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.

Weekend Preview - Utah Grizzlies vs Victoria Salmon Kings

Round 2. We're ready.

The #6 seeded Grizzlies drew #7 seed Victoria in the 2nd round. The two teams eliminated Stockton and Bakersfield respectively to move on. The other remaining teams? #5 seed Idaho, and #1 Alaska, who got a bye for the 1st round. Looking at who is left standing, we think it's safe to say that we can toss out those seeding numbers.

Also tossing out regular season statistics because they're not particularly relevant during the playoffs, that doesn't leave us a lot of information to form an opinion on this matchup. We have liked what we've seen from the Grizzlies so far. They seem to be getting back to where they were back in December and January, partially due to players coming back from the AHL. But also, the team added some new guys who were able to blend in and make a difference. "It's the same team, but it's a different team," Coach Colley explained. Though we sometimes need a philosophy class to decipher Colley's explanations, this one we get. The team identity hasn't changed even though the roster has. The team plays the same way regardless of who is on the ice. That stability, plus some veteran experience in returnees Tuzzolino, Lamoureux, and team captain Ferguson have helped them find their game at exactly the right time.

The biggest challenge for Utah may be adjusting to the difference in the way Stockton played and what they expect from the Salmon Kings. Against the Thunder, Utah was able to get goals by annoying them into taking penalties. (See Utah at the top of the playoff power play statistics with 35.3%.) Victoria has more playoff experience, and won't be falling for that trick. "The last series, we really outworked Stockton," forward Paul McIlveen said. "Victoria has a lot more skill. We're still going to have to play hard, but we have to be sharp as well." The team matched up well with the Salmon Kings when they were on a roll in December, but not as well down the stretch. Of course, that could be said about almost any team they played. We figure we'll just have to wait and see how everything will go down in this series. Game 1 on Friday should be a good indicator.

For Victoria, they seem to have realized what Utah was doing to Stockton, and have a plan. "When you look at Utah's power-play percentage from the first round, it's clear we need to be disciplined," said Victoria Coach Mark Morrison. "If you take nine penalties a game, like we did during stretches of the regular season, you're going to lose against a team like Utah. We have lots of short fuses and those players need to suck it up." So they're on to you, Grizzlies. Sounds like you've got the right idea playing sharp. We hope the idea translates to the game.

If you're not on the bandwagon yet, now is a good time to get on. Tonight is a 2 for 1 ticket night if you have a Maverik card, so bring a friend. We've also heard they're trying a white out for Friday, so wear a white jersey, shirt, jacket, whatever. It's a really nice effect in an arena - it brings the fans all together in the stands. Also, if you're bored at work, you can go to the Salmon Kings' website and vote in their fan poll. They're asking who the fans think will win round 2 of the playoffs. We've already voted for the Grizzlies multiple times.

Round 2 starts tonight at 7:05 pm. It's on.

Weekend Preview/Playoff Update - Utah Grizzlies vs Stockton Thunder

If you're anything like us, the end of game 2 against Stockton on Wednesday left you feeling a little deflated. Not the kind of deflated where the air slowly leaks out of the balloon while making rude noises, but the kind where the balloon pops while you're blowing it up and you stand there stunned while little pieces of plastic float down around you.

After Tuesday's win, we were hoping we'd seen the last of the March Grizzlies, and were back to the December Grizzlies, but now we're a little nervous. Not that Wednesday's game was bad, but we've seen better. We've seen it recently. We know Utah is capable, but the question is how badly do they want to win, and is it more than Stockton? The Deseret News had this quote about the series from defenseman Nick Tuzzolino: “We’ve got to get our confidence back. Anytime you lose a playoff game, it hurts. You have to forget it and move past it.”

We'll try.

The Grizzlies have had a good road record this season so they have that in their favor. According to defenseman Matt Clarke on Talkin' Sports last weekend, the team tends to tighten up a little more on the road, and they don't play as free-flowing as they do at home. He also mentioned it might have something to do with "bus legs". Forward Kevin Deeth then discounted that theory a little, saying they actually fly when they go to Stockton, but did say that travel can catch up with you after a long season. Bus legs or airline food or whatever, it seems to work for them on the road. If they can get to the things that made them successful on the road before, they can win the 2 games they need to continue on in the playoffs. We're all for that, because we don't want that last game at the Maverik Center to be the last one we see until next season. We'll be disappointed and empty all summer long. Start up the busses, boys.

We know that quoting a bunch of stats from the regular season doesn't do much good once the playoffs start. All that gets tossed out the window of the bus and everyone gets a clean record. What does matter is that the team plays as a team. The Grizzlies are at their best when they stick to their team game and everyone works together. With a lot of guys starting to trickle in off the IR, we think this could help team chemistry and get them playing for each other again. The power play is clicking, and the penalty kill is outstanding according to Coach Colley. Everything is aligned for a great playoff run here if they can band together and do it.

This best of 5 series is tied at a breadstick apiece. Game 3 is tonight in Stockton at 8:30 pm. Get out the bus legs, Utah.

Weekend Preview - Utah Grizzlies vs Bakersfield Condors

Well, this is it. The Grizzlies' last two games of the regular season will be played this weekend at the Maverik Center. Two more games for the team to convince us that the playoffs will be something to look forward to, and not a volcanic meltdown. We're hoping by Saturday night we're partying like it's 1999 as opposed to the last days of Pompeii.

Let's face it, the Grizzlies have been less than stellar in their last few games. In fact, they've only won 2 of their last 10, which isn't exactly ideal going into the post season. That's not to say they couldn't come out and blow away their first round opponent, but it helps to be on a little bit of a streak that isn't losing. We have faith, however, that they can take care of these last two games and get a better streak started. We'd hate to see them just give up after everything they've accomplished this season.

Utah does have a lot of injuries right now, and has been playing somewhat shorthanded. Last weekend there were 6 players that were not able to go to Anchorage with the team, and they were again without 5 of those players on Wednesday in Idaho. As of writing this post, we have no information on whether or not any of those players will be back this weekend, but we do know that JP Lamoureux has returned from Abbotsford to help out. That will be a welcome reinforcement for the team. Also, the Grizzlies have signed forward Matt Reber of Dartmouth to an amateur tryout. If we had to guess, we'd say that means Utah is still shorthanded. Welcome, Matt. (Pun intended.)

The Condors are at the top of their division, and have won 8 of their last 10 games, but they lost their last two. The last time Utah and Bakersfield squared off was in December - a win for Utah - so it's been a while. (That sounded... not how we meant it. Whatev.) After looking at some weird stats, our advice to Utah would be to not let Bakersfield score first, and to be ahead at the end of the 2nd period. Bakersfield's record when scoring first is 26-8-2. When the Grizzlies are ahead at the end of the 2nd, their record is 23-0-1. Pretty solid as weird statistics go. Utah has beaten Bakersfield 6 times this season out of 8. Also pretty solid. We're pretty sure they can get two more wins.

We're not going through the standings again this week. The Grizzlies are in, and that's all that matters at this point. Win or lose, once Saturday's game is done the slate is clean. No wins, no losses, no streaks - just a shot at the championship, just like everyone else who made it this far. We're just hoping for some entertaining hockey this weekend, a solid effort, and a couple of good warm-up games for the playoffs.

We heard a rumor that the playoffs could start as early as Monday, but to be honest, we're not even sure where we heard it, so don't hold us to that. We also heard that there will be an open skate after the game on Friday night. That was from the Grizzlies on twitter, so we're pretty sure that one is legit. $2 skate rental if you want to participate.

Two games left in the regular season - we can't believe it. Games Friday and Saturday at 7:00 pm at the Maverik Center. Time to get serious.

Weekend Preview - Utah Grizzlies vs Alaska Aces

The Grizzlies are on the road for a 3 game series in Alaska this weekend which could see the Aces clinch the Western Conference title. As of right now, there are a lot of things that have to take place for that to happen, but let's put it this way - the more they win, the sooner it happens. With them being 8 points ahead of the closest contender (Bakersfield), it's basically inevitable, but we're a little bit bitter about it. We think that should have been the Grizzlies' spot, so we're all for the clinch being delayed as long as possible. Of course, if the Grizzlies had been a little more bitter in the first place, maybe it WOULD have been their spot...

Moving on. Put simply, Alaska is a good team. They have won 9 of their last 10 games, and Utah has only beat them once this season. They are 30-6-1 when scoring first, and Ace Wes Goldie is on an impressive 12 game point streak right now. The Grizzlies, on the other hand have not been as impressive lately, winning only 4 of their last 10 and leading the league in penalty minutes. However, we know that Utah is also a good team when they get to their game and don't get distracted. Is it a tall order to get points out of Alaska this weekend? Yes. But it's not impossible.

As Adrian Denny points out in his game day blog, this could end up being a great goaltending battle. Andrew Engelage and Gerald Coleman have eerily similar statistics this season, right down to them both being 6'5". Coleman has more wins, but he's played 8 more games in the ECHL this season than Engelage has. Engelage has a slightly better save percentage. Coleman has a slightly lower goals against average. With so many things being close to equal, we think this will come down to who has a harder-working team playing in front of them. And maybe who is luckier. It never hurts.

When it comes right down to it, the Grizzlies just need the points more than the Aces do. We'd really like to see them come out and play like they want those points. They had a good start on Wednesday, even though they didn't come out on top in the shootout. They still gained a point, and they're currently at the 2nd spot in the division. That's definitely a spot they want to keep, as the higher up they are, the better chance they get home ice in the playoffs. They only have 6 regular season games left, so they need to make them count.

Final road trip of the season. 3 game weekend. 6 points available for the taking. Let's do it.

A loss, a win, a dirty hit

Here is a quick weekend recap: The Grizzlies played Friday and Saturday at Victoria. Friday night's game seemed to be a failure of special teams: they allowed Victoria a shorthanded and two power play goals before scoring two goals of their own. Then two more penalties and an empty net goal came. The goaltender, Engelage, did not allow any even-strength goals.

Saturday night the Grizzlies surged back, winning 3-2 in overtime. They fell behind by two goals, but then Simon Ferguson scored a power play goal, followed by a short-handed goal. Paul McIlveen won the game in OT. Utah is in 6th place overall for the conference.

There is a home game this Wednesday against Las Vegas, then the team is away again for the weekend, playing in Alaska.

The big news in the hockey world today is the 14 game (at least) suspension of Pittsburgh Penguins' defenseman, Matt Cooke. He is suspended the rest of the season and the first round of the playoffs.

"Mr. Cooke, a repeat offender, directly and unnecessarily targeted the head of an opponent who was in an unsuspecting and vulnerable position. This isn't the first time this season that we have had to address dangerous behavior on the ice by Mr. Cooke, and his conduct requires an appropriately harsh response." --Colin Campbell

The coach, GM, and some teammates all seem to agree with the suspension.

The hit:

Weekend Preview - Utah Grizzlies vs Victoria Salmon Kings

It's a good thing the Grizzlies have already clinched a playoff spot because their 9-2 loss in Victoria on Wednesday did nothing to help their position in the division. That's all we're going to say about that. From here, it's all about moving on.

The Grizzlies have two more games against Victoria this Friday and Saturday. We'd play the "if" game and go through all the scenarios that could happen if they win and get the four points, but that involves a lot more math than we like on a Friday. We'll just say that there are a lot of factors now determining where Utah will start out in the playoffs - some of which they don't have any control over - and that the 4 points available this weekend really can't hurt. More than the points, we'd like to see the team come out and really try to get themselves in the right mindset to go into the playoffs. It's been a little rough lately, and they're going to need some momentum coming down the stretch. We're just not seeing that with the 3-6-0-1 record they're sporting in their last 10.

If the Grizzlies need a spark right now, it may come in the return of goalie Andrew Engelage to the team. Engelage was doing a terrific job for Utah before joining the Toronto Marlies and could just be the piece they need to get back on track. If he can steal a couple, maybe the team can gain some confidence in their game and make a mental comeback in time for the playoffs. It's not that they lack the ability to win, they just seem to have a hard time focusing recently. They'll need that in the next few weeks, especially if they want to stretch that out to the next few months. The team is also expecting captain Simon Ferguson and Brent Gauvreau back in the lineup this weekend. Riley Emmerson has also returned from Bridgeport, but will not join the team in Victoria this weekend.

Before that thing on Wednesday that we're not talking about, Victoria had lost 5 in a row in series against Alaska and Bakersfield. In those 5 games, Victoria had 8 goals - 1 less than Wednesday's thing, so we figure they've used up their goal allotment for the next 6 games at least, if not the rest of their season. That said, the Grizzlies will want to keep the fish from scoring first, as Victoria's record on such occasions is 24-8-2. Another thing the Grizzlies can take advantage of is their power play - Utah ranks 2nd on the road with a 23.1% success rate. We're not suggesting they get themselves punched in the face or anything - in fact, we'd prefer no one get suspended this weekend - but taking advantage of any power play opportunities that arise would be recommended.

We're coming down to the wire. The Grizzlies have 9 games left in the regular season to get their act together. They won't have time to do it in the playoffs. Games start at 8:05 pm this weekend. You can listen on 1230 KFAN.

Weekend Preview - Utah Grizzlies vs Stockton Thunder

The Grizzlies are back at it against the Stockton Thunder this weekend with games Friday, Saturday and Sunday. They didn't fare so well on Wednesday, dropping the game 5-1, so we're looking for some redemption. They've got 3 games to do it. That's 6 points that they really need right now.

Utah has kind of gotten themselves into a pickle recently in the standings. Once leading the Western Conference, they've managed to slip to 3rd in the Mountain Division and way down to the bottom of the conference, with only Ontario and Victoria behind them. Alaska and Las Vegas have already clinched playoff spots, so there are two less for the Grizzlies to claim. With only 13 games left in the season, now would be the time to pick things back up and get on a roll - a WINNING roll - going into the playoffs.

Stockton has been even steven lately, splitting their last 10 with 5 wins and 5 losses. We think that means that since they won their last game against the Grizzlies, they should be fated to lose the next one. Of course, we have a very weak grasp of the laws of probability and the universe, so we're probably wrong. But even so, Utah should take that opportunity to avenge itself of Wednesday's poor showing.

*DISCLAIMER: When we use the word "avenge", we mean on the scoreboard. We've said before that the Grizzlies need to stop being undisciplined and having the kind of brawls that gets everyone suspended. (See last Saturday's game.) There are a lot of ways to stick up for your teammates that don't involve a 30 minute delay and a penalty box that looks like a clown car. For example, "That guy is busy giving my buddy a facewash so that must mean he's not paying attention to where the puck is. I think I'll pick it up and take a shot on goal so my buddy isn't smelling that glove in vain." The universe approves. So do the clowns. Also, we approve of ourselves.

In order to do that, they're going to have to buckle down and do some work. The kind of work that got them to the top of the Western Conference earlier in the season. In his post game interview on Wednesday, Coach Colley said, "We need to play hockey. We can't throw the skates on and go out there and hope for 2 points. It's getting a little too much, and everyone needs to be held accountable." But he's not expecting everyone to try to do it themselves. "Guys can't think they're Wayne Gretzky or Bobby Orr. Everyone needs to play the system, play it with tenacity and go out there and create some offense." (Italics added by us.) Like we said, earlier in the season they were working hard and playing the system and it was paying off in wins. This team needs to learn from its own history.

The Grizzlies will be without Riley Emmerson this weekend. He's off suspension, but has been called up to Bridgeport of the AHL. They'll also be without team captain Simon Ferguson - he's still suspended. Dave Schultz has been moved to IR for a few days, and Brent Parnham is still out with a knee injury. ECHL trade deadline is today at 3:00 pm ET, so we could see some last-minute changes. We hope not at this point, but whatev. We have no control.

Three games in a row, starting tonight at 7:05 pm. Six points up for grabs. Stockton doesn't need any more - let's do it, boys.

Game Day - Utah Grizzlies vs Stockton Thunder

Utah finally pulled themselves out of a losing streak on Saturday night, just in time to face off against Stockton. Utah hasn't had the greatest of luck against the Thunder this year, mainly because - in our opinion - the boys refuse to play their own game against Stockton and rather slip into the defensive, committing penalty after penalty instead of scoring goal after goal. Hopefully with some discipline, the Grizzlies can pull this one off.

Stockton has the interesting statistic of going 18-0-3 when they lead after the 2nd period. That's a lot of wins. Utah will need to be on their toes to keep the Thunder at bay through the first 40 and maintain their defense in the final 20, instead of getting sidetracked into the circus atmosphere that tends to occur when playing Stockton. Either way, the Grizzlies should be on the lookout for Fraser Clair who leads the Thunder with 8 points against Utah.

Over the last few games, the Grizzlies have been able to pull themselves back up to third on the power play. We're able to accept this a bit better than when they fell to 6th.

The Grizzlies picked up some new blood this week with the return of Shea Guthrie to the Utah line. Also, sounds like Paul McIlveen decided to show up (apparently he didn't report after the trade, hence the suspension) and will dress tonight. You can also expect Kevin Deeth to add to the mix as he leads rookies in assists with 36.

Start the series off right, Grizzlies.

Weekend Preview - Utah Grizzlies vs Ontario Reign

The Grizzlies are back in town this weekend, hosting the Ontario Reign at the Maverik Center. This begins a 6 game home stand where the Grizzlies really need all the points they can get. The playoffs are quickly approaching, and Utah has slowly slid down into 3rd in the Mountain Division. We can't even post our #2 sign anymore.

We're not quite sure what to make of this weekend's games. There has been a lot of turnover in the Grizzlies' lineup since the last time we saw them. We can quote all the statistics we want, but we don't know if any of them are applicable now. The truth of the matter is that when you change up guys on the team, you change the way they play. We're glad Coach Colley didn't trade himself, because now at least there's someone trying to get everyone on the same page. Anyway, it should be interesting to see how (and if) everything falls into place this weekend.

Something we can tell you is that while Utah has won 6 of 9 games against Ontario this season, only two of those wins has come at the Maverik Center. Conversely, the Reign have never beaten Utah in Ontario. Kind of an odd statistic. We don't know what it means. Probably nothing. Here's one that might be useful - the Reign currently lead the league in overtime wins with 8. Our advice - don't let it go to overtime. Utah needs 2 points out of these games.

The Grizzlies come into this weekend having only won 3 of their last 10 games. That's the worst past 10 in the Western Conference right now, with teams like Alaska winning 8 of 10, and Idaho winning 6 of 10 to pass them by. For a team that spent a good chunk of the season at the top of the conference, that's pretty disappointing. With only 16 games left in the regular season, Utah needs to start clicking again. A good weekend at home would spark that. They have a chance to make up 12 points in the next 2 weeks, and if they can get on a roll pushing into the playoffs, we'd be really happy. We're pretty sure Coach Colley would be too. He might even smile a little, or at least look less ticked off.

Two games this weekend at the Maverik Center. Four points on the line. Puck drops at 7:05 pm.

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.

Weekend Preview - Utah Grizzlies vs Las Vegas Wranglers

Is it just us, or does it seem like Las Vegas is ruling our lives lately?

Believe it or not, after this weekend the Grizzlies only have one more regular season game against the Wranglers in March. However, with the standings looking the way they have, it's very likely they'll meet at some point in the playoffs. We'd prefer it be later rather than sooner. We're getting tired of them.

The Grizzlies blew their shot to go into this weekend ahead of Las Vegas in the standings, so that makes these two games even more important in their quest for the #1 spot in the conference. Utah currently sits right behind Vegas with 61 points to the Wranglers' 63. (Stockton is right behind them with 59.) The good news is that in the 8 times Utah and Vegas have met this season (seems more like 88 times), the Grizzlies have come out on top 6 times with 1 shootout loss, and have earned 13 points. Not a bad record so far. Kevin Deeth leads the Grizzlies against the Wranglers with 11 points. Also a good sign. Our #2 sign, however, is getting a bit old. We'd prefer the Grizzlies get 4 points this weekend and the Wranglers get 0 points so we can stop posting it.

Somewhat like the Grizzlies recently, Vegas has been flailing a little bit, winning only 4 of their last 10 games. They've lost their last 3, so they're on a bit of a losing streak. The Grizzlies themselves have a bit of a streak going themselves, losing their last two, but since their streak isn't as long, it won't be as painful if they have to end it. We're sure they'll be willing to sacrifice their own losing streak in order to keep the Wranglers' going. They're kind and unselfish that way.

The Wranglers recently acquired goaltender Billy Sauer from Gwinnett. We don't know why. We also don't know whether he'll be in the net against the Grizzlies or not. And there's some debate on which name is easier to taunt - Sauer or Ouzas. That may need to be tested this weekend.

One thing that doesn't need to be tested this weekend is the power at the Maverik Center. With Wednesday's outage, something seemed to go out in the Grizzlies too. Their last two games have been somewhat lackluster, and Wednesday's game even caused Coach Colley to say he was going to dissect everyone. That's got to be a messy business. Hopefully he got everyone put back together in time for tonight's game. And let's keep the power on this time.

It's Hockey Weekend Across America, and the Grizzlies have a bunch of promotions going on for Friday and Saturday. We don't know if the two are related, but we're going to say they are. For tonight's game (Friday) fans are encouraged to bring a can of food for the Utah Food Bank. It's especially encouraging since you can get $5 off any ticket for each can donated. There will also be a post-game skate for fans and the team. Bring your own skates, or rent some for $2. On Saturday it's Pooch on the Pond where fans can bring their dog and sit in the special pooch section. This goes right along with Bring a Friend to the Rink Day. Nice. The Grizzlies will also be sporting special jerseys for the Angel's Hands Foundation that will be auctioned off after the game. Proceeds go to the Angel's Hands Foundation which helps families dealing with rare diseases. And don't forget the Try Hockey For Free activities going on at 4 different ice rinks across Utah on Saturday the 19th in conjunction with HWAA.

The fun starts at 7:00 pm tonight at the Maverik Center. Three games left against the Wranglers. Two games this weekend. One chance to get ahead of them in the Western Conference.

Game Day - Utah Grizzlies vs Alaska Aces

It's been a while since the Aces have been in town. In fact, the last time they were here was in November, when they handed the Grizzlies a pair of losses (one in overtime). Of course, you may remember that back in November every team that came to the Maverik Center was kind of giving Utah a wedgie. It wasn't pretty. Now, however, the Grizzlies have figured out how to play on their home ice, and we'd like to see them use this opportunity to get a few points up on Las Vegas.

Alaska is coming off of a challenging weekend against Stockton. They won two out of the three games, but one was an overtime win, and they were eventually unable to overtake the Thunder in the standings. The Aces are currently 3rd in the Mountain Division, 2 points behind Idaho, and 5 behind Utah. Utah is at the top of the Mountain Division, but still only #2 in the Western Conference. Hence the sign. However, the Grizzlies could be in the lead by the weekend if they can get 3 out of 4 points in the series with Alaska. 4 would be better.

The Grizzlies have been getting back to the game we know and love lately. They've won 6 of their last 10 games, and we're looking for them to start a new streak. They've been on and off with the wins, not stacking more than two together since the beginning of January. They got one in Vegas last week, so with the 4 home games coming up, we don't think 5 in a row is too much to ask. We're not demanding or anything.

One way the Grizzlies can do that is by making sure they have the lead going into the 3rd period. Here's another one of those weird stats someone thought of keeping once - the Grizzlies are 20-0-1 when leading at the end of the 2nd. What that actually tells us in non-statistical terms is that Utah is good at holding a lead and closing out games. That is a very good skill to have, and probably has contributed quite a bit to them hovering around the top of the conference for most of the season. Too many teams are tricked into thinking they have a "safe" lead. The Grizzlies know there's no such thing. They're probably not safe in Colley's locker room until they win. We know how he is about losing.


Also coming up this weekend - along with the Grizzlies' rise to the top of the Western Conference - is Hockey Weekend Across America. The three special event days are Wear Your Jersey Day on Friday the 18th, Bring a Friend to the Rink Day on Saturday the 19th, and Celebrate Local Hockey Heroes Day on Sunday the 20th. There are also 4 locations in Utah where you can participate in a Try Hockey For Free Clinic on Saturday the 19th. And of course, what better way to celebrate hockey than to support your local team? If you've ever needed an excuse to bring someone to a Grizzlies game, this is it.

4 home games in 5 days. 8 points on the line. 1st place in the west within reach. It all starts tonight at 7:05 pm.

Game Day - Utah Grizzlies vs Las Vegas Wranglers

There seems to be a shortage of games this week, and nothing at home for the Grizzlies. Hopefully you've already pulled out your Costco card and picked up your rations to make it through the famine. ($2.50 off a giant tub of cookie dough with coupon until the end of the month.) They'll make up for it next week, when they have 4 home games in 5 days. But for now, there's only one game, and it's tonight in Vegas, baby.

The Las Vegas Wranglers currently lead the Western Conference by 4 points. The Grizzlies are in 2nd... still. Utah has its next three games against, Vegas while the Wranglers have a couple of games this weekend against Victoria sandwiched in the middle. So again, the Wranglers come out with the upper hand, having more chances to get points than Utah. That makes these games against Vegas all the more important. The Grizzlies can't just worry about earning points, they've got to be about keeping Las Vegas from getting them. NO OVERTIME!!! Just our suggestion.

Another suggestion would be to not let the Wranglers score first. They have a record of 21-3-3 when they get the first goal in a game. This is kind of a weird statistic and we don't really know what it means, but they always report so it must be important. We are all for getting the first goal anyway. Or not letting your opponent score first. Either way works for us.

We know that Andrew Engelage has been stellar in net for the Grizzlies, and again earned Goalie of the Week honors, but Las Vegas recently got Michael Ouzas back from Peoria. Oddly enough, this is where Utah just sent captain Jake Gannon. We're kind of confused about this, but then again, we're confused about most things to do with moving players around, so everything is status quo. Anyway, Ouzas is currently ranked 6th in the league in GAA (goals against average). Engelage is 3rd in that statistic. We're thinking that last meeting between the two where Engelage got a shutout and Ouzas gave up 5 goals may have had something to do with that. We'd like to see a repeat performance. However, we think Vegas might still remember that, and might possibly be ticked, so we'll settle for a win. In regulation.

The Grizzlies will get Paul Crowder back in the lineup tonight. This is perfect timing - before he went out with injuries, he had two goals and two assists in two games against the Wranglers in November. It would be great if he picked up right where he left off. We're sure Timmy will be happy to see Paulie back in the game. Especially if they're also roommates, because having to watch your brother play while you can't has got to make a guy kind of cranky.

Only game of the week tonight. Puck drops at 8:05 pm. Hang with Adrian Denny on 1230 KFAN while you inventory your toilet paper and cookie dough.

Weekend Preview - Utah Grizzlies vs Stockton Thunder

The Grizzlies are on the road this weekend in Stockton, California, home to the ever-popular Asparagus Festival. Fortunately that isn't until April, so there should be no distractions for the team. Let's just hope they don't play Stockton in the playoffs.

The Grizz are coming off a recent successful home stand where they came up with 7 of 8 points. Their last game against Vegas was won in particularly commanding fashion, cutting down the current conference leaders 5-0. That's right - we said the Wranglers are the current conference leaders. We're not necessarily complaining about that, but the Grizzlies are 2nd, and only two points away, which makes this weekend pretty important. The Grizzlies have two games this weekend followed by 4 days off, then one game next week and another 4 days off. That's a lot of not playing hockey, so they need to make these games count to stay in the race. The Wranglers will play 6 games in the time Utah plays 3.

Stockton has been on a tear lately, winning 7 of their last 10 games, and moving up the conference ladder. They're 6 points behind the Grizzlies, with only Idaho in between. It should be easy enough to climb over those potatoheads, as long as it's not at the Grizzlies' expense. The Thunder are 20-8-6 when outshooting their opponent, so we think it will be important for the Grizzlies to 1) take plenty of shots on goal, and 2) keep Stockton's shot count down. Of course, that's nothing they shouldn't be doing anyway, so we'll just keep our coaching advice to ourselves. What do we know anyway?

With the way they played at home recently, we're hoping Utah can keep it up for their next three games. This will depend a lot on goaltender Andrew Engelage staying on top of his game and healthy. According to Coach Colley, Engelage is the team's backbone. He has consistently been able to bail the team out when they have breakdowns and keep them in the game. Not to mention that pretty slick 5-0 shutout on Wednesday night.

Now, you may or may not recall that Stockton and Utah don't really get along very well. In fact, the last time these two teams got together for a weekend, the infamous stick-tossing incident occurred. Not that it wasn't one of the highlights of the season, but starting that game off with a fight didn't seem to be the right choice for the Grizzlies, as everything kind of went ice jungle from there on out. We would say it would be wise for the team to stay out of as many distracting, momentum-killing altercations as possible while in Stockton. We don't want any Rick DiPietro situations. (Out 4-6 weeks from a punch in the face - ugh.)

Chance for 4 points this weekend. We're going for Grizzlies win and Wranglers lose. Stockton is in there somewhere. The fun starts at 8:30 pm.

Game Day: Las Vegas Wranglers

Top two teams in the Western Conference tonight.

According to the stats, the Wranglers can be deadly when scoring first. They've gone 19-3-3 when they tally the first goal in a game. So, Utah will want to stop that from happening if possible. We expect to see a defensively played game on the Grizzlies end, since Vegas loves to create odd-man rushes with the speed of their players. David Schulz is out currently with an injury, but it looks like Matt Sorteberg will be stepping in on defense for the Grizzlies.

The Wrangler to watch out for in this game is Ryan Huddy. He currently leads Las Vegas with 23 goals. Damn. However, the Grizzlies can counter with Kevin Deeth who has the alternate statistic of 23 assists, then follow that up with secret weapon Tim Crowder who has scored 5 goals against the Wranglers this season.

Goalies are another area where we should see a duel between Vegas and utah. According to Denny's blog: "Las Vegas goaltenders Joe Fallon and Michael Ouzas, along with Utah’s Andrew Engelage and the recalled J.P. Lamoureux rank fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh respectively in the ECHL in goals-against-average." Though, Engelage has the upper hand as the only unbeaten goaltender (4-0-0-1) in the series between the two teams. Denny has more interesting stats regarding the battle of the netminders on his blog.

Utah has dropped to 3rd on the power play, which still isn't bad. But of course, we're spoiled. We liked seeing the boys in the number one spot, so we hope they pick that up tonight.

Puck drops at 7:05pm.

Weekend Preview - Utah Grizzlies vs Ontario Reign

After a nice little All-Star break, the Grizzlies welcome the Reign to the Maverik Center this weekend. We hope they've got their heads all cleared out, and maybe had some good practices, because the Grizzlies are no longer at the top of the Western Conference.

Shocking. Absolutely tear-jerking.

The fall from the top spot was a combination of the Grizzlies having a few not so great games, and Las Vegas really picking it up and winning 7 of their last 10. We know it's not the end of the world, and we're not all that upset - 2nd is still pretty good. But 1st is better than 2nd. Hence the numbering system. We're posting the sign until they're back from 2nd.

Anyway, the Reign are currently in last place in the conference, and have lost 6 of their last 10. So have the Grizzlies. Just an odd little congruency we thought we'd throw in for no particular reason. The Reign, however, are also last place in the league with only 28 points. This is exactly the kind of position that can make a team dangerous because they have nothing to lose. Sitting back and trying to hold their spot makes no sense, so they may as well go all-out and see what happens. Utah is going to want to keep this in mind, as sitting back is probably not their best option at this point either. There is still a lot of hockey to be played between now and April, and anything could happen. Oh, and keep an eye out for Ontario's lone All-Star representative, Aaron Lewadniuk - we hear he's got a great shot. Plus we really liked this feature on him.


According to Adrian Denny's game day blog, the Grizzlies should have their All-Star Captain (that has a nice ring to it), Jake Gannon, in the lineup tonight. It will be good to see him back on the ice here in Utah - we've missed him. We'll also see the two new guys - Brandon Milnamow and Maxime Tanguay. We're looking forward to seeing how they fit in. No updates on Andrew Engelage, which is maybe good news. We hope to see him uninjured and back in the net. The rest of the cast should be ready to play as well, and we're looking for them to rebound after some disappointing games last week. If you haven't yet read the article from Kyle Goon of the Salt Lake Tribune (no, we didn't make that up), check it out. Great article, and it really shows how these guys want to win together. A few little setbacks aren't going to cloud their overall goal - to win a championship.

With Friday being a "Pack the House Night" where all tickets are $5 with a Maverik receipt, we expect a great crowd to cheer the team on and start this weekend right. If you haven't got your tickets already, you'll want to hurry - they've gone fast in the past.

Games in town Friday, Saturday and Monday. Come see the Grizzlies claw their way back up to the top.