WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah – The Utah Grizzlies defeated the Idaho Steelheads 3-0 Saturday night at Maverik Center to start the season 2-0 for the second-straight year.
“What a game, I thought our guys dominated early,” said Head Coach/General Manager Tim Branham. “Faragher played a spectacular game, especially without being tested early on and then to make those timely saves, he was just awesome.”
Grizzlies goaltender Ryan Faragher stopped all 32 shots that he saw, including 17 in the third period and a shorthanded breakaway in the final seconds of the second period to hold the 2-0 lead.
“We always want to win at home,” said Faragher. “We have great fans; we thank you all for coming out this weekend. Our whole team is defense first. When you play that way, the goals will come from the skill we have too. Great weekend.”
The Grizzlies took a 1-0 lead 7:52 into the first period as Taylor Richart fed Jon Puskar who walked in for his second goal in two nights.
Utah made it 2-0 with 4:29 left in the first period as Jon Puskar laid down a hit behind the Idaho goal and Mathieu Aubin fed Brandon McNally in front for the goal.
“I thought our guys were solid; we never let up and we played tenacious,” said Branham. “Idaho battled back a few times but our goaltending was stellar. If you want to win in this league, you have to have good goaltending.”
The 2-0 lead held for over 30 minutes before Shane Walsh scored his first pro goal from Jordan Samuels-Thomas eight seconds after a Utah penalty expired. Utah killed two penalties early in the third with the 2-0 lead before adding the goal.
The Grizzlies are next in action Friday and Saturday in Boise. Face-Off both evenings is scheduled for 7:10 p.m.
With Utah Grizzlies release
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