ECHL Utah Grizzlies

Victoria Edges Out Utah In Game 1: Game 2 Saturday At Maverik Center

Published on April 15, 2011 under ECHL (ECHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release


West Valley City, Utah - The Victoria Salmon Kings added a late empty-net goal to break open a 3-2 game and beat the Utah Grizzlies 4-2 Friday night at Maverik Center in game one of the Western Conference semi-final series.

"We knew it was going to be a long battle," said Grizzlies Head Coach Kevin Colley. "Our guys battled their butts off tonight, we just didn't bury our opportunities. It wasn't our night. It's great to see our power-play keep putting the pucks into the back of the net though."

Each team traded early first period power-play goals, with the ECHL's leading playoff scorer and Utah captain Simon Ferguson jamming in his fourth goal of the playoffs to tie the game at one 11:27 into the first period. Giffen Nyren and Matt Reber picked up assists on the power-play goal.

Victoria scored two five-on-five goals in a 5:32 span (18:32 of first period and 4:04 of second period) to make the game 3-1 as they scored on two shots through traffic that both went off of bodies in front and past a screened J.P. Lamoureux.

Utah got back within a goal as their league-leading power-play struck again early in the third period as Matt Reber picked up his second assist of the night as he went circle to circle to Brett Parnham for his third goal of the playoffs. Utah finished the night a perfect 2-2 on the power-play.

As Utah worked in the final minute of the game with an extra-attacker they had several good chances before Victoria found an empty-net and made the game 4-2. Game 2 with Victoria is scheduled for Saturday at 7:05 p.m.

Friday, April 15: Victoria 4 Utah 2 Saturday, April 16: Victoria at Utah, 7:05 p.m. Wednesday, April 20: Utah at Victoria, 8:05 p.m. Friday, April 22: Utah at Victoria, 8:05 p.m. **Saturday, April 23: Utah at Victoria, 8:05 p.m. **Monday, April 25: Victoria at Utah, 7:05 p.m. **Wednesday, April 27: Victoria at Utah, 7:05 p.m. All times mountain. **If Necessary**

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ECHL Stories from April 15, 2011


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