Grizzlies defeat Idaho 3-2, even first-round series at a game apiece


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WEST VALLEY CITY — The Utah Grizzlies defeated the Idaho Steelheads 3-2 Friday night at the Maverik Center, evening their first-round ECHL playoff series at 1-1.

The win followed an overtime loss in Idaho by the same score on Wednesday night. The Grizzlies clawed back from a 2-0 deficit for the second consecutive game, and this time had enough juice to finish it off with a victory.

“Tonight we were much better than last game,” Grizzlies coach Tim Branham said. “Our boys made plays. Our intensity was the same, but our execution was much better and our resiliency was much better, and we were rewarded for it.”

Utah began the game slowly in the first couple minutes, but quickly seized control of the play on its home ice. The Grizzlies posted 10 consecutive shots without allowing a single Steelheads attempt at one point, but were kept out by a combination of stellar play from Idaho goalie Olivier Roy and a goalpost hit by Utah’s Brenden Walker on a Grizzlies power play.

Just under 15 minutes into the first period, the Steelheads seized one of their few opportunities of the frame, with Colton Beck finding the back of the net after a loose puck squirted out in front of Grizzlies goalie Igor Bobkov. The score would remain 1-0 through the end of the period, despite Utah holding a significant edge in both shots, at 12-5, and overall control of play.

The second period began in much the same fashion, but had a similar early result to the first when Idaho’s Wade MacLeod converted the Steelheads’ first shot of the frame, following a pretty cross-ice pass from teammate Brett Robinson to make the score 2-0.


I needed to help my team. I didn't play very much this year, and just to help out my team like this in the playoffs, I think it's huge.

–Danick Paquette, Utah Grizzlies


“I didn’t think we deserved to be down 2-0,” Branham said of his mindset at that point.

Utah would respond in short order, though. Just 25 seconds later, Danick Paquette made a nifty move at the Idaho blueline to shake one defender, then picked the top corner on Roy to bring the score to 2-1. Following the goal, a Maverik Center playoff tradition was observed as fans tossed a large number of frozen fish onto the ice in celebration — the theme, of course, being, “Feed the Grizzlies!”

And under three minutes later, Paquette struck again for his second goal of the game and third of the series. His initial shot was blocked, but he stayed with the play and squeaked one past Roy from the left side to tie the game at two.

“I needed to help my team,” Paquette said after the game. “I didn’t play very much this year, and just to help out my team like this in the playoffs, I think it’s huge.”

Alex Krushelnyski, son of former NHL enforcer and multiple Stanley Cup champion Mike Krushelnyski, drew the assist after a pretty cross-ice pass. The second ended at this same 2-2 count, with Idaho closing the gap in shots to 25-20 as a result of two power plays right at the end of the period.

Utah killed off the second of these man advantages to start the third, and got back to controlling the play quickly. The Grizzlies struck gold and finally took the lead, their first of the series, 8:16 into the frame, with Ryan Hayes pulling off a gorgeous move to create a two-on-one break before dishing off to T.J. Snyder, who shoved it home for a 3-2 Grizzlies advantage. Grizzlies goalie Bobkov notched his second assist of the night on the goal, an extreme rarity for a goaltender at any level of hockey.

The game’s intensity grew as Utah maintained its one-goal lead into the late stages of the period. Idaho began to press in an attempt to tie it up, dictating play among the first time all game. It pulled Roy for an extra attacker, and even had a six-on-four advantage for the final minute after a Utah penalty, but it wasn’t enough. The Steelheads couldn’t sneak one past Bobkov, and Utah evened the series at one game apiece.

Game three of the best-of-seven series will take place back at the Maverik Center at 7 p.m. MDT Saturday night.

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Ben Dowsett

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