After taking two in a row against Idaho, the Grizzlies were up against a stiff challenge in game three of the series on Saturday night. Utah’s lineup remained the same as they faced down former Grizz goalie Ryan Faragher.
First Period
- Idaho to the power play first.
- The Grizzlies followed up a flawless penalty kill with a wild scramble around Faragher.
- WALLLYYYYYYYYYYY!! Walters puts the Grizzlies up 1-0 from Taylor Richart!! And it was a very nice one. He took the puck around a crowd of players and past his former teammate.
- WELCOME. BACK. MITCH. 2-0 Grizzlies!
- Idaho is definitely trying to pick a fight with whomever will fall for it.
- Shots are 7-1 for Utah with 8:50 to go in the first period.
- What a pair of phenomenal saves from Carr as that Idaho penalty came to an end.
- It feels like every single game Mike Economos gets a step faster. Every single game.
- A little bit of the old razzle dazzle from Julien Nantel there! (Unfortunately, Faragher flashed the leather with a little flair of his own.)
- Carr sees Faragher’s flashy moves on the other end of the ice, and responds with one of his own!
- ONE of these days, Nantel is gonna bury one of those incredible looks.
- Idaho in on the breakaway, only to be stopped stone cold by Kevin Carr.
- If Taylor getting pitchforked isn’t a penalty, how’s that play by Ausmus one??? As AD used to say… I don’t know about that…
- Either way, that was exactly the start the Grizzlies needed. 13-7 are shots for Utah after the first.
Second Period
- More of that awesome puck support we saw from the past couple of nights.
- Carr doesn’t often protest after he lets a goal in. He was immediately adamant after that one that it shouldn’t be a goal. Refs are talking about it.
- NO GOAL. Always trust Carrsy.
- Don’t know about the rest of you, but definitely not used to Teigan Zahn NOT being the biggest guy on the ice.
- Kevin Carr, ladies and gentlemen.
- Walters takes exception to the Idaho pushing and shoving around Carr, and is sent to the box. The fans are not amused.
- We’re just gonna spend the entire second period on the kill, aren’t we.
- Idaho to the box, and Herbert and Dickinson join up for a gorgeous four-on-four chance.
- …Except now apparently Dickinson to the box for…reasons.
- Idaho scores after being given ever possible chance on the power play.
- YOU MAY BEAT KEVIN CARR FOUR-ON-THREE, BUT YOU’RE NOT GONNA BEAT HIM ON THE WRAP-AROUND.
- HOW did Carr save that???? It was already BEHIND him????
- Kevin Carr is the first star of this game for this period alone, and I don’t care if we lose by six. He is playing lights out.
- HERBERT SAYS THAT’S RUBBISH AND WE’RE UP 3-1!! What a move.
- Idaho playing a lot tighter on this penalty kill.
- UHG. Short-handed goal.
- Here’s to hoping the Grizzlies are able to score another couple in the third to keep the Steelheads out of the win column…
Third Period
- Grizzlies are struggling to pass cleanly early on, but are still doing a good job at boxing the Steelheads out…mostly.
- Five-on-three for Utah. The Grizzlies NEED to get a goal on this one.
- …This is a very underwhelming five-on-three. No hustle, and the passes are not ideal.
- That power play could come back to haunt them in a big way.
- Now would be a really good time for the killer instinct from the first period to make a return.
- Kevin Carr coming up big again.
- The way some parts of the second and third period have gone, an argument could be made that the Grizzlies don’t entirely deserve to win this game. On the other hand, Carr definitely does not deserve to lose it.
- A lot more energy as the final period passes the half-way mark. They’re looking more like the first period team.
- There’s still too much time…
- Caleb Herbert, man. The things he can do.
- Again. Herbert and the things he can do.
- OH geez… Henke went hard into the boards, and has to be helped off the ice. That’s the last thing this already injury plagued team needs.
- Idaho’s net is empty with 2:28 to go…
- Still an empty net…less than a minute to go…Idaho calls their time out…
- MITCH. MAXWELL. EMPTY. NET. GOAL.
- CHILI FOR ALL, AND GET OUT THOSE BROOMS.
- Grizzlies win 4-2.
Mitch Maxwell earned first star of the game with his first and second goals of the year, while Caleb Herbert’s GWG earned him second star. Idaho’s Keegan Kanzig received the third star with a goal and an assist. Carr definitely could have been one of the stars as well, with his outstanding performance–especially in the second period.
“I think it just comes down to team effort,” Maxwell said after the game. “Carrsy was great in the net when we had little lulls he held us in it, and we capitalized on our opportunities. We’re a pretty confident team right now, and we’re just excited to be here at the rink. It was a big three wins for us, and we’re ready to get going for next week.”
Of Carr’s play, especially in the second period, he added, “Carrsy made some huge saves when we had some lulls like I said. Without him we definitely don’t have these three wins. He was a huge part of our success this weekend.”
“We’re playing pretty good hockey right now,” Tim Branham said when speaking of the series in general. “Good goaltending today, that’s for sure. Got some help from our affiliate, those two, Nantel and Downing for the series, and Boikov for the first game, those are three elite players right that can play at the next level. Any time you can add that, it’s great. But you know what, our boys came together there in that last road trip, playing short, understanding what it takes to win, and I think we know now–I think we knew, but we’re proving to everybody–that when we play our style, when we have our lineup, nobody can beat us.”
Speaking of that lineup, Walters appears to be heating up, with points in the last five games (and three multiple point games in that stretch) and ten points in the nine games since he returned, while Herbert has points in ten of the twelve games he’s played since coming back from Colorado, and is now third in the league in points and goals (one behind Zach Pochiro of Allen, and Reid Gardiner of Kalamazoo). Economos has five points in the last five games, and Dickinson has eight points in his last ten since arriving from Colorado. Although he hasn’t scored yet, Downing has been incredible, while Carr is now 5-1-1 in his last seven starts.
“I thought he was just fantastic,” Branham said of Carr. “He’s been that way for quite some time now. I think early on in the year when you’ve got Joe Cannata, and you’re not playing many games, you’re not getting into it. Now he’s playing every game, and we just see what kind of goaltender he is. He was tremendous tonight, tremendous. Just calm, steady back there, controlling the rebounds, he made some big saves. Our D are playing phenomenal, with Zahn leading the way, they’re defending well, trying to keep shots to the outside as best they can. Our forwards do a good job of scoring, and helping track through the middle of the ice to defend. Honestly, that was a complete team effort. Really proud of the boys, and it definitely feels good. Some much needed rest to recover here, and we’ll get back at her next weekend.”
The upcoming games on Friday and Saturday are part of Grizzlies Fight Cancer week, and are the first two of a three game home stand against Kansas City that will conclude on Monday with a matinee game for President’s Day.
Goals
- First Period: Walters (Richart), Maxwell (Zahn, Economos)
- Second Period: Herbert (Anderson, Marchment)
- Third Period: Maxwell (EN)
Photo courtesy of Action Sports Photography and staff.
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