WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah – The Allen Americans traveled northwest for a Friday night matchup against the Utah Grizzlies, dropping a tough one, losing 7-3.
The Maverik Center has not been kind to the Grizzlies, but Utah looked right at home against the Americans on Friday night. With a mere 2 wins on home ice this season (2-4-1), Utah exploded in the opening frame with four goals. They struck early and often, scoring three of their four in the first ten minutes of the game. Goals from Eric Knodel, Connor Hardowa, Roberts Lipsbergs, and Bryan Moore got the Grizzles off to their highest scoring period of the year. Tallies from Knodel, Lipsbergs, and Moore all marked their first on the season. However, as Moore and the Grizzlies were still celebrating their shorthanded goal, J.P. LaFontaine quickly got the Americans on the board during the remaining Power Play time.
Riley Gill was run out of the net for the second time in the past three games. Already down 4-1, Joel Rumpel stepped into a tough situation, as Allen quickly surrendered another goal off the stick of Matt Berry. The Power Play continued to be a struggle for the Americans, not offensively though, as LaFontaine added another Power Play goal in the second period, but defensively. In his first game on the year with Utah, coming back from the AHL, Bryan Moore stole the show and left his mark. He scored both of his goals on the night while shorthanded. The second one of the night was an impressive one as he made a nice toe drag move before he finished on the short side past Rumpel, making it 6-2 Utah.
Add on a third period Power Play goal from Alex Krushelnyski to extend the Grizzlies lead to 7-2. When all was said and done, of the combined 9 goals, 6 of them were special team goals. Moore had a career game for Utah as well with five points (2 goals, 3 assists). Taran Kozun let up the two Power Play goals, but he proved that he was capable of carrying this Utah team far this season. Allen showed pride and made an offensive push in the third period, but found Kozun tough to beat, as he stopped 33 shots. But he was proven to be human also, as Chris Crane scored his first with the Americans, making it 7-3.
In a game that featured two of the top four teams in the ECHL’s Western Conference, much of the game was very lopsided. The Allen Americans take on the Utah Grizzlies again, tomorrow, Saturday the 28th, at 8:05 pm.
With Allen Americans team release
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