesting but a shorthanded goal by Barrett Heisten created by Montgomery and Bubba Berenzweig would put the game away for the Grizzlies giving them a two game sweep of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and giving Smith back-to-back victories in net for Utah. On Saturday night in Grand Rapids, the Grizzlies and Griffins would play a playoff type game with Utah prevailing 2-1. The Grizzlies broke the scoreless tie in the second period when Gosselin netted a power play goal. Grand Rapids would counter with a man advantage goal of their own scored by Grizzly killer Jason Williams who just three weeks earlier scored a pair of third period goals giving the Griffins a 3-2 victory in the E-Center. With the score tied 1-1, Wotton would free up Oliver late in the third period allowing him to make a move around the check defenseman Dave Van Drunen and find Kristoffersson across the goalmouth for the game winning goal. Jason Bacashihua ended a winless drought making 23 saves for Utah who won their third consecutive game.

ROSTER REPORT

The Grizzlies were assigned defenseman Andy "Bubba" Berenzweig on Monday after he was acquired by the Dallas Stars from the Nashville Predators in exchange for right wing Jon Sim. Berenzweig was the Captain of the Milwaukee Admirals at the time of the trade and made his Utah debut in the Bradley Center against his old mates. Utah also re-called forward Marc-Andre Thinel from Lexington (ECHL) who notched helpers in three of the four games he played last week.

THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT

Milwaukee Admirals – 21-19-12-4, 58 pts. (5th – West Division)...This is the sixth of 10 meetings with Milwaukee who owns a four games to one advantage thus far. The teams will meet on both Wednesday and Friday. Utah leads the Admirals by five points in the West Division and in the Western Conference playoff race making the two-game set a huge four point carrot. Bubba Berenzweig will meet his former team for the second time and for the first at the E-Center. Players to Watch: Darren Haydar (23-37-60) is the top scoring rookie in the AHL and tied for fith overall in the league scoring race...Former Grizzly Cameron Mann is second on the Admirals with 47 points (19-28-47)...The Admirals are 3-1 at the E-Center this year...Chicago Wolves – 28-20-7-3, 66 pts. (2nd – West Division)...The two teams will meet on both Saturday and Sunday in the Allstate arena in the final two games against Chicago this year. The Grizzlies are 4-2-0-2 thus far in the match-ups ...The Wolves lead Utah by three points in the standings and are currently fifth in the Western Conference trailing Hershey by just a point...Two of Chicago's three goaltenders are currently on re-call with the injury plagued Atlanta Thrashers (Frederic Cassivi and Milan Hnilicka).Players to Watch: Steve Maltais (22-38-60) is tied for fifth in the AHL scoring race...Kurtis Foster is third among defensemen with 12 goals...Rookie Mark Hartigan (13-29-42) is among the rookie leaders in the AHL in points.

FROM THE COACHES OFFICE

~On Saturday's Game in Grand Rapids - - "I expect most of the games the rest of the way to have that kind of intensity and atmosphere. Each team is fighting for something right now making the two points so important for each club. Games like Saturday's, especially on the road, is great training and conditioning for the playoffs."

~On David Oliver's hot stretch - - "He certainly is making up for lost time. He has been our best player over the last week and has added to our leadership and brought enthusiasm on to the ice."

~On the addition of defensemen Bubba Berezweig - - "I think it is a real positive addition to our club. He has been outstanding defensively and we know what he is capable of offensively. He has helped our team moving the puck up to the forwards and used his strength of carrying the puck to help make our defensive unit very deep and solid."

~On the importance of the four divisional games this week - - "It doesn't get any tighter than this. We could have to play either club in the playoffs and it seems that week by week teams can move from the 4th spot to the 10th spot in the playoffs so each and every game is important. We need to establish ourselves in the two-game series with Milwaukee because they have played so well against us this season and the games with Chicago are always intense carrying the rivalry on from the IHL days now into the AHL."

GRIZZLIES THREE STARS OF THE WEEK

1.) David Oliver – four goals and five assists

2.) Marcus Kristoffersson – three goals and three assists

3.) Bubba Berenzweig – two goals and two assists

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