Grizzlies Take 3-2 Series Lead With 4 Goal 3rd Period In Idaho


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BOISE, Idaho - The Utah Grizzlies scored four goals in the third period to erase a 2-1 deficit and defeat the Idaho Steelheads 5-2 Saturday in Boise to go up three games to two in the best-of-seven series.

"I'm proud of the way we responded in the third period," said head coach/general manager Tim Branham. "We found a way to get another win and again Igor Bobkov carried us with some huge saves."

Utah erased 1-0 and 2-1 deficits in the contest. Idaho's 1-0 lead lasted just 17 seconds before Connor Hardowa scored his first of the night and of the playoffs from Mathieu Aubin and Michael Pelech as the defenseman skated through the circle 11:05 into the first.

Idaho made it 2-1 in the second period and that lead would hold for 20:01 until Michael Pelech hammered in a Brenden Walker blast on the power-play. Mathieu Aubin also picked up his second assist of the night 6:11 into the third period.

ECHL playoffs
First-round series: Idaho Steelheads vs. Utah Grizzlies
Game 1 (April 15): Idaho 3 Utah 2 (OT)
Game 2 (April 17): Utah 3 Idaho 2
Game 3 (April 18): Idaho 5 Utah 4 (OT)
Game 4 (April 24): Utah 4 Idaho 1
Game 5 (April 25): Utah 5 Idaho 2
Game 6 (April 27): Idaho at Utah, 7 p.m.
**Game 7, if necessary (April 29): Utah at Idaho, 7 p.m.

Again, Grizzlies goaltender Igor Bobkov made the timely saves as he stopped 23 of 25. Bobkov made two pointblank saves late in first to keep the game 1-1 and three incredible saves early in the third to keep the game 2-1; allowing Utah to tie. Bobkov then denied Levi Nelson on a blast between the dots right after Utah tied the game.

The Grizzlies took their first lead of the night with 7:31 left in the third period as Connor Hardowa knocked in a rebound as T.J. Syner and Ryan Hayes led the Grizzlies up ice as a shorthanded situation expired.

Alex Krushelnyski made it 4-2 on a breakaway goal with 2 minutes left as he forced the puck along and scored his first professional playoff goal.

Utah scored into an empty-net to make it 5-2 20 seconds later with Hayes leading it to Syner and that would put the game away.

Game 6 is Monday at the Maverik Center as the Grizzlies, with a win, will advance to the second round. It is Maverik Monday. Fans can present their Maverik Adventure Club Card for buy 1, get 1 free tickets at the arena box office.

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Adrian Denny, Utah Grizzlies

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