WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah – The Utah Grizzlies defeated the Idaho Steelheads 4-1 Friday night at CenturyLink Arena to even the best-of-seven series at two with game five Saturday in Boise at 7 p.m.
Game six will be played at Maverik Center Monday at 7. It’s Maverik Monday. Fans can present their Maverik Adventure Club Card for buy-one-get-one free tickets at the arena box office.
“We got the job done, it wasn’t pretty but we got the win,” said Grizzlies Head Coach/General Manager Tim Branham. “Igor Bobkov made big stops throughout the game to hold our leads and keep the momentum on our side.”
Grizzlies goaltender Igor Bobkov stopped the first 39 shots that he saw, 17 in the second period and 42 of 43 overall in the win.
“It was a huge game for us,” said Brenden Walker. “We got some big goals from some big guys at some big times and we just have to do the same thing tomorrow.”
Utah took a 1-0 lead 1:20 into the contest and never looked back as Brenden Walker and Michael Pelech won battles behind the net and Pelech fed Ryan Hayes in front for his third goal of the playoffs.
“I finished my check, got the puck, got it to Pelech who made a beautiful play and got it to Hayes who had the great patience there and flipped it home,” said Walker.
Utah made it 2-0 9:27 into the second period as Mathieu Aubin threw in a puck from the point that deflected off of an Idaho defenseman in front and was credited to Michael Pelech. Alex Krushelnyski, who kept the play alive from behind the net, after being tripped; also picked up an assist to extend his playoff scoring streak to three.
Utah held the 2-0 lead by then immediately killing a 5-on-3 shorthanded situation for 1:32 before Patrick Wellar made it 3-0 as he fired a shot from the high slot in transition with Walker picking up another assist.
Idaho made it 3-1 with 8:14 left in the game before Brenden Walker (one goal, two assists) sealed the win by finishing his three-point night by scoring into an empty-net with 1:18 left.
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