Weekend Preview/Playoff Update - Utah Grizzlies vs Victoria Salmon Kings

Okay, we get it. Sometimes it takes a little to get used to playing a new team. Sometimes there is pressure playing in front of your home fans. Sometimes you're just inexperienced and you don't know exactly what to expect. But you always have a choice - you can give it your best and feel good about the result, or you can make a bunch of excuses and always wonder whether or not you could have done better.

This is that kind of moment for the Utah Grizzlies.

The team is now in what we call "Yoda Territory". They are down 3 games in a best of 7 series, and haven't left themselves a lot of wiggle room. According to Adrian Denny's game day blog, Coach Colley is going to break down the game into 12 five minute segments and emphasize winning each one. Hey, they have to try something. But as Yoda says, "Do or do not - there is no try." If they "do not," then their season is not. (Our own little philosophic touch there.)

The way the Grizzles came out in the first series, we saw what they were capable of. We already knew this, of course, because they sat at the top of the Western Conference for quite some time. But with changes to the team, some injuries, and some uninspired play down the stretch, we kind of forgot how good they were. We think maybe they did too.

The Grizzlies have had their chances in all three games, and though the series tally doesn't show it, it's been a pretty tight matchup. It could just as easily have been Victoria down 3-0. As defenseman Nick Tuzzolino said, "In any of the three games, if you didn't look at the scoreboard, you couldn't tell who won." That might be profound... But it's true, especially of the last game that Victoria won in overtime. Call it luck, bounces or whatever, but the Grizzlies have to find a way to push past it and make it less even in their favor.

As we pointed out many times this season, Utah is at their best when they play for each other. As soon as they become selfish, everything falls apart. The common goal of everyone on the team at this point (we assume) is to win a championship. But not one guy on that team can win it by himself. They need each other, and have to realize they are needed by their teammates. Besides, the achievement is that much sweeter when you celebrate it with your friends.

We know the Grizzlies can do this. It is, difficult, but not impossible - especially not for this team. But, if like young Luke Skywalker, they sit around thinking they can't believe it, Yoda has another response: "That is why you fail." Fail would be in the "do not" category, as imparted by Master Yoda. Winning every 5 minute segment of that game is a "do". We hope that Tuzzolino speaks for the team when he says, "We're still positive. We're still of the mentality that we can force this into a seven-game series."

Puck drops at 8:00 pm tonight in Victoria. Time to choose to climb out of the hole. Believe it, do it, and do it for your friends. May the Force be with you.

Game 2: Salmon Kings 4, Grizzlies 2

Really, Utah? THIS is your playoff hockey?

To say this game was a disappointment would be a vast understatement. The Grizzlies didn't look like they knew how to pass, were looking at the bench more than they were the puck, and were fighting among each other in the 2nd. Yeah. We saw that, Utah. The whole game left us with the distinct taste of "WTF?" in our mouths.

Our two highlights? Nick Tuzzolino's goal and Shea Guthrie taking the puck to the net late in the 3rd followed by McIlveen picking up the rebound. We were mostly shocked to see anyone picking up a rebound, let alone having a beautiful SOG result from it. Actually, Carroll's goal was a thing of beauty as well. Thumbs up for these 10 seconds of the game.

Other than that, pure crap in our book. And while we're more disgusted with Utah, the Salmon Kings didn't look so hot either. How on earth do you miss a two-on-none with an empty net, Victoria? At least you made us laugh . . .

Boo to the uncalled elbow on Donovan. Like we said: a distinct taste of WTF?

Nice job staying out of the box, Grizzlies. But we really don't think anyone cared enough to commit any penalties.

Utah - knock off this bullshit. Get your heads in the game, focus on your 15 wins, and take care of business. Stop underachieving and have some damn pride.


Here's to a road sweep.

Stars of the Game -

1. VIC - C. Painchaud
2. UTA - M. Carroll
3. VIC - R. Hennigar

Links -
post game || Victoria Takes 2-0 Series Lead With 4-2 Win
gamesheet || Victoria at Utah - 4/16/11
highlights || Game Highlights 4/16/11 vs Victoria
interview || Kevin Colley 4/16/11 post game
interview || Chris Donovan 4/16/11 intermission

It's that time of year again!

Time for growing beards! Not that me or my fellow writers can. Yet. Ask us in many years when we are old women if our whiskers have grown in yet.

Welcome back to our Grizzly world, Nick Tuzzolino! You're just in time for the play-offs. Does that make you happy? It sure makes us happy. Nick returning is a great thing. He's been with the AHL's Portland Pirates since February 15. Before that he was second in the league for shots on goal, tied for the lead in power play points, and the team was 23-17-3-1 with him in the line-up. Here's hoping he'll quickly find his groove with the team again.

A lot is happening this week, namely the start of the playoffs. Tomorrow. Yes. Really, they start tomorrow. For the first round we are playing Stockton, starting at home. This is the first time in 10 years the Grizzlies have started the play-offs at home. Another first: this is the first time the Grizzlies and Stockton have ever played each other in the post-season.

So what's the situation? Well, with a combined 728 penalty minutes in 11 games this year, the teams show they are a feisty bunch. That's an average of 66.1 minutes per game, if you were wondering. Stockton led the series this year 7-3-1, but Utah is 2-0 versus Pacific Division opponents in the first round of the playoffs in the ECHL. Kevin Deeth is the top scorer this year against Stockton. In his recent three starts at home, Lamoureaux went 3-0. He won one, lost one against Stockton in the 11 game series.

ECHL.com put out a nice sheet of information about this round of the play-offs. Some highlights:
-Both teams have appeared 5 times in the play-offs
-It's a best of 5 series, not 7 like some are accustomed to from the NHL
-The stats are stacked against the Grizzlies, it's going to be a tough road

That said, the games at home are tomorrow April 5, and Wednesday April 6. Hate to say it, but this could be the last time we get to see the Grizzlies at home this season. Go get tickets! Tomorrow select tickets in the lower-bowl are 2 for 1.

Congratulations to Justin Donati for winning the EHCL scoring title this season with 94 points. Andrew Engelage finished as the #11 goaltender in the league.

Post Game: Condors 4, Grizzlies 3

Grizzlies lose.

The boys looked amazing in the 1st, picking up two goals and dominating the puck. Utah piled on 11 SOG to Bakersfield's 6. However, the Grizzlies didn't look so hot in the 2nd.

We'd mentioned before that the boys have been starting out the 2nd period sloppy, yet so far they'd been fortunate enough to hold on until the opposing team lost the post-intermission momentum. But last night, the Condors picked up 2 goals before the halfway mark of the period to tie things up and snatch control away from Utah. We'd actually been waiting for one of the opposing teams to realize that the Grizzlies were slower in the beginning of the middle frame and take full advantage of that, so we weren't particularly surprised when the Condors figured it out.

We were a little surprised at some of the calls in the top of the 3rd, though. Yeah, if you were watching on the B2, you saw the leveling hit on Morency that took him out of the game . . . several hundred times. To us, it looked clean: Morency had the puck, his head was up, but the Grizzlies ended up shorthanded. Fair enough - this is the ECHL after all and we're not officials.

But honestly, Kaip . . . what was with the joke move on Tuzzolino before the puck dropped? Cute one, chief.

Utah improved on their power play, going 2 for 6 on the man advantage. I'm sure this was a relief to Colley after the 0 for 7 job the boys pulled on Wednesday. We'd like to see them keep improving on this tonight (and we're sure Colley would, too).

Stars of the Game -

*Wha? All from Bakersfield. Whatevs.

Links -
post game || Grizzlies fall 4-3 in Bakersfield
gamesheet || Utah at Bakersfield - 11/12/10
highlights || Game Highlights 11/12/10 at Bakersfield
interview || Matt Clarke 11/12/10 intermission

Post Game: Grizzlies 3, Wranglers 2 (OT)

Utah wins. Huzzah!

The Grizzlies really dominated the 1st period, even though no goals were scored on either side. What we really noticed was the amazing control the boys had over the puck during that initial frame. Whenever Vegas touched the puck, it seemed like Utah snatched it right back. And throughout the game, the Grizzlies piled on more SOG overall with 37 to the Wranglers 27.

Of course it wasn't all roses. The boys came out pretty sloppy in the 2nd period, but with back to back goals in that frame it is hard to complain about it. Though, we have our suspicions that was the only way to appease Colley after such a start.

And of course, the Crowders and Carpentier were definitely the talk of the night with all 3 goals being a product of that line, with a little help from Nick Tuzzolino for the game winner. Also wanted to point out Brad Snetsinger's 7 SOG as well. Another fun fact we found in the official post game: "Goaltender Andrew Engelage stopped 25 of 27 shots, including 23-straight" Nicely done boys.

And for anyone watching on the B2 you'll have noticed Vegas named their power play the Roulette Power Play. We tried to find out actual roulette odds to compare to the Wranglers power play percentage, but we only figured out that they went 0 for 3 on the power play for Friday. (Nice PK, boys!) So our guess is that you might have slightly better odds with roulette.

Stars of the Game -

1. UTA - T. Crowder
2. LV - C. Long
3. LV - V. Bellissimo


Links -

post game || Grizzlies Beat Las Vegas 3-2 in Overtime
gamesheet || Utah at Las Vegas - 11/5/10
highlights || Game Highlights 11/5/10 at Las Vegas

Game Day: Idaho Steelheads

Ah, the Idaho Steelheads.

After splitting a two game preseason series with the Steelheads, the Grizzlies look to start their 8 game road trip on the right foot. According to Adrian's blog this morning, it may be an uphill battle: "Last year, Utah was outshot 361-252 in 10 games played here and outscored 10-7 in the first period while being outshot 110-68 in the opening frames." On top of these stats, Idaho's goalie Mike Zacharias is tied for fifth in the league with a 2.01 goals-against average, which means Utah will need to look sharp in all areas tonight.

The Grizzlies picked up some new help this week in the form of defenseman Nick Tuzzolini and forwards Kevin Deeth and Tyler Ruegsegger. D-man Tuzzolino is no stranger to Grizzlies fans, having spent 2 seasons in Alaska and should add to the experience of the defensive lines. Deeth adds speed and a strong, accurate shot to the front end, while Ruegsegger brings an ability to take the puck to the net for the goal. This will be much needed with Parnham out on the 21-day IR. We found a nice goal of Ruegsegger's on YouTube and fans should recognize former Grizzly Tom May in the clip as well.



Andrew Engelage will get his first start of the season. Derlago is the man to watch out for, leading the Steelheads with 4 goals.

Game starts tonight at 7:10 pm, and the pregame show at 6:40, on 1230 KFAN-2 or you can watch online at the B2 Network which is probably what we'll be doing . . . after we finish traffic school.

Go Grizzlies!