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West Valley City, Utah - Jason Christie's Utah Grizzlies return home tomorrow continuing their best-of-seven ECHL playoff series with the Alaska Aces. Alaska holds a 2-0 edge in the series, following two wins Monday and Tuesday in Anchorage.
While Utah has yet to win this season at the Sullivan Arena, the Grizzlies went 4-1 versus the Aces at the E-Center. The Grizzlies are also the only team in the ECHL to defeat Alaska two games in a row during two separate occasions this season. Alaska finished the regular season 53-12-7, with the second-highest point total in ECHL history.
The Grizzlies have not hosted a playoff game since April 19, 2002, a 2-0 loss to Houston. Their last home playoff win came April 17, 2002 as they defeated the Aeros 2-1. Tomorrow will be the eighth Grizzlies playoff game that the E-Center has hosted since the former Olympic venue opened in 1997.
Utah Grizzlies individual playoff tickets can be purchased at www.UtahGrizzlies.com. Group packages and other playoff plans are available by calling (801) 988-PUCK.
Best-Of-Seven Series (2-3-2)
April 10 @ Alaska, (4-1 Alaska)
April 11 @ Alaska, (3-1 Alaska)
April 13 @ Utah, 7:05 p.m.
April 14 @ Utah, 7:05 p.m.
April 16 @ Utah,*** 7:05 p.m.
April 18 @ Alaska,*** 9:15 p.m.
April 22 @ Alaska,*** TBD
*** If Necessary
Former Grizzly Heisten's Two Goals lead Aces Past Grizzlies 3-1
Anchorage, Alaska- Barrett Heisten's two power play goals were enough to put the Alaksa Aces past the Utah Grizzlies for the second straight night as the Aces take a 2-0 series lead.
The Grizzlies had momentum early with several shots in the first few minutes, but were unable to convert them into goals. Then Alaska's Mike Scott grabbed the puck after sloppy play in the neutral zone by the Grizzlies and put the Aces on the board, 1-0 at the 12:35 mark of the first period. The two teams saw their first fight of the series, as Utah's Brent Henley and Alaska's Mike Scott squared away at center ice after the goal, but the rest of the period was quiet and the Aces took the 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
Utah tied it up just 3:46 into the second frame when Brent Henley put the puck past Matt Underhill for his first goal as a Grizzly, assisted by Matt Craig and Joe Dusbabek. Alaska didn't give Utah much time to celebrate, when Barrett Heisten picked up a power play goal at 9:03, after a few quality Grizzlies shorthanded chances, and the Aces regained a 2-1 lead.
Despite power play chances in the the third period, the Grizzlies were unable to get the equalizer. Heisten had a breakaway on a 5-on-3 power play in the final minute and scored the insurance goal to put the Aces up for a final score of 3-1.
Alaska now leads the series 2-0, but the games will shift to Salt Lake City for games 3, 4 and 5, starting on April 13, at 7:05 p.m.
