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AHL Utah Grizzlies

Utah defeats Grand Rapids

April 10, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


WEST VALLEY CITY, UT - In their final regular season home game the Grizzlies jumped out to 3-0 lead and made it last holding on for a 4-3 triumph over the Grand Rapids Griffins.

The Grizzlies came out on fire playing their best first period of the season scoring three times and outshooting the Griffins 12-2. The first goal came on a breakaway by Kiel McLeod who made a spectacular move beating Joey MacDonald for his 13th goal of the season assisted by Dustin Wood at the 7:06 mark. The Grizzlies lit the lamp again at the 12:14 mark on a slap shot by Matthew Spiller on the power play that skipped by MacDonald for his fourth goal of the season assisted by Terry Virtue and McLeod. The Grizzlies added to their lead with another man advantage goal this time scored by Peter White swiping a rebound into the net for his 13th goal of the season playing in his 999th professional game. David Cornacchia and Frantisek Lukes had the assists for Utah at 17:22. Jamie Storr had a quiet period in net for Utah seeing just two shots and stopping them both. The Grizzlies finished the period 2 for 4 on the power play and the Griffins did not have one man advantage.

In the second period, the Griffins battled back generating 20 of the 25 shots in the period and scoring twice. Jeff Panzer cut the lead to 3-1 just 3:02 into the period but Utah answered when Fredrik Sjostrom one-timed a shot by MacDonald ending his night as Drew MacIntyre replaced the iron man in goal. For Sjostrom, it was his 13th goal of the season assisted by Lukes and Joe Callahan. The Griffins cut the lead in half with a goal by Mark Eaton that crept through the legs of Storr for his fourth goal of the season.

The Griffins made the game interesting scoring the only goal of the third period when Jiri Hudler knocked a shot by Storr off a great feed from former Grizzly Kip Miller. With the lead cur to 4-3, the Griffins would try everything they could to tie things up and earn a point but the Grizzlies defense and Storr thwarted every effort.

Grand Rapids finished the game on top in the shot column outgunning the Grizzlies 41-27 including 39-13 in the final two periods.

The Grizzlies begin a season-ending four game road trip on Wednesday in Cleveland. Face-off is scheduled for 5:00 PM (mst).

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