Month: October 2019

Utah Grizzlies: The Kelly Klima Show

The Grizzlies continued the second stage of their road trip in Rapid City on Friday night. Mason McDonald got the start, while Josh Anderson joined the team from Colorado. Colin Jacobs and Patrick McGrath both played in place of Tim McGauley and Yuri Terao, and Mason McDonald got the start.

This weekend, I’ll be returning to the far less formal “Top Six Minutes” style recap that made a few appearances last season, so be prepared.

First Period

  • Really good penalty kill for the Grizzlies after Travis Barron headed to the box for high-sticking.
  • Felix Lauzon heads to the box, but takes Kelly Kilma with him. REALLY excellent kill from Utah.
  • The Rush strike first on the breakaway. BOOO.
  • It’s a Grizzlies shooting gallery out there! Definitely the response you want to see after a goal against.
  • That was a fantastic scoring chance from the Captain.
  • Taylor Richart and Josh Dickinson both threw themselves in front of shots that shift. Looked painful, but neither of them missed so much as a shift.
  • There’s that lightning fast glove-hand of Mason McDonald’s there.
  • Ryan Wagner’s hands are marvelous.
  • Eric Williams draws a short-handed power play in the offensive zone!
  • Not a great power play.
  • Those were some really nice plays that didn’t lead to anything, sadly.

Second Period

  • Early power play for the Grizz there.
  • Oooh, Erik Källgren wasn’t 100% sure he had that shot from Richart.
  • Some speedy skating from Griffen Molino draws another power play!
  • What. A. Save. McDonald stones Montminy on a breakaway out of the box.
  • And a couple other big saves from them.
  • COLIN JACOBS TIES THE GAME. Nice move too. Wagner and Brandon Saigeon with the assists.

  • Power play again for the Grizzlies.
  • Oh, that SNIIIIIIIIIPE. Dickinson with his EIGHTH of the season on the advantage.
  • Never heard of a six minute penalty before. But McGrath is headed to the box for that. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
  • Two for slashing, four for high sticking, well that’s new, but makes sense.
  • And RC scores.
  • McGrath and Saulnier with a furious fight there with 3:44 to go.
  • Ohhhh that was almost a glorious Griffen goal.
  • Power play for the boys! So many power plays this game.
  • Oh man, it didn’t lead to a goal, but that whole Richart, Dickinson, Barron sequence was lovely.

Third Period

  • A Rush player ends up in the net, but not the puck.
  • What. A. SAVE.

  • Thaaat one not so much. Klima with the hat trick.
  • HOW did that Cassels shot not go in???
  • Nice stick from Barron there.
  • Another one from Klima. McDonald was wearing a couple of players on that one, unfortunately initiated by a Grizzlies player.
  • Molino’s kind of fast in case you somehow managed to miss that memo.
  • I’m not gonna argue very hard with something not being called against the Grizzlies, but how was that not a trip on Utah.
  • Josh Dickinson out there making scoring look absolutely effortless. 4-3 with just over two to go.

  • Late power play for Utah!!!
  • Six-on-four with an empty Grizzlies net.
  • No dice.
  • Utah falls 4-3, but it sure was an entertaining game.

After witnessing Josh Dickinson blaze his way through teams the past few games, the Grizzlies did get a bit of a taste of their own medicine. Klima scored all four of the Rush’s goals, and was named first star.

As was predicted ahead of time, power plays did indeed play a large part, both teams getting two. Rapid City does look to be a far better team than they have been in years past. As a result, although there were certainly some frustrating moments, and plenty of things to clean up, it was overall an entertaining game.

Utah looks to settle the score tomorrow night.

Goals

  • First Period: None
  • Second Period: Jacobs (Wagner, Saigeon) (PP), Dickinson (Richart, Cassels (PP)
  • Third Period: Dickinson (Wagner, Molino)

 

Photo courtesy of Tim Broussard and staff.

Utah Grizzlies: Ever So Close

After Friday’s tour-de-force, it wasn’t much of a surprise to discover that with the exception of Brandon Saigeon who was scratched and Mason McDonald who got the start, the lineup remained the same.

The game got off to a pretty similar start, Josh Dickinson wiring a shot on net on the first shift. This time, however, Jake Paterson was there to stop it. However, the Grizzlies continued to get the best of the zone time.

Unfortunately, Allen struck first following a Utah penalty, giving them the 1-0 lead at 3:58. Dickinson drew a power play on the next shift, but the Grizzlies couldn’t capitalize. The Americans played far better than on Friday, despite icing the puck several times as the period approached the half-way point.

At the twelve-minute mark, Tim McGauley backhanded the puck from the corner, and onto the stick of none other than Josh Dickinson. Dickinson buried it for his seventh goal in the last three games.

Yuri Terao took a tripping call with 3:53 to go, and the Grizzlies killed it off. However, the Americans took the lead with 1:02 to go on a goal from Olivier Archambault.

Peter Tischke and Brett Pollock took matching minors following the whistle, so the second period began four-on-four.

Griffen Molino got in on a breakaway, but was unable to beat Paterson in the opening minute of the second.

With 10:52 remaining, Wagner’s stick broke and went flying, and the Grizzlies lost focus just long enough for Allen to capitalize. A video review followed, but the goal stood.

Joe Wegwerth took a high-sticking penalty with 9:01 to go, but Utah killed it off. The Grizzlies proceeded to string together a couple of good shifts, and Cole Cassels scored his second of the year as the team crashed the net. Travis Barron got the assist, and Utah followed that up with several more offensive zone shifts, led by Dickinson and McGauley.

It turned out that it was only the beginning. Barron backhanded a Taylor Richart shot past Paterson to tie the game, and then McGauley gave Utah the lead on an absolute snipe. Terao took some net front abuse at 19:20, drawing a late power play, and sending Utah to the locker room up 4-3, out-shooting Allen 29-15, and with 1:40 of power play time to start the third.

At the buzzer, the Americans took a bench minor for unsportsmanlike conduct, so the 1:40 of power play turned into 1:40 of five-on-three. The Grizzlies established some solid zone time, but the power play went the way of so many early-period advantages.

The game started to get a bit physical, and six minutes in, Allen tied it up 4-4. Terao got a helmet violation penalty. Barron and Cassels got a speedy two-on-one short-handed and then later on the same shift Barron and Alex Breton collided and were slow to get off the ice. Fortunately, both Barron and Breton were back fairly quickly.

Lauzon drew a power play with 4:41 to go, and then Allen put the puck over the glass to give Utah 1:28 of five-on-three at a critical moment. Unfortunately, Allen was able to kill off both two and one man advantages.

Teigan Zahn and Alex Gubtill dropped the gloves with ten seconds to go, and as regulation came to an end, tied 4-4, something of a crowd gathered.

Allen took the second standings point on a Gabriel Gagne goal 1:18 into OT, and Utah left Allen with three of four points.

Cassels picked up third star of the night on the strength of one goal and two assists, while Dickinson and Barron both extended their scoring streaks.

 

Goals

  • First Period: Dickinson (McGauley)
  • Second Period: Cassels (Barron), Barron (Richart, Cassels), McGauley (Cassels)
  • Third Period: None

 

Photo courtesy of Tim Broussard and staff.

Utah Grizzlies: Raining Goals

After the dominant win on Wednesday night, the Grizzlies’ lineup remained unchanged on their first road trip of the season, with good cause, as it quickly turned out.

The Grizzlies got off to a lightning fast start, Tim McGauley setting up Josh Dickinson’s fourth goal of the season just 34 seconds in.

Less than five minutes in, Allen goalie Dereck Baribeau was taken out with an injury , and Dickinson scored his second just moments later on a terrific rush play from Griffen Molino and McGauley.

Felix Lauzon scored his first pro goal less than a minute later, pouncing on an Americans turnover, and the Grizzlies continued to keep their foot firmly on the gas. Allen took the first penalty of the game at just about the half-way mark, but Utah didn’t capitalize.

It didn’t really matter, because at 14:10, Travis Barron got his fifth of the year. Ryan Wagner took a slashing call a couple of minutes later, but Utah headed to the locker room up 4-0, shots 10-9 in their favor.

Allen got a goal 49 seconds into the second, but Utah answered right back, Joe Wegwerth giving Utah back the four goal lead. Allen ran into a little bit of penalty trouble, going off for hooking at 2:50, and then again for delay of game just four seconds later. Dickinson made them pay, completing his second hat trick in as many games, Wagner picking up his second assist, and Yuri Terao also picking up a point.

The teams exchanged penalties, both of which were killed off. Eric Williams got his first pro goal, rattling Jake Paterson’s water bottle at 15:36 from Terao and Barron, who both continued to pick up the points.

Spencer Asuchak put Terao into the boards at 16:08, and Taylor Richart made them pay with a rocket on the man advantage.

After that, however, Allen rattled in three straight goals in less than two minutes to end the frame. Needless to say, it was a highly entertaining 20 minutes for the fans.

The offensive out-pouring was in no way done, as Molino sprinted past the Allen skaters, and beat Paterson one-on-one 3:54 into the third.

The teams took matching slashing penalties at 4:56, but Asuchak went to the box for high-sticking, and Cole Cassels managed to eek the puck past Paterson for the 10-4 goal from Richart and Barron.

Williams got a tripping call at 10:09, but Utah killed it off. Dickinson took a stick to the face with 3:12 to go, and the Grizzlies finished the game on the advantage.

Shots were a fairly respectable 31-22 for Utah, but the 10-4 scoreboard told the more important story.

Dickinson’s second hat trick of the week earned him first star of the night once more, while Travis Barron got second star with one goal and three assists, Ryan Wagner picked up third star with two. Honorable mentions to Richart, Cassels, and Molino all with with one goal and one assist each, and McGauley with two assists.

With an exception of the last two minutes of the second period, Utah played a very solid game, but they didn’t have to be particularly brilliant to rack up the goals. On most of them, their best players were allowed to do as they wished, largely uncontested. However, once again, the Grizzlies kept their foot on the gas despite the commanding lead.

It certainly will be interesting to see what happens when these two teams meet Saturday night.

 

Goals

  • First Period: Dickinson (McGauley), Dickinson (Molino, McGauley), Lauzon, Barron
  • Second Period: Wegwerth (Wagner), Dickinson (Wagner, Terao) (PP), Williams (Terao, Barron), Richart (Cassels, Barron) (PP)
  • Third Period: Molino, Cassels (Richart, Barron) (PP)

Photo courtesy of Tim Broussard and staff.

Utah Grizzlies: Hat Trick Heroics

The first Wednesday night of the season saw the Grizzlies looking for their first win. Jeff Smith got his first start of the season, backed up by Mason McDonald after Hunter Miska got called up to the AHL. Connor Yau and Felix Lauzon returned to the lineup, while Colin Jacobs, Patrick McGrath, Michael Economos, Ryan Black, and Mitch Maxwell all sat.

Wichita was not as hot out of the gate as Idaho, and the Grizzlies picked up the first three shots, as well as a goal from Josh Dickinson that fluttered softly past Mitch Gillam at 2:08. Griffen Molino and Eric Williams got the assists.

Utah continued to get the best of the situation, drawing a power play as Dickinson took a slashing call. The Grizzlies wasted no time capitalizing, Dickinson getting his second of the period from Kevin Davis and Yuri Terao.

Molino was left all alone about half-way through the frame, and easily outmaneuvered Gillam. Barely had the goal been announced when Travis Barron scored his third of the season assisted by Yau and Cole Cassels, and the Grizzlies’ offensive onslaught continued. It wasn’t even so much that they were playing so very well (though they did have a better start than in the previous games against Idaho) than Wichita allowed them to control play, and didn’t challenge them.

Smith didn’t have much to do, but did make a nice positional save on Wichita in the last five minutes of the period on the Thunder’s fourth shot.

The Grizzlies weren’t particularly tidy through the first, but in comparison to Wichita, they looked stellar, and ended the first up 4-0, outshooting the Thunder 14-4.

Utah had a couple of sloppy passes in the opening moments of the period, but the Thunder were unable to make the most of them. Although they did get a point-blank shot at Smith, who turned it aside handily.

Dickinson got the hat trick goal at 2:10 from Tim McGauley, and the Thunder got on the board eleven seconds later. The goal put some life back into Wichita, and they spent a little more time in the zone, picking up a couple more shots.

As the half-way point of the period passed, the Thunder had more chances, but fumbled passes, or were met by the calm presence of Smith.

Utah got a power play with 4:33 to go, and Barron once again made it count, making it 6-1.

Cassels took an interference penalty with 2:09 left in the frame, but Barron took a stick to the face, and the Grizzlies ended with 3:42 of power play time to work with in the third.

They were unable to get anything past Gillam on the power play, but headed right back to the advantage when Riley Weselowski took a tripping penalty just moments after the Thunder returned to full strength. Barron took a boarding penalty as the Wichita penalty expired, but the Grizzlies killed it off without a shot.

Eric Freschi took a helmet violation penalty, and Ryan Wagner took a slashing penalty shortly thereafter, but Joe Wegwerth pounced on a turnover, and capitalized short-handed.

As the final five minutes approached, Wichita started throwing their weight around, which led to a parade of penalties, Freschi and Starrett going off for unsportsmanlike conduct and interference respectively, while Tischke and Barron both followed for for the same.

At final count, shots were 30-14 for Utah, who picked up their first win of the season.

Dickinson’s first pro hat trick and assist earned him first star, while Barron (2G) and Molino (1G, 1A) took second and third star honors. Davis picked up two assists, and Jeff Smith got his first pro win.

Now the team hits the road, where they hope to take their new found chemistry and consistency to Allen this weekend and Rapid City next.

Goals

  • First Period: Dickinson (Molino, Williams), Dickinson (Davis, Terao) (PP), Molino (Davis, Dickinson), Barron (Yau, Cassels) (PP)
  • Second Period: Dickinson (McGauley), Barron (Cassels, Saigeon)
  • Third Period: Wegwerth (SH)

 

Photo courtesy of Tim Broussard and staff.

Utah Grizzlies: Slow Start

After a spirited end to Friday’s game, the tilt on Saturday promised to be a a good one, complete with specialty jerseys for Epilepsy night. Mason McDonald got his first regular season start in a Grizzlies’ jersey, while Mike Economos and Teigan Zahn drew in for Connor Yau, Ryan Black, and Colin Jacobs.

Although the Grizzlies looked much more together from the get-go, Idaho struck first, 1:26 into the frame.

However, Utah got right back on their collective horse, and were able to string together several shifts in the offensive zone. Despite the zone time, by the five minute mark, Idaho held the shot lead 5-0 as well as the score lead.

Kevin Davis kept his feet moving, and drew a power play shortly thereafter. Although it wasn’t reflected on either the shot counter or the scoreboard, the team looked more cohesive.

Despite all that, Idaho made it 2-0 before the Grizzlies had hit their third shot on goal.

Economos tried to get something going after Taylor Richart got into a little bit of a shoving match, but Idaho declined, and Economos was sent to the box for roughing.

Utah killed off the penalty off, but Joe Wegwerth took a roughing call in the after-buzzer crowd.

The Grizzlies spent large portions of the kill in and around the offensive zone to start the second, and Travis Barron continued to have a second strong game, earning some cheers following a big hit.

Barron followed that up by drawing a power play, and Utah got a couple of really nifty chances, but were again unable to beat Tomas Sholl. They were able to narrow the shot deficit however, 18-14 after the 16-9 first period.

Just when it looked like the Grizzlies were getting themselves sorted out, and playing some solid hockey, they coughed the puck up right in front of McDonald, and Spencer Naas made it 3-0.

Zahn took a boarding call with four to go, and Barron continued to be the Grizzles’ most standout all-around player going into second intermission.

Less than a minute into the second period, Barron drew another power play, and then ruined Sholl’s shut out by banking the puck off an Idaho defenseman and in.

The Grizzlies drew another power play at 7:06, and took over the shot lead shortly thereafter.

The players had a couple of great ideas in the minutes that followed, but shot just wide, or were just out of reach. Tischke took a cross-checking penalty with about six minutes left and the cantankerous spirit escalating.

Utah pulled McDonald with 1:30 to go, but they were unable to draw within one, falling 3-1 regulation.

Barron was, once again, one of the more noticeable Utah players, drawing power plays, laying hits, and driving play throughout the game.

Overall, it was a better start than Friday, and once again improved greatly in the second and third periods, but the slow start and the second period turnover proved costly.

“Same script as last night, except I thought we played better.” Tim Branham said after the game. “Not the first period. First period was terrible. Second period was fabulous until we had one turnover, one shot, goal. And that’s what happens. That’s what happens when you think…I don’t know if you think it’s gonna be easy, but the way you play you think it’s gonna be easy. This league will kick you in the butt. And that’s a good team over there. That’s a goalie that’s always one of the best in the league every single year, and he proved that this weekend for sure. He was their number one star. But you’ve got to find ways, you’ve got to take his eyes away, be more tenacious. I thought we did a lot of good things in the second and third period, we had that fire in our gut, and we’ve got to make sure we’ve got that fire in our gut from the drop of the puck.”

Travis Barron continues to impress, and came in for some high praise from his coach.

“He’s really stepped it up, that’s for sure. I thought both games he was our best player. We’re challenging him to be our best player every single night, and that’s what it’s gonna take to move up. He’s done really well, from penalty killing to power play to the physical aspect of the game, making plays, great attitude, leading on the bench, leading in the dressing room, he has done a really good job so far.”

Barron stood head and shoulders above the rest, but he wasn’t the only one who has shown flashes. One such player is Cole Cassels, who has two assists, and Griffen Molino. Another has been Yuri Terao, who isn’t always the most noticeable player, but always seems to appear exactly where he needs to be.

“Yuri competes. He’s a good player. For a language barrier, it’s tough sometimes, and he does a really good job. A lot of good things out there. He’s got good cut backs, good skill, and I think he’s just gonna get better the more he gets used to this North American style.”

As has already been said, the pieces are all there, and they’re starting to come together, but there’s still work to be done. Fortunately, it’s only game two, so there’s still plenty of time yet to sort it all out.

Photo courtesy of Tim Broussard and staff