In their final meeting of the season against the Allen Americans, the Grizzlies hoped to get the win to take the season series. Cole Ully remained out of the lineup, and with Duggie Lagrone released, Josh Anderson returned to action while Joe Cannata got the start.
First Period
Well, the bad blood boiled over right off the face-off! Joey Ratelle drops the gloves with Jacob Doty!
AAAAND now Verpaelst drops the gloves with Curt Gogol!
And two more penalties for Allen and Utah! There have been more penalties than shots so far.
The latest player to head to the box is Braylon Shmyr. Still scoreless with 9:30 to go.
Good possession on the PP, but no threat at all.
O CAPTAIN, OUR CAPTAIN! 1-0 Utah!!
There are now as many shots as penalties this period. (Utah holds the slim edge, outshooting Allen 4-3 with 3:30 to go.)
Another scuffle after a whistle, and another penalty for Allen!
1-0 for Utah after 20, shots 6-4 in their favor!
Second Period
The period opens with 1:57 or so of power play time!
Allen’s PK looking better than Utah’s PP, but Ottenbreit has the only shot.
Allen has the zone, but the Utah shot-blockers are keeping them from reaching Cannata.
This power play would be a really, really good time to double up the lead…
Well, it didn’t, but they do now outshoot Allen 12-4.
AAAAAAAnd Allen scores. Like I said, getting a power play goal would have been kind of big…
Holy CANNATA. HOW did Joe save that???? Pochiro thought he scored, the fans thought he scored I thought he scored!!!
Ok, this would be another really good time to score that power play goal…
The most unfortunate thing about this whole situation is that Utah’s playing pretty well, getting all the power play opportunities, and outshooting Allen 13-5, and yet we’re tied 1-1. Because of course Allen scored on their only shot this period.
OTTENBREIT GETS HIS 11TH!! I think Turner heard me. Richart and Lewis get the assists on the go-ahead goal.
Oh boy, Ryan Galt got hit and got up really slowly. The boys aren’t happy about it. Pochiro and Gogol both get ten minute misconducts, and Shmyr gets two for kneeing.
At the end of 40, Utah leads 3-1, shots 16-7 in their favor.
Third Period
Allen returns to full strength.
JK no they don’t. Or rather, they do but they then head straight back to the box on a cross-check on Walker.
Another big save by Cannata.
Welp, this is gonna be a very important kill.
Uhg. 3-2 on the advantage.
The Grizzlies creating chaos though!
…I do not know why Ty Lewis was awarded a penalty shot, BUT WHO CARES!!! HE SCORES HIS FIRST FOR UTAH!
Allen is very not happy about the situation.
And they get it back on the power play through traffic.
Another big kill coming up…the others haven’t gone so well, so this is concerning.
Excellent kill.
The amount of time left on the clock with a one goal lead is nerve inducing.
Empty net for Allen with a minute to go…
Allen calls their time out. It’s moments like this when I especially miss Jake Marchment…
It’s a really good thing I don’t bite my nails, because moments like these would cause me to completely ruin them…
Fun fact, Gogol spent nearly a whole period in the penalty box this game.
EMPTY NET GOAL FOR LEWIS!!!
Grizz win 5-3 thanks to power play, penalty kill, penalty shot, even strength, and empty net goals!!
Goals
First Period: Zahn (Maxwell, Ausmus)
Second Period: Ottenbreit (Richart, Lewis) (PP), Maxwell (Walker, Anderson) (SH)
Third Period: Lewis (PS), Lewis (Walters) (EN)
Photo courtesy of Action Sports Photography.
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With Gabriel Verpaelst and Nolan de Jong facing off against their former teams for the first time, the Grizzlies also dressed a couple of new additions. Forward Ty Lewis made his first appearance after being sent down from Colorado, and defenseman Duggie Lagrone made his pro debut as well. Joe Cannata got the start, while Cole Ully and Josh Anderson all sat out to make room for the new guys.
First Period
TURNER OTTENBREIT SCORES EIGHTEEN SECONDS IN!
Turner Ottenbreit collects the pass and fires a missile past the goaltender to give the @UtahGrizzlies the 1-0 lead over the @Wichita_Thunder just 18 seconds into the game! The score is currently 2-0 in favor of Utah. pic.twitter.com/8EiypPhpxu
Cannata makes a number of really good saves as Wichita’s got all the shots since the goal.
DOESN’T MATTER THOUGH, AS CARROLL MAKES IT 2-0. Lewis and Ryan Walters picked up the assists. That line is doing pretttty good!
Walters with a really nice play short-handed.
Rebound goal on the power play for Wichita.
Aaaaaand Cannata gives up another on a rebound, so we’re tied.
That’s not ideal. The Grizz came out so hot, and then this.
End of the first, we’re tied up 2-2, shots 16-10 for Wichita.
Second Period
Thunder come out with a lot of pep to their step…
Well, that was bad. Richart was the only one back, and Wichita had numbers.
Far too many shots being allowed, and turnovers. Too much space being allowed too.
Shots are 21-10 just five into the second. That’s not good.
Jack Walker had a nice chance there, but also took a penalty. However, the kill was excellent this time, allowing zero shots.
Walker showing off those wheels.
Well, this shift was much better from Caleb Herbert and company.
Utah allowing a lot of zone time, but haven’t allowed a shot since before the penalty kill.
Nice shot from Richart led to a fight for the puck in front of the net, but Stuart Skinner snags it.
The back half of this period definitely was better than the front half.
Spoke too soon. De Jong makes it 4-2 with two to go. because of course.
Utah looking really inconsistent. They have moments where they collect themselves, and then things go wrong again.
Grizz end the second trailing 4-2, and out-shot 26-16.
Third Period
Just need to get one…then the other one is, well not easy, but much easier. I’d settle for some consistent puck possession, however.
A lot of rebounds tonight, but Cannata had a couple of big saves there.
When I said consistent puck possession, I didn’t mean by Wichita…
Another series of big saves from Cannata.
Carroll sprints in and draws a power play. This is a big one.
Orrr not. Not a very inspiring advantage so far.
Cannata with another big save two-on-one on the advantage. He’s giving the Grizzlies the chance to get back into it, but they’re gonna have to spend some more time in the offensive zone to help him out.
That’s not helping. Good kill though!
Ooof. That was almost disastrous. Good move from Gage Ausmus, and good support from Gabriel Verpaelst.
Utah definitely running out of time here, especially since they can’t seem to hold on to the puck for any length of time.
On the other hand, we’ve seen them score multiple goals in a very short amount of time.
Aaaaand an empty netter for Wichita.
The Grizzlies now head back to Allen for a game on Friday before two games in Tulsa.
Goals
First Period: Ottenbreit (Lewis, Richart), Carroll (Walters, Lewis)
Second Period: None
Third Period: None
UTA: 0/2 (14 PIM)
WIC: 1/4 (10 PIM)
Photo courtesy of Josh Pinnau.
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In the first game of the lengthy and final road trip of the regular season, the Grizzlies faced off against the Allen Americans. Kevin Carr got the start, while Ryan Galt made his Utah debut. J.T. Henke and Will Smith sat this one out, while Jake Marchment, Grayson Downing, Joey Raats, and Josh Winquist all remained out of the lineup as well.
First Period
Both teams trade penalties in the first six minutes or so.
A lot of twos on that particular penalty kill, 21-12, 20-27.
Half a period to go, shots 6-3 for Allen.
Carr’s made some nice saves.
Tentative is the word I would use to describe this game so far.
Also, uneventful. Though that was a nice shift from Austin Carroll, Ryan Walters, and Cole Ully.
Huh. I thought Tanner Nagel beat out that icing.
It’s been a pretty quite game, but boy it sure is nice to be watching them play someone other than the Rush…
Allen with a lot of possession here with under four to go. Not that they’re doing much with said possession, but they’ve had it.
Fourth best power play, second best PK in the league? Nice.
Goal light went off behind Carr, but the puck appears to have hit the post and gone out. The ref was pretty adamant in waiving it off immediately.
That was a really, really nice back-check from Josh Anderson with two to go.
Carroll splits the D, gets a shot, and draws a power play.
Turner Ottenbreit with the BLAST just seven seconds into the advantage!
After 20 Utah leads 1-0, shots 10-7 for Allen.
Second Period
Allen getting all the shots in the first three minutes. Not ideal.
Carr’s been seeing them comfortably though.
Jack Walker to Michael Economos from behind the net and it’s 2-0 for Utah!
And on the very next shift, Allen makes it 2-1.
Economos and Ottenbreit both looking to get goal number two on this advantage.
A bit of a crowd gathers as Allen returns to full strength. Would seem like the feeling out process is over.
Nifty mitts from Eco there.
Ully draws a power play, Ottenbreit and Taylor Richart with a couple of cannons. Good movement from the Grizzlies in general, really.
The pace in the second period has been far quicker, both teams having to scramble in spots.
Zach Pochiro and Nagel collide, and Pochiro is pretty mad that nothing was called.
They’ve been calling offsides really tightly tonight. Not sure Allen was actually offside there though.
RATELLE SCORES HIS FIRST!! The puck somehow trickled past C.J. Motte. Not sure exactly how, but WHO CARES!
Walters racking up the points again.
Carrsy tells Pochiro YOU SHALL NOT PASS.
Allen pressuring with about two to go.
Some big shot blocking, and after 40, Utah leads 3-1, shots 24-19 for Allen.
Third Period
SECOND GOAL FOR RATELLE!!! Nagel gets his first pro point on that!
Adam Miller gets a penalty shot, and Kevin shuts him down.
It’s been an eventful two minutes!
Really nice shift from Richart, followed by a really nice stretch from Carr.
Utah, please go play on the other side of the ice for a while…
First pro game, first pro goal for Galt!! Walker has HIS second point of the game, and Gage Ausmus picks up the secondary. Looks like Verpaelst may have grabbed the puck for Galt as well!
Atkinson goes after Herbert, Ratelle responds, and there are lots of penalties coming.
Ok, after all that, Teigan Zahn and Curt Gogol get thrown out, Pochiro, Economos, and Ratelle all get two, so it is a power play for Allen.
That was the saddest celebration on that Allen power play goal.
This is probably the longest final two minutes I’ve ever witnessed.
One final penalty for Allen.
GAME WON, PLAYOFF SPOT CLINCHED.
5-2 Utah.
Ratelle’s two goals earned him first star, while Carr took second star with 37/39 saves, and Ottenbreit snagged third star with a goal and an assist. Walker and Walters both picked up two assists each.
This was exactly the kind of win the Grizzlies needed to kick off the road trip, now they just need to keep their foot on the gas and keep going.
Goals
First Period: Ottenbreit (Richart, Walters) (PP)
Second Period: Economos (Walker, Maxwell), Ratelle (Walters, Carroll)
Third Period: Ratelle (Nagel, Ottenbreit), Galt (Walker)
UTA: 1/6 (23 PIM)
ALN: 1/3 (34 PIM)
Photo courtesy of Action Sports Photography.
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In the very last meeting between Rapid City and Utah in 2018-19, Joe Cannata once again got the start, Eric Freschi and Will Smith and Joey Raats sat out for new ATO signing Tanner Nagel, and Austin Carroll made his long awaited return to the lineup. Jake Marchment remained sidelined with an injury, as did Grayson Downing as Utah looked to clinch their playoff spot.
First Period
Carroll gets the second shot of the period on his first shift back!
Cole Ully gets a two-on-one-ish, but RC breaks it up before it hits the net. Shots are 4-2 for RC about five into the first.
Considering how grumpy the first period was on Saturday, it’s been surprisingly quiet in the early going.
A couple of really nice saves from Cannata there on the PK.
Carroll doing what he does best, creating mayhem and drawing power plays.
Taylor Richart with a great play to keep the puck in the zone on the PP.
It hasn’t led to anything yet, but the passing on the power play is looking really good.
Jack Walker flies in on the back-check to break up a developing one-on-none short-handed. Pretty sure he should be Jack Runner, or Jack Sprinter, or maybe Jack Roadrunner.
Sooo players collide, and go figure, it’s Carroll causing chaos again. And drawing penalties again.
There’s a reason I call him Chaos on Skates.
ULLY SCORES. JK. Ully does not score. Goalie interference called, apparently. Β―\_(γ)_/Β―
…And to add insult to injury, RC makes it 1-0 short handed.
Jack Riley picks up his second hooking call of the period mere moments after the Rush returned to full strength.
THAT ONE COUNTS.
Richart was ROBBED.
1-1 after 20, shots 14-13 for Utah.
Second Period
Really strong offensive zone shift from Carroll and crew about three minutes in.
Mitch Maxwell with a pair of strong defensive plays there.
Utah has a nice shift in the offensive zone, so of course, RC scores on the counterattack.
Good response from Utah though. Unfortunately, Carlson. (Where have we heard THAT one before. π)
Oh geez. The puck went through Cannata at a really weird angle, hit the post, and then was snagged by a Utah player. Everyone breathe a sigh of relief!
Please go play in the offensive zone.
Richart has come really close on several occasions tonight
Carlson loses his mask twice in the span of two shifts!! O.O
Richart currently leads the team with seven shots.
Oh, there’s the cantankerousness that was missing from this game.
We give you one guess to pick who was in the middle of all the mayhem around Carlson.
If you guessed Carroll, you were right.
Oh, that was an unfortunately good goal. Cannata had the whole side sealed up, EXCEPT the one spot that Poulsen found.
3-2 RC after 40.
Third Period
Grizz start the third on the power play.
Ully almost had an absolute beauty, but rang iron.
THAT EARLY POWER PLAY DID NOT GO THE WAY OF MOST. WALKER TIES THE GAME.
The @UtahGrizzlies powerplay=π₯π₯π₯. Jack Walker scores the team's third powerplay goal of the contest to help try to secure a Kelly Cup playoff bid. Midway through the third period; the @UtahGrizzlies and the @RapidCityRush are deadlocked at three. pic.twitter.com/JGSzShxamw
When Carroll isn’t creating chaos, he’s creating really nice takeaways/scoring chances like that one.
Oh wow. That was a great shift from Herbert, Gage Ausmus, Michael Economos, Joey Ratelle and Gabriel Verpaelst.
Utah is piling on the good shifts.
Well, that’s a new one, the Grizzlies’ net was just taken off and replaced!
Ratelle with a nifty dipsy-doodle to elude the Rush defensemen.
Watching defenders converge on Carroll is like watching a very strong magnet move through metal objects. He just draws defenders to him, which leads to the aforementioned chaos.
Uhhhhg power play goal Rush.
Carlson was WAY out of position, and STILL robbed Ryan Walters.
That definitely should have been tripping drawn by Walker.
In order to tie the game up, you’re definitely gonna have to go play on the other end of the ice…
1:42 and Utah’s net is empty.
Herbert rings iron, and Utah draws a power play!!
Well, it went RIGHT down to the wire, and there was some INCREDIBLE plays from Verpaelst among others, to keep the puck away from the empty net.
If nothing else, that was a highly entertaining game, and thank goodness, that’s the end of the Rush for this season.
Rush win 4-3, shots 39-31 for Utah.
Caleb Herbert scored his thirtieth goal of the season, and is in the top five goal scorers, despite having played anywhere between five and ten games less than the players in front of him. His opening power play goal, and the assist on Walker’s tally earned him second star honors, while Turner Ottenbreit was named third star. Richart put up nine shots, and Carroll’s return seemed to bring a jolt of electricity through the entire lineup.
It was definitely an exciting game from start to finish, but the loss was made frustrating by the Ully goal that was waved off for supposed goalie interference in the first period.
“He even admitted he made a mistake on our goal that he waived off, should have had four power play goals. If he counts that goal, they don’t get their short handed goal” Tim Branham said. “Every time we have this guy it’s like that. It is what it is. You gotta battle through it and come out. But when you’re playing against a team that works hard and you have an extremely good goaltender that you’re playing against, this stuff gets magnified, and when the referee is dictating the outcome of the game, it makes it tough.”
After some struggles on the man advantage the Grizzlies scored four power play goals, even if only three of them counted.
“We had a little dry spell there,” Caleb Herbert said, when asked about the improvement. “So we switched a few things around, kind of simplified our end zone set up, got back to the basics like shooting pucks, puck retrievals, things like that. Tonight, pucks started going in. I think earlier in the series we were doing ok, but pucks weren’t going in, Carlson was making some big saves, so we got a couple good bounces tonight, and that obviously helps too.”
“He’s a talented hockey player, that’s for sure.”Branham said when asked about his 30 goal scorer. “He’s got a lot of talent, he does some fun stuff out there. He can shoot the puck, he’s got a great release, he’s really fast when he wants to skate, he’s had a good season.”
He had praise for Carroll’s performance as well. “I thought he had an amazing game, I thought played really well, he controlled the play, cycling in the offensive zone, made some good puck decisions, I thought he was really good tonight.”
While Coach Branham spoke about Carroll’s individual play, Herbert elaborated more on Carroll’s impact on the team as a whole in addition to his play on its own.
“Austin’s a really good player, he brings it every night. You know what you’re gonna get out of him–100% effort. Obviously you saw him in front of the net tonight, stirring things up and being a real physical presence out there. I think we’ve been missing a bit of that with him being out, so it’s obviously great to get him back, and he’s a big piece of the puzzle moving forward, so it’s gonna be good.”
“We’re getting some guys back here from injury, kind of fills out our lineup a little more, we’re a little more solid, we play with a little more grit, we have a little more depth.” Herbert added, “I think heading down the stretch that’s gonna be important for us, having those guys back, and I think we’re gonna turn the corner here heading into playoffs and have some momentum on our end.”
The momentum will have to be built on the road, however, as the Grizzlies head out for the final road trip of the year which will see them hit Allen, Wichita, Allen again, then Tulsa before they return home to close out the season against Idaho.
Goals
First Period: Herbert (Economos, Walker) (PP)
Second Period: Ottenbreit (Carroll, Walters) (PP)
Third Period: Walker (Herbert, Economos) (PP)
UTA: 3/7 (10 PIM)
RC: 1/4 (16 PIM)
Photo courtesy of Action Sports Photography.
If you like the work I do on the blog, please consider supporting me by buying me a coffee via the button below, or consider becoming a patron!
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