AHL Utah Grizzlies

Utah loses to Chicago

Published on February 26, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


ROSEMONT, ILL - The Grizzlies continued their struggles in the windy city on Saturday night falling to 1-5 on the season against Chicago including 0-3 in the Allstate Arena after a 5-1 loss. The Wolves used four first period goals to cruise to their third straight victory and Utah dropped to 1-15 in their last 16 road games.

The Wolves jumped all over the Grizzlies in the first period scoring four times making the first period difference 14-3 in six games versus Utah. The Wolves leading goal scorer Brad Larsen scored the first goal of the game at the 3:22 mark, his 22nd of the season, assisted by Cory Larose and Steve Maltais. Chicago added to their lead on the power play when Greg Hawgood snuck in and took a pass from J.P. Vigier scoring his fourth goal of the season, two of them have come against Utah, assisted by Vigier and Tommi Santala extending his point streak to eight games. The Wolves made it 3-0 with Utah on the power play as Travis Roche and Derek MacKenzie went in on a shorthanded two-on-one that MacKenzie finished off with his 10th goal of the season and his league-leading fifth shorthanded goal. Roche and Hawgood drew the assists. Chicago capped off the first 20 minutes with Larose scoring his 20th goal of the season assisted by Larsen and Maltais. Grizzlies goaltender David LeNeveu made the first save but the rebound went in off Martin Sonnenberg. Chicago outshot the Grizzlies 13-10. Kari Lehtonen made 10 saves in goal for Chicago.

Utah played well in the second period outshooting the Wolves 13-10 with neither team scoring until the final minute of the frame when Brian Sipotz wrested a shot by Jamie Storr who replaced LeNeveu at the beginning of the period. The goal by Sipotz was his second goal, both against Utah. Santala and Vigier were credited with the assists, the second of the night for each respectively.

Utah got on the board in the third period on a great individual effort by Aaron Gavey who scored while laying on his stomach sliding a shot past Lehtonen. For Gavey, it was his fourth goal of the season assisted by Dustin Wood and Fredrik Sjostrom at the 5:05 mark of the period. Chicago outshot the Grizzlies 35-29 in the game as Lehtonen finished the night making 28 saves earning his 26th victory of the season. Storr stopped 21 of 22 shots he faced in relief as LeNeveu takes the loss falling to 6-22-2.

Chicago finished the game 1 for 4 on the power play and Utah failed to convert on five man advantages.

Utah will face Chicago again on Wednesday night with face-off scheduled for 6:00 PM (mst).

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American Hockey League Stories from February 26, 2005


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