To be honest, we weren't surprised about this win. The Grizzlies have been looking sharp. We're digging the changes in the lines. And they've seemed to be more consistant over the last few games.
Also, the Grizzlies always seem to win on Wednesdays when only hardcore fans are in attendance. Just under 2000 showed up for the awesome site that was yesterday's game.
Grizzlies have their post game up on their site, the ECHL has the gamesheet online, and our rendition of the facts lies below.
FIRST PERIOD
Both teams came out solid.
Grizzlies looked like they wanted it more.
Idaho probably thought this would be an easy ride.
Wrong.
Idaho gets the first penalty.
Grizzlies capitalize.
Three seconds left in the power play, Hunter lights the lamp for the first time of the night.
1-0.
A beautiful goal.
We were actually discussing Hunter as he made the goal.
Points to Snatch and Bubba for the assists.
We are absolutely loving the Vlady-Sixsmith-May line.
And not just because we thought it would be a good idea.
Such a fun line to watch.
4 minutes after his goal, Hunter goes to the box. The slasher.
Idaho ties it up, 1-1.
Joni can't figure out which one Caria is for some reason.
Grizzlies get another powerplay opportunity, but can't capitalize.
Lots of good defense.
Perry is stealthy as ever.
Just after the buzzer sounds, there's a bit of a rumble by the benches.
Words and shoves.
Idaho will start the 2nd shorthanded.
Nice.
End of first. Tied, 1-1.
First Intermission: Joan is obsessed with taking pictures of a baby with a mohawk. It was a cute baby. See below. :)
SECOND PERIOD
Grizzlies start the period out with a power play.
Then, Idaho picks up another penalty.
5-on-3.
Hunter gets his second of the night. 2-1.
Ida-pimp can't do anything to stop it; the Grizz are rockin' the power play tonight.
Points to Caria and Friesen on the assists.
Kinasewich picks up a penalty for hooking.
The boys kill it with style.
May is freakin' amazing on penalty killing.
We think he's found his calling.
Clarke waits for the puck to drop.
Vlady gets a penalty for tripping.
Idaho capitalizes and ties it up. 2-2.
Damn.
Shortly after, Idaho gets another penalty.
During the Grizzlies' power play, Idaho grabs the puck and races for a shorthanded goal.
He misses, but is allotted a penalty shot.
We weren't sure what was going on at first, we just saw Snatch yelling at a ref.
Which in and of itself was pretty awesome.
So, Idaho takes his shot.
Parker robs him blind and leaves his bloodied body by the wayside.
Seriously, though. Van Buskirk was on fire.
Look at that freakin' style.
Clarke picks up a penalty for holding.
Whatevs.
The Grizzlies decide turn-about is fair play.
Hunter gets a shorthanded breakaway.
He's foiled, but gets a penalty shot.
The arena is going crazy.
Hunter slips one in past the goalie. 3-2.
Every goal for Utah so far has been scored by Hunter.
Which means . . .
HAT TRICK! Wooooo!
And also means we get to use our video clip again:
We didn't have hats or we would have thrown them.
Idaho can't capitalize on the rest of their power play.
We think the Grizzlies kind of stole the wind from their sails.
Just to prove a point, Vlady gets a goal. 4-2.
Unassisted.
We didn't even see that coming.
Then Clarke takes another tour.
Joni has a few strokes.
But the boys kill it.
And May continues to prove he's king of PK.
Not to detract from all the other princes of the amazing PK because they were hardcore.
But May was making craziness look easy.
Hail to the king, baby.
At the end of the 2nd, Caria gets some massive penalties.
Slashing major and game misconduct.
But we still aren't sure why.
This is what we saw:
Bunch of players skate past the Idaho bench at top speed.
One of the Idaho guys drops to the ice and shakes off his glove.
Wha-?
We missed it.
But now Joni knows which one Caria is.
Grizzlies are going to start the 3rd shorthanded for almost 5 minutes.
Crap.
End of second. 4-2, Grizzlies.
Second Intermission: Grizzbee shoots a shirt cannon or whatever.
Chuck-a-Puck isn't going to be until the end of the game . . . ? Some girl takes M&Ms over tickets. She should have taken the tickets.
THIRD PERIOD
Grizzlies start the 3rd shorthanded for 4 1/2 minutes.
However, they prove to be up for the challenge.
Amazing.
We seriously wish we had been on the other end to get better pictures of this.
Because words cannot describe it.
In the last few seconds of Idaho's power play, Kotsy draws a penalty and evens things out.
Then the Grizzlies go on the power play.
They can't capitalize on that one, but no worries.
Perry does this awesome from-the-ass pass.
He's down on the ice, completely taken out by a check.
He clears the puck to one of the boys heading down the ice.
Idaho is stunned.
The Grizzlies get another power play chance 3 minutes later and make good on it.
Perry gets his first goal of the season. 5-2.
Points to Shea and Snatch for the assists.
With half of the 3rd period left, Utah calls a time out.
Wise move.
Grizzlies typically get sloppy as the 3rd progresses.
Looks like the coaches decided to take 30 seconds to remind them of that.
We become more impressed with Colley and Curcio by each passing minute.
Idaho gets another penalty.
Grizzlies can't capitalize and spend most of the time in their own end.
Whatevs.
Parker rocks the kasbah, and the boys play some awesome defense.
Vlady has a crazy shift with his line.
He speeds down the ice to catch up with some Idaho punk on a breakaway.
Then throws this incredible check.
And before we know it he's back in position and clear for a pass.
Bravo.
Kotsy almost gets a skate the face.
THAT was kind of freaky.
Probably even more so for him.
Sixsmith kicks some Idaho joke's trash at the end of the game.
So much awesome that Idaho was embarrassed to put it on their site.
They both take majors for fighting.
Whatevs.
Game.
5-2, Grizzlies.
Stars of the Game
1. Hunter (was there any question?)
2. Parker
3. Sixsmith
Nice - clean sweep for Utah.
NOTES
Vlady-Sixsmith-May. Need we say more?
Sounds like Caria may have to pay a fine. However, the Grizzlies may have the call reviewed. Caria seemed to be pretty low key all evening, so it seems odd to us that he would have intentionally slashed the guy.
The Grizzlies power play is awesome. For the past few years, we've been watching a incredibly impotent power play and penalty kill and wondering what the hell everyone was thinking in putting it together this way. To see the Grizzlies power play suddenly explode last night (and over the last few games) was amazing. Good job to the boys and the coaches for this beautiful orchestration. We gave a standing ovation after the kill at the first of the 3rd. Well deserved. We hope to see more of this.
Kinasewich picked up another multipoint night.
We do have other pictures of this game and others, but we're currently looking into a photo account of some sort to post them all.
Go Grizzlies!
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