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WEST VALLEY CITY — One night after being held to a single goal, the Utah Grizzlies exploded for a handful of goals, with two coming from Mathieu "The Rocket" Aubin, in a 5-2 victory over the San Francisco Bulls Saturday night at Maverik Center.
The Grizzlies were coming off Friday's game with the Bulls where they had so many shot opportunities in the 2-1 loss.
Saturday, however, was just the opposite.
Utah, which has won two of its last three against San Francisco, outshot the Bulls 40-25 in recording its fifth win on home ice.
"Playing games like this helps out our confidence," Utah Grizzlies head coach Tim Branham said.
After a scoreless first period, the Grizzlies found themselves in a hole early in the second period when the Bulls scored 4:21 into the period on a power play to take a 1-0 lead.
The Grizzlies, who outshot the Bulls 12-7 in the first period, finally got on the board at the 12:02 mark on Vinny Scarsella's second goal of the season to tie the game at 1-1.
Scarsella's goal gave the Grizzlies a much-needed offensive spark.
With the second period winding down, the Grizzlies, who went 0-for-7 in power-play opportunities Friday night and were 0-for-2 early Saturday, finally scored with a man advantage on a goal by Aubin to take the 2-1 lead at the second intermission.
“The Rocket” wasn’t done there. Aubin scored in second goal of the game at the 11:43 mark of the third period to give the Grizzlies a two-goal cushion.
The 3-1 advantage didn’t last long, however. The Bulls scored less than 30 seconds later to cut the Utah lead back down to one.
The Grizzlies had been getting good shots on goal all game, and in the third period it paid off. Along with Aubin's goal, Michael Pelech gave the Grizzlies their second goal of the period with his first goal of the year to increase the lead to two goals with five minutes to play.
"It's good to see them get rewarded," Branham said of Aubin and Pelech.
Utah's Danick Paquette, who wasn't suspended for his five-minute major Friday night, scored his fourth goal of the season — an empty-netter — in the final minute to make it a 5-2 final.
Igor Bobkov started in the net for the Grizzlies for the first time since Nov. 11 and picked up his second win of the season behind 23 saves.
"He gave us a chance to win," Branham said of Bobkov's play.
Rylan Galiardi and David Vallorani had two assists each for the Grizzlies.
After the much-needed victory, the Grizzlies (6-8-1-1) will have a few days off before they host the Alaska Aces Wednesday at Maverik Center.
Utah is 5-3-1-1 at home this year. Follow David Winkworth on Twitter @Davito23 and listen to his sports talk radio show at sportsathome.webs.com.
