On the Road Again . . .

The Grizzlies hit the road for the Thanksgiving holiday. The boys play 4 games in 5 nights, which is quite the schedule, but so far this season Utah has a better record on the road. Though, the Grizzlies have only played 4 games at home, so we don't know if that says much. They start out their road trip back in Bakersfield, which should make for an interesting match on Wednesday.

Since news is slow today, we decided to check on some former Grizzlies players in Europe.

James Sixsmith has picked up 6 points (2g, 4a) in 20 games with the Cologne Sharks in the DEL. We found this interview of Sixer on YouTube:



After looking up Sixsmith, we headed over to Croatia (figuratively speaking, of course) to check on the former Grizzlies captain Ryan Kinasewich.


Snatch has picked up 25 points (10g, 15a) in 20 games with the Medveščak Zagreb. We also found some clips of Ryan, but they've been dubbed so we can't be sure of what he's saying. We think we can hear ECHL and Utah Grizzlies in there somewhere . . .



In other ECHL news, former Steelheads goalie Richard Bachman picked up the Goalie of the Week award in the AHL. This doesn't surprise us for some reason . . . Bachman picked up all three wins in his 3 starts last week.

Best of luck on the road, Grizzlies!

What to do in the summertime?

Ah, life without live hockey: this is what hell must be like. Particularly since ice couldn't last down there . . .

If you haven't seen this already on Puck Daddy, we've decided to post it here since it was in the ECHL. The Royals and the Cyclones got into a line brawl this Sunday at the end of Game 5 of their playoff series. Apparently it resulted in almost an hour's worth of penalty minutes, some suspensions and fines. We found it on YouTube and have posted it below. The narration on this is all class (sarcasm intended), so consider yourself forewarned if you watch with the sound on.

Kind of old news, but as we haven't posted it yet: Ryan Kinasewich will be headed to the KHL next season. It looks like he will be joining the Medvescak Zagreb and playing with former Grizzlies defensman Andy Sertich. Snatch is scheduled to arrive in Croatia at the end of July. The kid's been a Grizzlies' icon for last 5 years, so we're really sad to see him go. Best of luck, Ryan!


If you want to watch Andy and Ryan in the KHL, you can usually find live feeds of the games on ChannelSurfing.net. Not to mention, one of our bloggers is currently living in Italy, so we're thinking a trip to Croatia might be in order when the season starts . . .

And speaking of our blog, over the summer we plan on adding some additional bloggers to our staff. If you're interested in writing for us, feel free to send an email to grizzblog@gmail.com.

Also during the summer, we hope to get pictures from the rest of the season up to our Flickr account, as well as updating our social networking accounts at Twitter and Facebook. We'll post updates as we work on getting those in order.

And remember: while WE might be slackers, you can always go read Adrian Denny's summer blogs which he posts every Friday.

Here's to 2010-11!

Game 2: Steelheads 4, Grizzlies 3

This was a hard one to lose in the last few minutes of the final period, especially when we thought the Grizzlies had the go ahead. But it is nice to know that Utah's power play is alive and kicking and the boys can put up a respectable game against the Steelheads.

The Grizzlies struck first at 7:21 of the initial period on the power play. Idaho responded 4 minutes later, tying the game before the end of the 1st. The 2nd remained tied until Tom May tipped in a Ryan Kinasewich slapshot on the power play in the final minute of the period, and Utah took the lead once again, 2-1.

Idaho tied things again early in the 3rd, but Tom May regained the lead for Utah again at the halfway point of the period, 3-2. The Steelheads were quick to respond during a 4-on-3 situation, then took the lead for the first time of the night at 18:19 of the final frame to end the game 4-3 in Idaho's favor.

From the official post game:

The Idaho Steelheads broke a 3-3 tie with 1:41 left in regulation to defeat the Utah Grizzlies 4-3 Saturday night in Boise. Idaho takes a 2-0 series lead with games three, four and five if necessary headed back to the E-Center starting Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. [utahgrizzlies.com]

post game || Idaho Takes Game Two 4-3 With Late Goal
highlights || Game Highlights 4/17/10 at Idaho
gamesheet || Utah at Idaho - 4/17/10
interview || Commissoner Brian McKenna 4/17/10 intermission
blog || Adrian Denny's game day blog


Scoring Summary:

UTA L. Galbraith (2), 7:21 1st period (Kinasewich, Hunter); Grizzlies 1, Steelheads 0
IDH J. Swanson (2), 10:52 1st period; Grizzlies 1, Steelheads 1
UTA T. May (1), 19:07 2nd period (Kinasewich, MacMillan); Grizzlies 2, Steelheads 1
IDH M. McKnight (3), 2:22 3rd period; Grizzlies 2, Steelheads 2
UTA T. May (2), 10:53 3rd period (McJannet, MacMillan); Grizzlies 3, Steelheads 2
IDH E. Barlow (2), 12:25 3rd period (Milnamow, Friesen); Grizzlies 3, Steelheads 3
IDH J. Dickson (2), 18:19 3rd period (Barlow); Grizzlies 3, Steelheads 4


What Worked Well: Power Play
Two of Utah's goals came out of their 5 power play situations. Special teams can either make or break a game, and we think the boys did pretty well on the power play tonight. It was nice to see the boys able to set up on the man advantage and move in for the kill. Nicely done.

What Could Have Worked Better: Staying out of the box
Come on, boys. You're costing yourselves games.

Who Made the Difference: Ryan Kinasewich
While we do want to point out Tom May's work on two of the Utah goals (his first pro playoff goals, btw), we were excited to see the Captain's work on the power play. His slapshot that was tipped in by May on Utah's second goal was a thing of beauty with excellent timing. It really reminded us of the firepower Utah has going for it and what they can do on the man advantage.


Stars of the Game:

1. IDH - J. Dickson
2. UTA - T. May
3. IDH - E. Barlow


Additional Notes:

> Three Grizzlies had multiple point games: Ryan Kinasewich (2a), Malcolm MacMillan (2a), and Tom May (2g).
> Mike Morrison stopped 30 of 34 in the contest.
> Steven Tarasuk made his debut in a Grizzlies jersey. Welcome, Steve!
> James Sixsmith has 12 points (2g, 10a), a +6, and 18 SOG in the playoffs. Captain Kinasewich has 9 points (6g, 3a) and 34 SOG.
> We apologize for the delay; we went to Legends for the game, so it's slightly muddy in our recollection.

Game 1: Steelheads 7, Grizzlies 2

Against a team like Idaho, the Grizzlies just can't bank on that miracle 3rd period we've become accustomed to in the last half of the season.

The Steelheads picked up the first two goals of the game at 13:02 and 13:55 in the 1st. Utah responded before the end of the period with a goal of their own, 2-1. In the 2nd, Idaho struck at 13:02 again with another goal, then increased the deficit on the power play before the Grizzlies scored a power play goal of their own to make it 4-2 heading into the 3rd period.

In the 3rd period, Idaho scored 3 goals in approximately 1 1/2 minutes, which resulted in Morrison being replaced in net with Stehrenberger who stopped all 10 shots he saw. Utah struggled to close the 5 goal gap but to no avail. The game ended 7-2 in Idaho's favor.

From the official post game:

The Idaho Steelheads broke open a 4-2 third period score and defeated the Utah Grizzlies 7-2 Friday night in Boise in game one of the National Conference semifinals. [utahgrizzlies.com]

post game || Grizzlies Drop Game One In Boise
highlights || Game Highlights 4/16/10 at Idaho
gamesheet || Utah at Idaho - 04/16/10
interview || Brock Wilson 4/16/10 intermission
blog || Adrian Denny's game day blog


Scoring Summary:

IDH M. McKnight (1), 13:02 1st period (Tousignant); Steelheads 1, Grizzlies 0
IDH M. McCutcheon (1), 13:55 1st period (Flichel, Milnamow); Steelheads 2, Grizzlies 0
UTA M. MacMillan (2), 18:06 1st period (Clarke, May); Steelheads 2, Grizzlies 1
IDH J. Swanson (1), 13:02 2nd period (Dickson); Steelheads 3, Grizzlies 1
IDH M. McCutcheon (2), 15:29 2nd period (Barlow); Steelheads 4, Grizzlies 1
UTA R. Kinasewich (6), 19:31 2nd period (Hunter, Sixsmith); Steelheads 4, Grizzlies 2
IDH E. Barlow (1), 5:54 3rd period (Dawson); Steelheads 5, Grizzlies 2
IDH M. McKnight (2), 6:35 3rd period (DeVergilio); Steelheads 6, Grizzlies 2
IDH J. Dickson (1), 7:27 3rd period (Flichel); Steelheads 7, Grizzlies 2


What Worked Well: Penalty Kill
The penalty kill was one of the only times the Grizzlies looked alive on the ice during this match. Killing a 5-on-3 and only dropping 1 out of 8, the PK put up some amazing defense to kill off the shorthanded situations Utah continually found themselves in. If Utah had this sort of determination during 5-on-5 situations, this would have been a different game.

What Could Have Worked Better: Staying out of the box
The high penalty count seems to be happening on a pretty regular basis. We don't like it. It takes the boys away from the business of scoring goals and leaves them - for the most part - stuck in their own end. Clean it up, please.

Who Made the Difference: Mike Morrison
While Mike did get pulled in the 3rd, we're guessing it was not soley because of the 7 goals, but to give the poor kid a rest. Morrison stood on his head in the match and made plenty of amazing saves. He's the reason the score was only 4-2 going into the 3rd and considering some of those saves, we're honestly surprised there were only 7 goals allowed rather than 14.


Stars of the Game:

1. IDH - M. McCutcheon
2. IDH - M. McKnight
3. IDH - M. Tousignant


Additional Notes:

> Mike Morrison stopped 35 out or 42 in the match. Stehrenberger stopped 10 of 10 that he saw.
> We really can't think of any additional notes here . . .

Game 5: Grizzlies 5, Wranglers 1

The Grizzlies needed this win to advance, and they deserved every moment of their victory. 12 more wins to the Cup, indeed!

Utah started the scoring 7:36 into the 1st with a goal from Captain Kinasewich. They never looked back. In the 2nd, The Grizzlies tacked on 3 goals in a 2 1/2 minute time span to increase their lead over the Wranglers, 4-0.

James Sixsmith picked up a goal 6:50 into the 3rd, and Las Vegas grabbed their first and only goal of the night on the power play to end the game 5-1 in the Grizzlies favor.

From the official post game:

The Utah Grizzlies defeated the Las Vegas Wranglers 5-1 Tuesday night at the E-Center to win the best-of-five quarterfinal series three games to two. Utah advances to the second round where they will face the Idaho Steelheads in a best-of-seven series that will begin Friday in Boise. [utahgrizzlies.com]

post game || Grizzlies Advance With 5-1 Win Over Las Vegas
highlights || Game Highlights 4/13/10 vs Las Vegas
gamesheet || Las Vegas at Utah - 4/13/10
photos || 4/13/10 - Utah Grizzlies vs Las Vegas Wranglers
interview || Kevin Colley 4/13/10 post game
interview || Justin Suda 4/13/10 intermission
blog || Adrian Denny's game day blog


Photo of the Game:

2nd period - Ryan Kinasewich congratulates his teammates on their goal.

Additional Photos: [Flickr]



Video: [YouTube]

Lance Galbraith vs John Schwartz:




Scoring Summary:

UTA R. Kinasewich (4), 7:36 1st period (Perry, Suda); Grizzlies 1, Wranglers 0
UTA A. Perry (2), 2:57 2nd period (Gannon, Suda); Grizzlies 2, Wranglers 0
UTA T. Crowder (4), 3:11 2nd period (Gannon, Galbraith); Grizzlies 3, Wranglers 0
UTA R. Kinasewich (5), 5:05 2nd period (Sixsmith, Perry); Grizzlies 4, Wranglers 0
UTA J. Sixsmith (2), 6:50 3rd period (Perry, Crowder); Grizzlies 5, Wranglers 0
LV M. Lawrence (1), 8:45 3rd period (Krischuk, Pollastrone); Grizzlies 5, Wranglers 1


What Worked Well: You name it
Too much worked well in this game to single out anything in particular. Defense was kick ass, goaltending was beyond steller, offense pushed it to the limit, special teams were on the ball, and the boys stuck up for each other. Ah, the fights. Overall, a game of epic proportions.

What Could Have Worked Better: Pfft . . .
Not even gonna bother with this one today.

Who Made the Difference: Jake Gannon
All of the boys worked their guts out this game and we definitely want to give special attention to AJ Perry for his work on 4 of the 5 Grizzlies' goals and Mikko Koskinen for his astounding 38 saves. But Jake Gannon really set the tone for the team in the 1st by putting the pressure on the Wranglers and not letting up. And that made all the difference in the world. Nicely done.


Stars of the Game:

1. UTA - A. Perry
2. UTA - M. Koskinen
3. UTA - R. Kinasewich


Additional Notes:

> Six Grizzlies had multiple point games: Ryan Kinasewich (2g), AJ Perry (1g, 3a), Tim Crowder (1g, 1a), James Sixsmith (1g, 1a), Jake Gannon (2a), and Justin Suda (2a).
> Mikko Koskinen stopped 38 of 39 for the win.
> Matt Clarke led the team with 6 SOG. Sixsmith and Kinasewich tied for second with 5 SOG a piece.

One More...

It's been a long season for Grizzlies fans. We've lived through good times, bad times, blah times, bridge-jumping times, and so many roster changes we hardly knew who was on our team for a while. We've seen Captain Kinasewich take over scoring records, and Coach Colley so close to pulling out his hair that the only thing stopping him was how much he paid for the highlights. We've listened to Adrian Denny call away games, taken pictures at home games, and enjoyed countless promotions and fan activities from the team.

And now, it's down to this - one more game.

One more game that will decide whether the Grizzlies move on in the playoffs, or if they're done for the season.

One more chance to cheer them on at the E Center.

And maybe then... one more series.

And maybe one more after that.

And maybe, just maybe, they get one more, and a chance to lift that Kelly Cup.

Think Kevin Colley wants one more championship ring? You better believe it.

Think this team can win one more game? You know it.

Think the Grizzlies can bring Mark Pavli back next season? We're hoping.

E Center tonight at 7:00 pm. All tickets are $10. The time is now. Do it, boys.

Game 3: Wranglers 6, Grizzlies 3

The only reason the Grizzlies stayed in this game is because James Sixsmith makes things happen. The boys need to pick it up if they want to stay in the playoffs past Sunday.

Las Vegas took over the 1st period of play, scoring 3 goals this round to end the period 3-0 in their favor. The Grizzlies exchanged goalies at the end of the period with Morrison taking over for Koskinen in net. The Wranglers increased their lead to 4-0 at the beginning of the 2nd period, but Utah responded with a gorgeous goal from Matt Sorteberg to get the Grizzlies on the scoreboard for the first time in the game. The Grizzlies picked up another goal with a shorthanded effort from Sixsmith and Kinasewich to decrease the deficit, 4-2. About a minute after Vegas decided to maul Sixsmith after the whistle (we missed why), and the boys dove in for a seriously awesome line brawl. However, Las Vegas responded before the end of the period on the power play to regain a 3 goal lead.

Utah struck 0:34 into the 3rd with another Kinasewich goal, but the Wranglers responded with one of their own to end the game 6-3 in their favor.

From the official post game:

The Las Vegas Wranglers defeated the Utah Grizzlies 6-3 Saturday night at the E-Center to take a two games to one lead in this best-of-five first round playoff series. Game four of the series is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. Sunday at the E-Center. [utahgrizzlies.com]

post game || Grizzlies Fall 6-3; Wranglers Take Two-One Series Lead
highlights || Game Highlights 4/10/10 vs Las Vegas
gamesheet || Las Vegas at Utah - 4/10/10
photos || 4/10/10 - Utah Grizzlies vs Las Vegas Wranglers
interview || Peter Vandermeer 4/10/10 intermission
blog || Adrian Denny's game day blog


Photo of the Game:

1st period - James Sixsmith puts on the brakes to follow the puck.
Additional Photos: [Flickr]




Scoring Summary:

LV A. Miller (1), 11:24 1st period (Lukacevic, Goers); Wranglers 1, Grizzlies 0
LV J. Prudden (2), 15:42 1st period (Lukacevic, Krischuk); Wranglers 2, Grizzlies 0
LV C. Neiszner (2), 19:16 1st period (Bourret, Lawrence); Wranglers 3, Grizzlies 0
LV N. Lukacevic (1), 4:47 2nd period; Wranglers 4, Grizzlies 0
UTA M. Sorteberg (1), 8:15 2nd period (MacMillan, Perry); Wranglers 4, Grizzlies 1
UTA R. Kinasewich (1), 10:27 2nd period (Sixsmith, Kilburg); Wranglers 4, Grizzlies 2
LV N. Lukacevic (2), 19:48 2nd period (Miller, Switzer); Wranglers 5, Grizzlies 2
UTA R. Kinasewich (2), 0:34 3rd period (Sixsmith, Galbraith); Wranglers 5, Grizzlies 3
LV A. Bourret (2), 5:15 3rd period (Madill, Lawrence); Wranglers 6, Grizzlies 3


What Worked Well: Sixsmith to Kinasewich
We've said before that Sixsmith can make just about any line work, but the two goals tonight were set up beautifully by James Sixsmith and executed perfectly by Captain Kinasewich. Vegas didn't even see it coming. We expect to see these two on the same line tomorrow as well.

What Could Have Worked Better: Goaltending
Not the greatest game for goaltending. While things were cleaned up a bit in the 3rd, Koskinen allowed 3 out of 8 before getting pulled and Morrison did slightly better, allowing 3 out of 18. The boys definitely could have used a stronger defense, but neither netminder seemed on top of their game tonight.

Who Made the Difference: Ryan Kinasewich
We figured by now that James Sixsmith is just a given factor in the Grizzlies' success each night. However, we'd been waiting to see a game from Kinasewich. Tonight was the night. Picking up two Sixsmith assisted goals, a team leading 6 SOG, and the 3rd star of the game, Ryan boosted his playoff stats to 3 points in 3 games.


Stars of the Game:

1. LV - N. Lukacevic
2. LV - A. Bourret
3. UTA - R. Kinasewich


Additional Notes:

> Ryan Kinasewich (2g) and James Sixsmith (2a) were the only Grizzlies to have multiple point games tonight.
> Something we noticed: Kinasewich had two Wranglers on him the entire game, particularly on the power play. This means we're going to need to see something from the other lines pronto.
> We have several clips of the 2nd period line brawl, but we need to edit it together before we post it.
> Also: Thank You, Matt Sorteberg.

Post Game: Grizzlies 5, Salmon Kings 2

With a solid 3rd period, the Grizzlies were able to wrap up their regular season with a win and a home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Utah picked up an early lead 0:24 seconds into the initial frame with a goal from Dylan Hunter. Victoria responded 5 minutes later with one of their own and the game remained tied during the 1st, 1-1. The Grizzlies grabbed the lead again in the 2nd, with another goal from their top line, but the Salmon Kings tied it up again and the teams headed into the final frame 2-2.

In the 3rd, the Grizzlies dominated the period to wrap the game up nicely. Starting with a Kinasewich goal, Utah picked up 3 goals in this period to end the game 5-2 in their favor.

From the official post game:

Utah captain Ryan Kinasewich started a third period three-goal in 4:17 barrage as he took a setup from Dylan Hunter 3:42 into the frame to give Utah a 3-2 lead on his league-leading 48th goal of the season. 18 seconds later, Tim Crowder knocked in his tenth goal of the year to make it 4-2 as Utah capped off their fastest back-to-back goals this year. [utahgrizzlies.com]

post game || Grizzles Complete Season With 5-2 Third Period Win In Victoria
gamesheet || Utah at Victoria - 4/3/10
blog || Adrian Denny's game day blog


Scoring Summary:

UTA D. Hunter (18), 0:24 1st period (Kinasewich); Grizzlies 1, Salmon Kings 0
VIC L. Morrison (4), 5:06 1st period (Southern, Walsky); Grizzlies 1, Salmon Kings 1
UTA A. Perry (30), 5:57 2nd period (Hunter, Kinasewich); Grizzlies 2, Salmon Kings 1
VIC O. Filion (12), 12:47 2nd period (Goldie); Grizzlies 2, Salmon Kings 2
UTA R. Kinasewich (48), 3:42 3rd period (Hunter, Clarke); Grizzlies 3, Salmon Kings 2
UTA T. Crowder (11), 4:00 3rd period (Sixsmith); Grizzlies 4, Salmon Kings 2
UTA S. McJannet (4), 7:59 3rd period (MacMillan, Galbraith); Grizzlies 5, Salmon Kings 2


What Worked Well: 3rd period
If the Grizzlies were looking to wrap the season up nice and tidy, they did with their domination of the 3rd period. 3 goals came in this final frame to give them the win, and the boys worked to keep the Salmon Kings from responding.

What Could Have Worked Better: Power Play
Going 0 for 4 on the power play, the boys had problems controlling the puck and allowed Victoria to tie things up with a short handed goal. Isn't Utah supposed to have the best power play in the league? Do it better.

Who Made the Difference: Mikko Koskinen
Utah would not have withstood the first 2 periods of this game without Mikko's help in the net. Not to mention his work stopping all 13 shots in the 3rd period of the game, which allowed Utah to grab the win.


Stars of the Game:

1. UTA - R. Kinasewich
2. VIC - E. Walsky
3. UTA - M. Koskinen

Additional Notes:

> Dylan Hunter extended his scoring streak to 13 games.
> Captain Ryan Kinasewich ends the regular season with 48 goals, 103 points, and 322 SOG.
> Utah gains home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs with the win.

Utah Grizzlies news and updates.

Since the effort from the boys last night was so dismal, we thought we'd take a moment to review all the news that's been going on over the last week for a refreshing change of pace.

Grizzlies Awards Banquet

The Grizzlies held their annual Awards Banquet on Monday, March 29. Captain Kinasewich picked up 3 of the awards: Leading Scorer, MVP, and Fan Favorite. You can check out the full list of awards at the Utah Grizzlies website. Congratulations to all award winners!


Adventures in Canada

It sounds like the boys had quite the time getting to Victoria on Tuesday, March 30. After some scheduling issues and delays with getting to the island, the Grizzlies ended up taking the short bus for the last leg of the trip. This story gave us a good chuckle.


YAY for the Playoffs

Old news by now, but the Grizzlies clinched a playoff spot with their 2-1 win over Victoria on Wednesday. This was actually one of the better games we've seen from the boys this season, and they deserved every bit of that playoff spot. Nicely done.


New Goalies Galore

Mike Morrison joined the team this week to complete the Shea Guthrie trade with Florida from earlier in the season. The poor kid had a rough first day on the ice as he made his debut in the Grizzlies 9-2 barfjob loss to Victoria. Sorry about that, Mike.


Captain Kinasewich Rocks the 2009-2010 Season

Last but certainly not least, Ryan Kinasewich was selected for the ECHL 1st Team. Snatch has had a stellar season and this is a nice little cap to the end of 2009-2010. Way to go, Captain! It's well deserved.

Post Game: Salmon Kings 9, Grizzlies 2

Adrian Denny had it right: this was a game to forget. The Grizzlies made the playoffs then abruptly forgot how to play.

Utah started the scoring with a power play goal from Hunter early in the 1st. However, the Grizzlies wouldn't see the back of the net again until the end of the 2nd. Victoria tacked on 7 goals (2 in the 1st, 5 in the 2nd) before Utah responded at 19:06 of the 2nd with Kinasewich's 47th of the year. The captain's goal also broke the team record for most goals scored in a season.

During the 3rd, Victoria tallied two more goals to end the game wildly in their favor, 9-2. Barfjob.

From the official post game:

The Victoria Salmon Kings defeated the Utah Grizzlies (33-29-4-5) 9-2 Friday night in Victoria. [utahgrizzlies.com]

post game Grizzlies Fall 9-2 In Victoria
highlights Game Highlights 4/2/10 at Victoria
gamesheet Utah at Victoria - 4/2/10
interview Ryan Kinasewich 4/2/10 intermission
blog Adrian Denny's game day blog


Scoring Summary:

UTA D. Hunter (17), 2:55 1st period (Perry, Galbraith); Grizzlies 1, Salmon Kings 0
VIC W. Goldie (42), 9:01 1st period (Filion, Siddall); Grizzlies 1, Salmon Kings 1
VIC W. Goldie (43), 19:47 1st period (Sharrow, Fisher); Grizzlies 1, Salmon Kings 2
VIC C. Painchaud (30), 7:44 2nd period (Siddall, Roach); Grizzlies 1, Salmon Kings 3
VIC A. Brandt (13), 8:02 2nd period (Gelech, Taylor); Grizzlies 1, Salmon Kings 4
VIC W. Goldie (44), 13:42 2nd period (Sharrow); Grizzlies 1, Salmon Kings 5
VIC D. Southern (9), 15:33 2nd period (Siddall, Wedderburn); Grizzlies 1, Salmon Kings 6
VIC D. Southern (10), 18:06 2nd period (Walsky, Painchaud); Grizzlies 1, Salmon Kings 7
UTA R. Kinasewich (47), 19:06 2nd period (Vandermeer, Hunter); Grizzlies 2, Salmon Kings 7
VIC M. Siddall (20), 3:40 3rd period (Morrison, Roach); Grizzlies 2, Salmon Kings 8
VIC O. Filion (11), 9:55 3rd period (Goldie, Siddall); Grizzlies 2, Salmon Kings 9


What Worked Well: Erm . . .
Unlike Wednesday's game where we had a hard time finding anything that went wrong, with this game we had a hard time figuring out anything that went right. It was a little depressing that Kinasewich picked up the season high record for goals during such a sad display.

What Could Have Worked Better: Everything
Where do we begin? The boys simply fell apart on the ice and didn't bother to try to get it back together. We expect a better effort tomorrow, Grizzlies, and we hope you're adequately ashamed of yourselves.

Who Made the Difference: Dylan Hunter . . . we guess
Dylan was the only Grizzly to have a multipoint game tonight, so we selected him by default. Um . . . yeah. Woo, Dylan.


Stars of the Game:

1. VIC - W. Goldie
2. VIC - M. Siddall
3. VIC - C. Painchaud


Additional Notes:

> Dylan Hunter (1g, 1a) was the only Grizzly to have a multiple point game.
> Ryan Kinasewich broke the team season record for goals during the match. Congrats, Snatch!
> We think this is probably how Colley felt for most of the game (it's how WE felt, anyway):

Weekend Preview - Utah Grizzlies vs Victoria Salmon Kings

With their win over the Salmon Kings on Wednesday, the Grizzlies secured a spot in the playoffs. And there was much rejoicing. (Yaaaay...) The thing is, they still have two more games to go before they can start the playoffs, so they're hanging out in Victoria for the weekend.

The Salmon Kings are one of two teams that are still fighting for a playoff spot in the National Conference. We personally find it sad that only one team in the conference won't make it. It's kind of like when we were in elementary school and they started the dodge ball game without us, even though we were still waiting in line by ourselves to be picked. The other last kid picked is Ontario, so they'll be eyeing each other from the out of bounds line hoping not to be odd man out.

Here's how it looks for Victoria as of Friday:

The Salmon Kings can clinch a playoff spot if...

• They win. Or...


• Ontario loses in regulation. Or...


• Victoria loses in overtime/shootout and Ontario loses.

How long with this battle be dragged out? Only the Grizzlies know.

Maybe.

Anyway, according to Adrian Denny's game day blog, the Grizzlies can earn home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs with a win tonight. But that's only if Alaska wins and Las Vegas loses. This stuff is so complicated it makes our brain hurt. Since there are only a few more games, we're going to just wait around and see how it ends. We're kind of lazy that way.

The Grizzlies have found yet another goaltender to stick in their lineup at the last minute. We don't know where all these guys come from. There must be a goalie farm somewhere, and they're all finally getting ripe. Today's special is Mike Morrison, and he comes to the Grizzlies fresh from the Albany River Rats in the AHL. This means O'Keefe is odd man out, however, and has been put on waivers. We thought O'Keefe did a great job for the team this season, and wish him the best of luck. Thanks a ton, Mitch! Morrison will join the team for the last two games. He is expected to start on Friday.

The challenge for the Grizzlies this weekend will be to not look past the last two games of the season and focus on the playoffs. They can still improve their position in the standings, and we're all for home ice advantage because we're selfish and want more games at the E Center.

Tonight's game starts at 8:05 pm, and can be heard on 1230AM. You can also watch at Legends Pub and Grill. Ryan Kinasewich's next point gives him 100 for the season. There are only two games left this season, and the Grizz can use them to get a running start into the playoffs.

We're psyched.

Post Game: Grizzlies 2, Salmon Kings 1

Woo for making the playoffs! The Grizzlies clinched a playoff spot with their regulation win over Victoria. And no, it's not an April Fool's joke.

The Salmon Kings opened up the scoring just over a minute into the 1st period on the power play. Utah was held scoreless during the initial frame, but Captain Kinasewich tied things up with a power play goal of his own early in the 2nd, 1-1.

The defensive battle continued into the 3rd until the Grizzlies, via Matt Sorteberg, knocked one in to take the lead at 8:40 of the period, 2-1. Though Victoria battled back, Utah's defensive play kept them at bay until time expired.

From the official post game:

The Utah Grizzlies (33-28-4-5) defeated the Victoria Salmon Kings 2-1 in regulation Wednesday night in Victoria. The win officially clinches a Utah playoff berth for the fourth time in five years.

Utah took a 2-1 lead as Ryan Kinasewich eluded four Victoria defenders against the wall and fed Matt Sorteberg who walked into the right-wing circle and buried his second goal of the year 8:40 into the third period. [utahgrizzlies.com]

post game || Grizzlies Clinch Playoff Berth With 2-1 Win In Victoria
highlights || Game Highlights 3/31/10 at Victoria
gamesheet || Utah at Victoria - 3/31/10
interview || Lance Galbraith 3/31/10 intermission
blog || Adrian Denny's game day blog


Scoring Summary:

VIC M. Siddall (19), 1:15 1st period (Roach, Southern); Salmon Kings 1, Grizzlies 0
UTA R. Kinasewich (46), 2:56 2nd period (Sixsmith, Hunter); Salmon Kings 1, Grizzlies 1
UTA M. Sorteberg (2), 8:40 3rd period (Kinasewich, Hunter); Salmon Kings 1 Grizzlies 2


What Worked Well: Defense
The only goal that the Grizzlies allowed during this game was when they were shorthanded. For 60 minutes, that means a lot of kick ass defense. Koshkinen, while on his game, only saw 24 shots during the contest which shows just how vital the defensive play was to this game. Nicely played, boys.

What Could Have Worked Better: Erm . . .
Well, we're sure there was something. But honestly we love watching these two teams battle it out, so we decided to sit back and enjoy rather than analyze. Anyone wants to pipe in on this, feel free to comment or email.

Who Made the Difference: Matt Sorteberg
We were debating between two defensemen for this: Tim Maxwell and Matt Sorteberg. While Maxwell was all over the defensive end, we decided on Sorteberg for both offensive and defensive contributions. Sorteberg picked up the game winner, played solid in the Grizzlies own end, added to the overall hustle and drive by Utah, and picked up the 3rd star of the game. Awesome.


Stars of the Game:

1. UTA - R. Kinasewich
2. VIC - M. Keetley
3. UTA - M. Sorteberg


Additional Notes:

> Both Ryan Kinasewich (1g, 1a) and Dylan Hunter (2a) had multiple point games.
> Captain Kinasewich tied the record for most goals in a season with his 46th.
> James Sixsmith reached a 9 game scoring streak. Dylan Hunter extended his scoring streak to 11 games.
> This win guarenteed Utah a spot in the playoffs. Isn't it great to see that little x?

Field Trip

The first time I met Grizzlies Captain Ryan Kinasewich, it wasn't at a game, or a post-game skate, or any sort of a team/fan function. It was at the Salt Lake International Airport.


In January of 2009 I was coming back from California with a friend, and on our flight were several young men dressed in suits. We thought maybe some business convention was heading somewhere, but they all seemed to be together.


During the flight we watched them a little, but they were spread throughout the plane, so we couldn't really tell what was going on. We got off the plane and went to pick up our luggage - there they were again. They were all getting off in Salt Lake.


Then someone started handing them sack lunches. We kind of laughed to ourselves, remembering elementary school field trips, getting the sack lunches and trying to figure out who got what, then trading.


We picked up our bags and started toward the door. On our way out, one of the group smiled at us and said, "You ladies have a very nice day." We thanked him... and then I decided to ask.


"So, are you guys some kind of a team, or on a field trip or something? I mean, you've got your sack lunches and everything..."


He nodded. "Yeah, we're going to the museum."


He then explained they were a hockey team - the Utah Grizzlies, in fact - and had just gotten back from a road trip. I suppose I should have known, but they look different without the hockey gear. Anyway, we had a good conversation about the season and the road trip they'd just been on, and I asked his name. "Ryan Kinasewich," he told me. I told him I'd be to the games, and we went on our way.


I had pretty well forgotten about this until I saw this on the Grizzlies' website this morning:


After a late flight seemingly put a delay on the team's Tuesday evening arrival in Victoria, the Grizzlies decided to defy the odds and still attempt to arrive on time. That included taking the final 25 miles of the journey by school bus.



Maybe they'll stop at the museum on the way.


(Picture and text from http://www.utahgrizzlies.com/)



********


The Grizzlies play the first of their last three regular season games tonight in Victoria. A win tonight guarantees them a playoff spot.



Go Grizzlies!

Post Game: Grizzlies 7, Condors 4

Utah piled on 7 goals for their 2 points, but the Condors definitely kept things interesting for the Grizzlies during this match up.

Bakersfield struck first for the second night in a row 5:01 into the 1st. The Grizzlies responded on the power play to tie things before the end of the period, 1-1. At the top of the 2nd, Perry gave Utah their first lead of the night, but the Condors were quick to respond and tie it once again, 2-2. The Grizzlies regained their lead with a goal from Clarke, then another from Hunter to build their lead before the end of the middle frame, 4-2.

In the 3rd, Utah increased their lead to 3 with a goal from May. The Condors quickly followed up with two of their own, bringing the deficit to a single goal, 5-4. But the Grizzlies tacked on two more goals, one from Sixsmith and the final goal from Kinasewich, to expand on their lead and seal the deal, 7-4.

From the official post game:

The Utah Grizzlies (32-28-4-5) defeated the Bakersfield Condors 7-4 Saturday night at the E-Center before 7,772 fans. The win guarantees Utah a winning season and their fourth season of .500 or better in the last five years.

Utah scored two goals in a 15-second span in the final 1:05 to break a 5-4 score and make it 7-4. [utahgrizzlies.com]

post game || Grizzlies Win Home Finale 7-4
highlights || Game Highlights 3/27/10 vs Bakersfield
gamesheet || Bakersfield at Utah - 3/27/10
photos || 3/27/10 - Utah Grizzlies vs Bakersfield Condors
interview || Kevin Colley 3/27/10 post game
interview || Tim Maxwell 3/27/10 intermission
blog || Adrian Denny's game day blog


Photo of the Game:

2nd period - Marcus Carroll hustles for the puck after the faceoff.


Additional Photos: [Flickr]




Scoring Summary:

BAK A. Naglich (14), 5:01 1st period (Eichenlaub, Menei); Bakersfield 1, Grizzlies 0
UTA J. Sixsmith (23), 10:49 1st period (Maxwell, Hunter); Bakersfield 1, Grizzlies 1
UTA A. Perry (29), 2:31 2nd period (Vandermeer, Kinasewich); Bakersfield 1, Grizzlies 2
BAK D. Kissel (4), 3:13 2nd period (Ianiero, Goulet); Bakersfield 2, Grizzlies 2
UTA M. Clarke (4), 12:47 2nd period (Koskinen); Bakersfield 2, Grizzlies 3
UTA D. Hunter (16), 17:32 2nd period (Kinasewich, Vandermeer); Bakersfield 2, Grizzlies 4
UTA T. May (25), 2:56 3rd period (Sixsmith, Crowder); Bakersfield 2, Grizzlies 5
BAK A. Naglich (15), 4:22 3rd period (Kemp, Guyer); Bakersfield 3, Grizzlies 5
BAK M. Voakes (11), 17:40 3rd period (Kissel, Regan); Bakersfield 4, Grizzlies 5
UTA J. Sixsmith (24), 18:55 3rd period (Crowder); Bakersfield 4, Grizzlies 6
UTA R. Kinasewich (45), 19:10 3rd period; Bakersfield 4, Grizzlies 7


What Worked Well: Taking the puck to the net
Unfortunately, we don't have a replay of every goal, but a good handful of those goals came from taking the puck deep and right up to the net: Perry, May, Sixsmith - all had goals by swooping down right in front of the net. Nice work.

What Could Have Worked Better: Staying out of the box
The Grizzlies didn't allow Bakersfield as many chances as they did last night, but it's still something that could use a little improvement. There were also a couple of ill-timed penalties, including a shorthanded 5-on-3 situation that probably could have been avoided.

Who Made the Difference: James Sixsmith
While we saw a pretty sweet game from the Grizzlies, James Sixsmith definitely lead the pack tonight. With two goals and an assist on the gamewinner, Sixer was continually in the right place at the right time and propelling all the Grizzlies forward.


Stars of the Game:

1. UTA - J. Sixsmith
2. UTA - D. Hunter
3. UTA - P. Vandermeer


Additional Notes:

> Five Grizzlies had multiple point nights: James Sixsmith (2g, 1a), Dylan Hunter (1g 1a), Ryan Kinasewich (1g, 2a), Peter Vandermeer (2a), and Tim Crowder (2a).
> Mikko Koshkinen stopped 26 out of 30 shots and picked up an assist in the contest.
> Ryan Kinasewich picked up his 45th goal of the season and currently leads the league in goals.

Post Game: Condors 5, Grizzlies 4 (OT)

Stunned. That's definitely how we felt after tonight's contest. From a stellar 1st to losing a lead twice to dropping the game in overtime, the boys ran out of steam in this surreal post-regulation loss.

Bakersfield picked up the first goal of the night. The Grizzlies responded with 3 of their own before the end of the initial frame, starting with a short-handed goal by Perry and extended with a goal by Crowder which increased Utah's lead, 3-1. The Grizzlies picked up a 4th goal in the 1st, but it was waved off for interference. The 2nd period remained scoreless for both teams, but in the 3rd the Condors picked up two quick goals to tie things up. The Grizzlies responded with another Perry goal to regain the lead again, but Bakersfield was ready and tied the game with a shorthanded goal to send it past regulation.

Bakersfield scored the game winner 3:38 into overtime to grab the two points. Utah picked up a point in the loss.

From the official post game:

The Bakersfield Condors defeated the Utah Grizzlies (31-28-4-5) 5-4 in overtime Friday night at the E-Center before 5,810 fans. [utahgrizzlies.com]

post game || Grizzlies Collect Point In 5-4 Overtime Loss
highlights || Game Highlights 3/26/10 vs Bakersfield
gamesheet || Bakersfield at Utah - 3/26/10
photos || 3/26/10 - Utah Grizzlies vs Bakersfield Condors
interview || Tim Crowder 3/26/10 intermission
blog || Adrian Denny's game day blog


Photo of the Game:

1st period - Colley and the boys watch from the bench as Galbraith knocks one in.

Additional Photos: [Flickr]



Scoring Summary:

BAK R. Menei (17), 5:22 1st period (McCue, Pielmeier); Condors 1, Grizzlies 0
UTA A. Perry (27), 9:39 1st period (Clarke, Sixsmith); Condors 1, Grizzlies 1
UTA D. Hunter (15), 13:39 1st period (Kinasewich, Vandermeer); Condors 1, Grizzlies 2
UTA T. Crowder (10), 16:50 1st period (Galbraith, McJannet); Condors 1, Grizzlies 3
BAK D. Kissel (2), 0:38 3rd period (Pokulok, Regan); Condors 2, Grizzlies 3
BAK A. Ianiero (16), 10:41 3rd period; Condors 3, Grizzlies 3
UTA A. Perry (28), 14:06 3rd period (Kinasewich, Vandermeer); Condors 3, Grizzlies 4
BAK D. Kissel (3), 18:19 3rd period (Voakes, Pielmeier); Condors 4, Grizzlies 4
BAK S. Pokulok (12), 3:38 Overtime (Ianiero, Regan); Condors 5, Grizzlies 4


What Worked Well: Penalty Kill
Utah killed off 6 of the 7 penalties they saw, including a 5-on-3 situation which ultimately resulted in the shorthanded Perry goal in the 1st. And on a lot of the man advantages for the Condors, Bakersfield was never able to set things up. Very nicely done.

What Could Have Worked Better: 3rd period
By the 3rd period the boys weren't looking to win, they were looking to defend which left a lot of openings and lackadaisical play, and in the end just didn't cut it. We're used to seeing an awesome last 5 minutes of the game, so this was somewhat of a shock. Do it better.

Who Made the Difference: AJ Perry
No matter which way we looked at it, AJ Perry came out on top. 2 goals on 2 SOG, ending the game with a +2 and picking up 2 PIM, Perry was all over offense as well as defense and did a great job on both the PK and the 5-on-5. Perry's another one of those guys like Sixsmith or Hunter who are so damn consistant they can sometimes be overlooked. Just another great job by Perry.


Stars of the Game:

1. UTA - A. Perry
2. BAK - D. Kissel
3. BAK - S. Pokulok


Additional Notes:

> Three Grizzlies had mulitpoint nights: AJ Perry (2g), Ryan Kinasewich (2a), and Peter Vandermeer (2a).
> Mitch O'Keefe stopped 30 of 35 shots in the losing effort.
> James Sixsmith celebrated his 26th birthday tonight and celebrated with an assist. Happy birthday, James!

Post Game: Thunder 4, Grizzlies 3

With a 5 minute major looming over most of the 3rd, the Grizzlies were unable to mount a comeback in this one goal game before time expired.

The Thunder struck first once again, but Utah grabbed one late in the period to tie things 1-1. Stockton responded less than a minute later and once more in the final minute of the 1st to regain the lead before the end of the 1st, 3-1. The Grizzlies had a very strong 2nd, picking up the only two goals in the period and collecting 22 SOG to the Thunder's 13. This left the teams tied 3-3 going into the final frame.

Stockton scored on the power play early in the 3rd to regain their lead, 4-3. Utah struggled with a comeback, but a 5 minute Galbraith minor ate up the middle of the period and time expired before the Grizzlies could score again.

From the official post game:

The Stockton Thunder defeated the Utah Grizzlies 4-3 in regulation Saturday night at the Stockton Arena. Stockton broke a 3-3 tie 3:49 into the third period as Oren Eizenman locked in a power-play goal with 17 seconds left to go on a Utah bench minor for too many men on the ice. [utahgrizzlies.com]

post game || Grizzlies Fall 4-3 in Stockton
highlights || Game Highlights 3/20/10 at Stockton
gamesheet || Utah at Stockton - 3/20/10
interview || Mikko Koshkinen 3/20/10 intermission
blog || Adrian Denny's game day blog


Scoring Summary:

STK B. Hemingway (7), 3:03 1st period (Hemingway, Constant); Thunder 1, Grizzlies 0
UTA J. Sixsmith (22), 15:54 1st period (Kinasewich, Nikiforov); Thunder 1, Grizzlies 1
STK J. Bates (24), 16:39 1st period (Hemingway, D'Alvise); Thunder 2, Grizzlies 1
STK C. D'Alvise (29), 19:07 1st period (Hemingway, Aiello); Thunder 3, Grizzlies 1
UTA R. Kinasewich (42), 11:47 2nd period (Hunter); Thunder 3, Grizzlies 2
UTA B. Kilburg (1), 17:53 2nd period (Kinasewich, Suda); Thunder 3, Grizzlies 3
STK O. Eizenman (20), 3:49 3rd period (Dacosta, Hemingway); Thunder 4, Grizzlies 3


What Worked Well: Killing the Galbraith penalty
Although the game winner came on a bench minor, we still have to say something about the way the PK unit killed off the 5 minute major in the 3rd period. Stockton was never able to set up properly on the man advantage, and the Grizzlies drew a penalty to even things up during the last minute of the kill.

What Could Have Been Better: Staying out of the box
Utah allowed 7 short handed situations during this contest with Stockton converting on 2 of those 7. The boys picked up 11 infractions including a game major and game misconduct from Galbraith nearing the end of the 3rd, and a bench minor which ended up in a power play, game winning goal for Stockton. Blah.

Who Made the Difference: Ryan Kinasewich
Ryan was a factor on all 3 Utah goals. Picking up 3 points (1g, 2a), Snatch tied with Hunter for 9 SOG this contest and ended the game with a +1. Kinasewich was the only Grizzly to have a multipoint game. He definitely carried the team tonight. Nicely done.


Stars of the Game:

1. STK - C. Hemingway
2. STK - A. Perugini
3. STK - O. Eizenman


Additional Notes:

> Ryan Kinasewich had a multiple point game tallying 1 goal and 2 assists in the match. The captain also extended his scoring streak.
> Mitch O'Keefe stopped 39 out of the 43 shots he saw in the losing effort.
> Brian Kilburg scored his first goal of the season tonight.
> Defenseman Chad Morin made his debut tonight after being signed to an ATO.

Post Game: Grizzlies 6, Thunder 2

Two points down, four to go. As we hoped for in our weekend preview, Utah was definitely in a warrior haze tonight, scoring 6 goals on 29 shots.

Stockton struck first scoring on the power play, but the Grizzlies responded before the end of the period to end the 1st tied, 1-1. In the 2nd, the Grizzlies scored 4 times which included 2 short handed goals from Ryan Kinasewich. Mikko Koshkinen and the Grizzlies' defense held Stockton off the scoreboard to end the period 5-1.

Tom May picked up an early goal in the 3rd period to increase the Grizzlies lead 6-1, but the Thunder picked up a short handed goal 5 minutes later to end the game 6-2 in Utah's favor.

From the official post game:

The Utah Grizzlies scored six unanswered goals after falling behind 1-0 in the first period and Islanders rookie prospect Mikko Koskinen stopped 36 of 38 shots in his ECHL debut as Utah (29-27-3-5) defeated the Stockton Thunder (29-25-2-7) 6-2 Friday night in California. [utahgrizzlies.com]

post game || Koskinen Stops 36 In Utah Debut; Grizzlies Win 6-2
highlights || Game Highlights 3/19/10 at Stockton
gamesheet || Utah at Stockton - 3/19/10
interview || Tom May 3/19/10 intermission
blog || Adrian Denny's game day blog


Scoring Summary:

STK J. Bates (23), 4:14 1st period (D'Alvise, Aiello); Thunder 1, Grizzlies 0
UTA S. Ferguson (1), 10:19 1st period (Sorteberg, Hunter); Thunder 1, Grizzlies 1
UTA V. Nikiforov (17), 3:30 2nd period (Suda, May); Thunder 1, Grizzlies 2
UTA A. Perry (25), 5:31 2nd period (Hunter, Sixsmith); Thunder 1, Grizzlies 3
UTA R. Kinasewich (40), 9:22 2nd period; Thunder 1, Grizzlies 4
UTA R. Kinasewich (41), 11:46 2nd period (Clarke, Wilson); Thunder 1, Grizzlies 5
UTA T. May (21), 1:15 3rd period (Sixsmith, Kilburg); Thunder 1, Grizzlies 6
STK M. Robinson (26), 5:18 3rd period (Vanoosten); Thunder 2, Grizzlies 6


What Worked Well: Penalty Kill
Utah only allowed Stockton one goal on the man advantage. The boys were able to come back and kill 5 penalties, including picking up 2 short handed goals from Kinasewich. Nicely done.

What Could Have Been Better: 1st period
The Grizzlies looked a little shaky in the 1st and trailed Stockton in shots on goal, tallying 9 to the Thunder's 15. Fortunately, they were able to come back in the 2nd, but we'd much rather they were able to come out strong and stay strong for the entire 60 minutes.

Who Made the Difference: Dylan Hunter
While Utah's new goalie Koskinen made things look easy and Ryan Kinasewich was in his warrior haze, Dylan Hunter really brings an aspect of consistancy to this hockey team. Picking up two assists, Hunter is amazing at setting things up for his wingers and next to Sixsmith, is one of the most consistant players on the team.


Stars of the Game:

1. UTA - R. Kinasewich
2. UTA - T. May
3. UTA - M. Koskinen


Additional Notes:

> Three Grizzlies had multiple point games: Ryan Kinasewich (2g), Tom May (1g, 1a), James Sixsmith (2a) and Dylan Hunter (2a).
> Mikko Koskinen stopped 36 out of 38 shots in the win.
> Captain Kinasewich broke his season high goal record with his two shorties for 41 goals this season.

Post Game: Steelheads 5, Grizzlies 4

The Grizzlies are on the brink of being kicked out of their playoff spot, but they sure aren't playing like it. We estimate that Utah played only 10 of the 60 minutes in this loss.

Idaho tacked on 3 goals, two in the 1st and one in the beginning of the 2nd, before Utah responded with a power play goal from Kinasewich to end the 2nd 3-1. In the 3rd period, the Steelheads grabbed up two more goals, including a shorthanded goal, which would turn out to be the game winner, 5-1.

Utah mounted an impressive comeback in the last half of the final frame tallying 3 goals - which included a James Sixsmith final minute special - to make it 5-4, but the Grizzlies were unable to send the game past regulation.

From the official post game:

The Utah Grizzlies (28-27-3-5) turned a 5-1 third period deficit into a 5-4 score with 42 seconds left but were unable to get the equalizer in a 5-4 regulation loss Wednesday night in Boise. [utahgrizzlies.com]

post game || Grizzlies Frantic Comeback Falls Short in 5-4 Loss
highlights || Game Highlights 3/17/10 at Idaho
gamesheet || Utah at Idaho - 3/17/10
interview || Marcus Carroll 3/17/10 intermission
blog || Adrian Denny's game day blog


Scoring Summary:

IDH K. DeVergilio (16), 6:03 1st period (Rome, Oleksy); Steelheads 1, Grizzlies 0
IDH A. Rome (17), 17:12 1st period (Oleksy); Steelheads 2, Grizzlies 0
IDH T. Spurgeon (25), 3:39 2nd period (Friesen, Barlow); Steelheads 3, Grizzlies 0
UTA R. Kinasewich (39), 17:35 2nd period (Galbraith, Hunter); Steelheads 3, Grizzlies 1
IDH M. McKnight (11), 4:34 3rd period (Oleksy, Rome); Steelheads 4, Grizzlies 1
IDH B. Kushniruk (10), 6:14 3rd period (Friesen); Steelheads 5, Grizzlies 1
UTA T. May (20), 9:02 3rd period (Carroll, Ferguson); Steelheads 5, Grizzlies 2
UTA B. Wilson (3), 11:47 3rd period (Sixsmith, Aston); Steelheads 5, Grizzlies 3
UTA J. Sixsmith (21), 19:18 3rd period (Hunter, Aston); Steelheads 5, Grizzlies 4


What Worked Well: Staying out of the box
The Grizzlies only allowed 3 short-handed situations. For the most part, the boys stayed out of the box, and when they couldn't they took one of the Steelheads down with them. Nice job.

What Could Have Been Better: Power Play
We know what kind of firepower we have on our power play. Converting only 1 out of 6 on the man advantage isn't cutting it for us (and probably not for Colley, either), so do it better. The Grizzlies also allowed a short handed goal, which ended up being the game winner; controlling the puck during the power play is half of the issue.

Who Made the Difference: James Sixsmith
While we could think of a lot of players who didn't make a difference, it was only slightly easier narrowing down who we think did. Marcus Carroll and Simon Ferguson were impressive new forces to be reckoned with, but we had to go with James Sixsmith for his ability to grab a goal in a pinch. And while James can carry almost any line you put him on, we think he'd be close to unstoppable with the proper wingers.


Stars of the Game:

1. IDH - A. Rome
2. IDH - A. Dawson
3. IDH - D. Friesen


Additional Notes:

> Three Grizzlies had multiple point nights: Dylan Hunter (2a), James Sixsmith (1g, 1a), and Peter Aston (2a)
> Simon Ferguson and Marcus Carroll both tallied assists for their first points with Utah. For Carroll, his assist also marks his first professional point.
> Mitch O'Keefe stopped 34 out of 39 shots in the loss.
> Captain Ryan Kinasewich extended his scoring streak to 7 games and matched his career season high for goals at 39.

Post Game: Steelheads 7, Grizzlies 5

After losing a quick, one goal lead in the 1st, Utah mounted quite the comeback, but it ended up being too little too late. Still, a decent effort by the boys.

The Grizzlies opened things up with a power play goal 1:26 into the 1st. Idaho responded 1:30 later, then tacked on another to end the period 2-1. The Steelheads continued to dominate in the 2nd period, and after two back to back Steelhead goals, Colley called a time out to let the boys know what he thought. The team responded 20 seconds later with a goal by Nikiforov, but Idaho scored on the power play, prompting O'Keefe to be replaced by Erickson in net. Utah continued to mount a comeback, grabbing two more goals before the end of the 2nd to bring the boys within one goal of the Steelheads, 5-4.

Idaho increased the deficit halfway through the final frame, and the Grizzlies struggled to respond. Utah picked up one more goal before the Steelheads sealed the deal with another of their own to end it 7-5 in their favor.

From the official post game:

Utah took a 1-0 lead just 1:26 into the contest on a Peter Aston power-play goal but that lead would last just 1:30 before Idaho tied the game at 2:56 and took their first lead of the night 6:37 into the opening frame at 2-1. Idaho would never look back as they extended the score to 4-1 and 5-2 before the Grizzlies started to mount a comeback. [utahgrizzlies.com]

post game || Grizzlies Fall 7-5 in Boise
highlights || Game Highlights 3/16/10 at Idaho
gamesheet || Utah at Idaho - 3/16/10
interview || Peter Vandermeer 3/16/10 intermission
blog || Adrian Denny's game day blog


Scoring Summary:

UTA P. Aston (6), 1:26 1st period (Perry, Sixsmith); Grizzlies 1, Steelheads 0
IDH B. Milnamow (3), 2:56 1st period (Derlago, Spurgeon); Grizzlies 1, Steelheads 1
IDH E. Barlow (29), 6:37 1st period (DeVergilio, Rome); Grizzlies 1, Steelheads 2
IDH A. Huxley (7), 2:05 2nd period (Derlago, Flichel); Grizzlies 1, Steelheads 3
IDH M. Derlago (37), 3:37 2nd period (McCutcheon); Grizzlies 1, Steelheads 4
UTA V. Nikiforov (15), 3:57 2nd period (Wilson, Clarke); Grizzlies 2, Steelheads 4
IDH M. McCutcheon (12), 12:34 2nd period (Swanson, Rome); Grizzlies 2, Steelheads 5
UTA A. Perry (24), 15:26 2nd period (Kinasewich, Hunter); Grizzlies 3, Steelheads 5
UTA V. Nikiforov (16), 16:34 2nd period (MacMillan); Grizzlies 4, Steelheads 5
IDH J. Swanson (17), 10:36 3rd period (Derlago, McCutcheon); Grizzlies 4, Steelheads 6
UTA P. Aston (7), 11:44 3rd period (MacMillan); Grizzlies 5, Steelheads 6
IDA E. Barlow (30), 12:58 3rd period (Flichel, Spurgeon); Grizzlies 5, Steelheads 7


What Worked Well: Shooting the puck.
The Grizzlies picked up 30 SOG in the loss and tallied 5 goals from the 30. Ryan Kinasewich once again lead the team with 8 of those 30 with Peter Aston tallying 5 and Sixsmith close behind with 4.

What Could Have Been Better: Goaltending
We typically look to Mitch O'Keefe to be pretty solid for the Grizzlies. Tonight was not the case. O'Keefe allowed 5 goals from 15 shots, and Erickson was only slightly better with 2 goals from 13 shots. Pick it up.

Who Made the Difference: Vlady Nikiforov
While Peter Aston had an incredible night with 2 goals and 5 SOG, we can't help but highlight the way Vlady responded to Colley's time out, and the timing of his second goal, which brought the Grizzlies back to a one-goal deficit before the end of the period. While Vlady did miss a few opportunities, his drive and the timing of his goals propelled the team toward the effort we saw in the final frame.


Stars of the Game:

1. IDH - E. Barlow
2. UTA - P. Aston
3. IDH - M. Derlargo


Additional Notes:

> Both Vlady Nikiforov and Peter Aston picked up 2 goals in the contest.
> Four Grizzlies had multipoint nights: Peter Aston (2g), Vlady Nikiforov (2g), AJ Perry (1g, 1a), and Malcolm MacMillan (2a).
> Newcomer Malcolm MacMillan has picked up 5 points (5a) in his last 4 games.

Post Game: Grizzlies 4, Thunder 3 (SO)

Kinasewich is back. With a game-tying goal and a game winner, how can we not declare him the reigning champ?

Stockton took the lead 10:06 into the 1st on the power play, after their goalie was injured and replaced with Sorochan. But the Grizzlies were not to be deterred and after a Galbraith punch-in-the-face special, the boys responded with a power play goal of their own from Tom May. Utah then grabbed the lead with Kinsewich's first of the night before the end of the period, 2-1. Both teams weren't able to light the lamp in the second, though Stockton tallyed 14 SOG to Utah's 12. In the 3rd, Stockton picked up two goals to take the lead before Kinasewich picked up one more to tie it with just 3 minutes left in regulation.

After a scoreless overtime, the teams went to a shootout where Kinasewich picked up the the win on the shoulders of Vlady and Perry - and of course, Mitch O'Keefe.

From the official post game:

The Utah Grizzlies (28-25-3-5) defeated the Stockton Thunder 4-3 in a shootout Sunday afternoon at the E-Center to collect five of a possible six standings points in the weekend three-game series. [utahgrizzlies.com]

post game || Grizzlies Take out Stockton in 4-3 Shootout
highlights || Game Highlights 3/14/10 vs Stockton
gamesheet || Stockton at Utah - 3/14/10
photos || 3/14/10 - Utah Grizzlies vs Stockton Thunder
video || UtahGrizzBlog's YouTube Channel
interview || Kevin Colley 3/14/10 post game
interview || Ryan Kinasewich 3/14/10 intermission
blog || Adrian Denny's game day blog


Photo of the Game:

3rd period - Coach Colley is pissed; the boys look equally ashamed.

Additional Photos: [Flickr]



Video: [YouTube]

Lance Galbraith vs Garet Hunt.

Steve McJannet vs Riley Emmerson.

Ryan Kinasewich shootout goal.

Scoring Summary:

STK C. Hemingway (22), 10:06 1st period (Eizenman, Dacosta); Thunder 1, Grizzlies 0
UTA T. May (19), 14:09 1st period (Aston, Nikiforov); Thunder 1, Grizzlies 1
UTA R. Kinasewich (37), 17:33 1st period (Crowder, Hunter); Thunder 1, Grizzlies 2
STK K. Czuy (5), 5:14 3rd period (Gongalsky, Hunt); Thunder 2, Grizzlies 2
STK C. D'Alvise (26), 8:54 3rd period (Constant, Bates); Thunder 3, Grizzlies 2
UTA R. Kinasewich (38), 3rd period (Aston, Hunter); Thunder 3, Grizzlies 3

UTA (SO) R. Kinasewich, Thunder 3, Grizzlies 4


What Worked Well: Penalty Kill
While there were less penalties, we just saw an improvement in the penalty kill from the previous night. The boys were willing to make more sacrifices and had an easier time clearing the puck.

What Could Have Been Better: 3rd period
When the Grizzlies stepped onto the ice in the 3rd, they looked like fail, allowing two Stockton goals before Colley cussed them out properly. We've generally noticed a push in the final 20 as of late, so it was definitely a disappointing change. Glad to see Colley get the boys back on track.

Who Made the Difference: Ryan Kinasewich
2 goals in regulation, including a tying goal that sent things into overtime and the game-winning shootout goal - we really couldn't pick anyone else as our difference maker for this game, though we want to give props to Mitch O'Keefe for his performance. We're excited to see Kinasewich is back. Keep it up, Captain!


Stars of the Game:

1. UTA - R. Kinasewich
2. UTA - D. Hunter
3. STK - K. Czuy


Additional Notes:

> Three Grizzlies had multiple points in the match: Ryan Kinasewich (2g), Dylan Hunter (2a), and Peter Aston (2a).
> James Sixsmith's scoring streak of 13 games was snapped - damn!
> Mitch O'Keefe stopped 36 out of 39 shots in regulation and overtime, then stopped 3 of 5 in the shootout.
> Since Perry was a little too stealthy for us (you'll see what we mean), we've opted to post his shootout goal here and not on YouTube.