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AHL Utah Grizzlies

Utah Manages Three Points in Four Tough Contests

January 5, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


SLAP SHOTS

~The Grizzlies broke a four-game losing skid with their 1-0 shutout in Grand Rapids on Wednesday

~The Grizzlies were outshot 149-83 by their opponents this week

~Jason Bacashihua earned his second shutout of the season with 37 saves on Wednesday

~Mathias Tjarnqvist contributed three goals this week including the game winner at Grand Rapids

~Dan Jancevski scored his third goal of the season and added an assist in a 3-3 tie with Manitoba on Friday

~Nick Naumenko has scored three points in his eight games with the Grizzlies including a goal and an assist this week

~David Gove assisted both of Utah's goals in the Grizzlies' 5-2 loss at Milwaukee on Tuesday

A LOOK AT LAST WEEK (1-2-1-0)

Tuesday @ Milwaukee Loss 5-2
Wednesday @ Grand Rapids Win 1-0
Friday @ Manitoba Tie 3-3
Saturday @ Manitoba Loss 4-2

The Grizzlies began the week in Milwaukee playing the second game of their eight-game road trip. Utah got off to a good start with a first period power play goal but watched as Milwaukee would score five goals in all en route to a 5-2 victory over the Grizzlies in the team's first of 10 meetings on the season. Greg Classes had a goal and two helpers for Milwaukee and goaltender Greg Hewitt won his AHL debut making 24 saves in front of 5,226 fans in the Bradley Center. Utah jumped all over the Admirals early getting eight of the first 11 shots recorded in the first period. Utah manned off a 5-on-3 Milwaukee power play and took advantage themselves when they received a chance with Jarrod Skalde re-directing a Nick Naumenko shot gaining his 12th goal of the season and third power play goal. David Gove also added an assist. Utah outshot the Admirals 11-9 after one period. The Grizzlies were dominated in the second period getting outshot 16-5 and giving up four power play opportunities, one 5-on-3. Curtis Murphy wristed a shot on net late in the period and Greg Classen re-directed in for his fifth goal of the season. Brad Tiley added the second assist for Milwaukee tying the score at one goal apiece. A turnover cost the Grizzlies in the third period as Mathieu Darsche stopped a pass attempt just outside the Grizzlies line before centering the puck to a wide-open Tony Hrkac who scored the first of two goals in the period. Jay Henderson and Darren Haydar also added goals for the Admirals, while Matthias Tjarnqvist scored his third goal in his first game back with Utah. Hrkac's final goal was an empty-netter giving the Admirals the 5-2 victory.

The Grizzlies had little time to lick their wounds and were back in action against the West Division leading Grand Rapids Griffins on Wednesday. Utah didn't let a 23 shot difference ruin their New Year's Eve party as they used a third period goal and 37 saves from Michigan native Jason Bacashihua to ground the Griffins 1-0 in front of 9,079 fans at the Van Andel Arena. The teams skated through two scoreless periods before Utah used their fifth power play chance to capitalize with Mathias Tjarnqvist re-directing a Dylan Gyori pass behind Marc Lamothe for the game's only goal. Gerard DiCaire also added an assist on Tjarnqvist's fourth goal of the season and second in as many games. Bacashihua stopped 15 shots in the first period, turned aside 11 shots in the second period and 11 in the third period including a total of four Griffin's power plays to earn his second shutout of the season and fifth professional shutout. The win improved Bacashihua's record to 4-10-2 and stopped the Grizzlies losing slide at four games. The Griffins outshot the Grizzlies 37-14 for the game as Utah never mustered more than five shots in any one period. Lamothe stopped 13 of Utah's 14 shots.

Utah continued their road trip on Friday night against the Manitoba Moose.The Grizzlies scored in the first minute of both the first and second periods and Jason Bacashihua made 35 saves earning a tie in a game Utah led 3-1 after two period. Manitoba scored two goals in 24 seconds of the third in front of 6,245 fans in the historic Winnipeg Arena to earn a point. In the first period the Grizzlies opened the game with a perfect trap that created a chance for Dan Jancevski who capitalized with his fourth goal of the season assisted by David Bararuk and Justin Cox. The goal came just 38 seconds into the game. The Moose would come back with Brandon Nolan scoring his fourth goal of the year on a delayed penalty call and with an extra skater. Kirill Koltsov and Brandon Reid recorded the assists for Manitoba at the 2:56 mark of the first period. The Moose outshot the Grizzlies 11-4 through 20 minutes. The second period saw the Grizzlies turn things around beginning 37 seconds into the period when Matthias Tjarnqvist jumped off the bench on a line change and jumped into a pass from Bararuk beating Tyler Moss. Antti Miettinen playing in his first game since Dec. 3 scored a power play goal late in the second period for his fourth goal of the season giving Utah a 3-1 lead after two periods.The Moose would capitalize on poor coverage in front of Bacashihua as they scored a pair of goals in 24 seconds tying the score at 3-3. Martin Grenier redirected a pass by Bacashihua brining the Moose within a goal and than Justin Morrison would tie the score with his seventh of the season making it 3-3 after three periods. Manitoba would get a power play in the overtime and get several great chance mainly Ryan Ready sneaking a puck under Bacashihua that just missed the post sliding wide. The final shots on net favored the Moose 38-24 with Utah giving up 30+ shots for the ninth straight game.

The Grizzlies met the Moose again on Saturday. In the rematch, Utah was able to play a solid first period but disappeared in the final two periods as Manitoba captured a 4-2 victory in front of 6,710 fans at Winnipeg Arena. The Grizzlies scored early for the second consecutive game versus the Moose as Barrett Heisten took a pass from Antti Miettinen and bounced a puck off Tyler Moss' glove over the goaltender and across the line. Tim Wedderburn also was credited with an assist and for Miettinen his assist gives him a five-game point streak (4-2 –6 during the streak). The Moose would take advantage of a misplayed puck by Utah netminder Mike Smith and tie the game with just 27 second remaining in the period. Tyler Bouck got credit for his sixth goal and Dallas Eakins earned the assist. Utah outshot the Moose 12-7 through 20 minutes of play. Once again in the second period it was Bouck who beat Smith as this time he wristed a shot above the glove of Smith off a nice feed from Chris Neilsen. The Moose led 2-1 after two periods and outshot the Grizzlies 17-5 in the second period. The Moose would add to their lead when Brandon Nolan would score his second goal in as many nights giving Manitoba a 3-1 lead in the third period. The Grizzlies would use a Nick Naumenko blast for his second goal of the year putting his club to within a goal at 3-2 but Bouck would get his hat trick after being a healthy scratch last night by putting in a rebound off his own shot past Smith. The Moose outshot the Grizzlies 14-2 in the final period and overall outshot the Grizzlies 38-19 in the game and 31-7 in the final two periods.

ROSTER REPORT

Right wing David Oliver and Defenseman Trevor Daley were both re-called by the Dallas Stars.

THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS

Chicago - 17-13-5-2, 41 pts. (2nd - Western Division)...Since handling the Grizzlies 4-0 on Dec. 27, the Wolves have won only two of their five games. On Sunday, Toronto picked up a 5-4 decision over Chicago. Steve Maltais continues to lead the Wolves in scoring with 25 points.

Grand Rapids - 20-12-4-0, 44 pts. (1st - Western Division)...Though leading the Western Division, the Griffins have entered a sudden slump. Grand Rapids has been outscored 12-1 in their last three games including two shutouts, first by on Wednesday and again on Saturday when Milwaukee posted a 7-0 victory. This is Grand Rapids' first three-game losing skid of the season.

Milwaukee - 17-9-4-2, 40 pts. (3rd - Western Division)...The Admirals have lost only once since Dec. 14 and are currently on a three-game winning streak. In fact, the Admirals have outscored their opponents 18-4 in their last three games. Right Wing Darren Haydar leads the Admirals' scoring and has had four goals in his last three outings.

GRIZZLIES THREE STARS OF THE WEEK

1.) Mathias Tjarnqvist - Three goals this week including the game winner against Grand Rapids on Wednesday

2.) Jason Bacashihua - Stopped 37 shots to earn the shutout in Grand Rapids on Wednesday

3.) Dan Jancevski - Contributed a goal and an assist in 3-3 tie with Manitoba on Friday

WHAT'S ON TAP

Wed. Jan. 7 – @ Chicago Wolves, Allstate Arena - -6:00 PM mst – ESPN Radio 1230-AM

Fri. Jan. 9 – @ Grand Rapids Griffins, Van Andel Arena - -5:30 PM mst – ESPN Radio 1230-AM

Sat. Jan. 10 – @ Milwaukee Admirals, Bradley Center - -12:30 PM mst – ESPN Radio 1230-AM

Mon. Jan. 12 – Vs. Milwaukee Admirals, ‘E' Center - -7:05 PM mst – ESPN Radio 1230-AM

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