Post Game: Grizzlies 4, Thunder 2

Grizzlies win.

This was a completely different team we saw tonight as opposed to Wednesday. Passes were clicking, defense was solid, and offense was scoring.

Defense was shorthanded tonight, playing with only 5 blueliners and continually rotating pairs throughout the game. Play wise you couldn't even tell; it was an amazing effort on their part. Something else we truly appreciated from the d-men was not allowing Stockton to push their buttons. Only 5 of the 14 penalties assessed to Utah in the match were from the 5 defensemen. Thank you for that.

Grantham took over the penalty role, seemingly spending more time in the penalty box than out. But since he was able to draw the Stockton sideshow circus his way and let defense take care of business, we see it as taking one for the team. Thumbs up.

Parnham was back on the ice and looked great. We didn't think he'd be back for a while, so that was a welcome surprise. Between Parnham, Shea, and McIlveen - those boys got things rolling for Deeth and May to capture some great goals later in the game.

And a great job by Connelly. He definitely made some (34, to be exact) timely saves and as the game continued, looked more and more comfortable in the crease.

Let's go for the rest of the weekend, boys!

Stars of the Game -

1. UTA - T. May
2. UTA - K. Deeth
3. UTA - S. Connelly

Links -
post game || Grizzlies Beat Stockton 4-2
gamesheet || Stockton at Utah - 3/11/11
highlights || Game Highlights 3/11/11 vs Stockton
photos || 3/11/11 - Utah Grizzlies vs Stockton Thunder
interview || Kevin Colley 3/11/11 post game
interview || Paul McIlveen 3/11/11 intermission

Post Game: Salmon Kings 6, Grizzlies 5 (SO)

Grizzlies lose, but not as bad.

So the effort Colley wanted to see in this game was definitely taking shape. There was more push from the boys to keep up with the game, and we saw more of the Crowder magic with Tim's goal to tie things 2-2 at the end of the 1st. Even better, it was amazing to see Utah battle back from a 2 goal 3rd period deficit to send things past regulation. It's hard to recall when we last saw this kind of play from the Grizzlies, and we plan on holding them to more of it.

Welcome once again to Meyers and Grantham who both picked up points in their second game in Utah colors.

And special teams - ah, how we've hated you over this last stretch. We're glad to see the Grizzlies getting both their power play and their penalty kill back on track. The boys slaughtered a 4 minute shorthanded situation during the last few minutes of regulation and the beginning of overtime. Just amazing. And on the power play, Utah capitalized 3 of their 5 opportunities on the man advantage. Such an improvement from what we've grown accustomed to cursing under our breath. Keep it up, boys.

Glad to see Deeth once again making the stars of the game list - we're sure he is too.

The boys are back next weekend.

Stars of the Game -

1. VIC - C. Painchaud
2. VIC - R. Dingle
3. UTA - K. Deeth

Links -
post game || Grizzlies Fight Back To End Streak: Collect Shootout Point In Victoria
gamesheet || Utah at Victoria - 2/26/11
highlights || Game Highlights 2/26/11 at Victoria
interview || Marcus Carroll 2/26/11 intermission

Weekend Preview - Utah Grizzlies vs Victoria Salmon Kings

The Grizzlies make their way up to Canada this weekend to take on the Salmon Kings. They haven't been to Canada yet this season, so let's hope everyone's passport is in order. They have faced Victoria 3 times this season at the Maverik Center - 2 wins and a loss.

Utah may have lost their last 4 games, but Victoria isn't taking them lightly by any means.
"There's no secret to what Utah does -they are aggressive on the forecheck and the hardest-working team in the conference," said Victoria head coach Mark Morrison. "They simply outwork other teams. [Utah head coach] Kevin Colley demands they work hard and they respond. We are going to have to match that." Sounds like the book is out on the Grizzlies. Fortunately for them, there are no answers in the back for hard work. When they outwork their opponents, they win games.

The Salmon Kings may have lost their last two games, but they've won 7 of their last 10. The Grizzlies have only won 4 of their last 10, so it seems Victoria has been in a better groove as of late. (Groovier? Whatever.) Utah had been getting great help from their goaltenders, but with JP Lamoureux still in Abbotsford and Andrew Engelage getting a tryout with Toronto, they've been a little shorthanded at that position. This week, however, they gave goalie Kyle Moir a tryout with the team. Moir spent the last 4 seasons at Lakehead University. We're not really great at reading stats, but we did notice he had a few penalty minutes. Kind of intriguing. As is his hair in his draft picture from Nashville.

Random Goaltending Trivia: On a shot from 60 feet away the goaltender will have less than half a second to react.

Also joining the team this weekend will be 2 players sent down from Abbotsford - defenseman Josh Meyers and forward Ryley Grantham. Meyers actually played in Utah at the beginning of last season, and has been in Abbotsford since. Grantham has been with the Heat since the beginning of his pro career. We'll be interested to see how these guys fit in.

With the 4 losses last week and wins by other teams, the Grizzlies slid to 2nd in the Mountain Division and 4th in the Western Conference. They did, however, move up in the penalty minutes race. They now lead the league with 1247. Not really something you want to be #1 at, especially if it's costing you on the scoreboard. Undisciplined play, as well-intentioned as it may be, can put you at a disadvantage on the ice. Even though Utah has 10 shorthanded goals this season, the only time that makes up for it is if your penalty kill is 100%. Utah's is 83.4%. Here's a hint, guys - we want to beat them, not beat them up. Of course, if they could do both at the same time, we wouldn't complain.

Two games this weekend in lovely Victoria, BC, 8:05 pm puck drop. After that, a 6 game home stand. Time to get your heads on straight and go to work, boys. Take back the neighborhood.