WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah – The Utah Grizzlies (14-7-2-0) scored two goals in the third period to break a 2-2 tie and beat the Alaska Aces 4-2 Saturday at Maverik Center before 5,522 fans to complete the three-game sweep on Star Wars Night.
“We found a way to win,” said Head Coach/General Manager Tim Branham. “No, I don’t think they’re our best games, but that’s also going to happen when you have a team that’s working hard against you. You have to give Alaska credit; they did a great job. At the end of the day, it’s very difficult to win three games in a row against the same team back-to-back-to-back. We found a way to do it, we’ve done it twice this year and good teams find a way to win.”
$15,750 was raised in the postgame jersey auction for the Make-A-Wish Foundation as the Grizzlies teamed with Salt Lake Comic Con for the evening.
“Once again, Alaska came out hard and played a really solid game,” Branham said. “Taran (Kozun) made a bunch of big saves for us; he did a great job. I thought we were very opportunistic offensively, I thought our defense moved the puck really well.”
For the second-straight night, Utah built a 2-0 first period lead. Barry Almeida came from behind the net and backhanded in his eighth goal of the year at 8:18 as T.J. Syner and Eric Knodel picked up assists.
Utah made it 2-0 with 4:55 left in the first period as Matt Berry walked in on a breakaway for his first of the night and his tenth of the season as Syner and Almeida both collected multiple-points in the opening frame. The Aces scored late and it was 2-1 at the first intermission.
Alaska tied the contest late in the second on the power-play and the game was 2-2 going to the third despite Utah outshooting the Aces 13-5 in the middle frame as they drew three of four power-plays.
The Grizzlies took a 3-2 lead with a power-play goal 7:06 into the third period that started off of a shorthanded rush by Alaska that was broken up by Alex Krushelnyski and the Grizzlies came back the other way. Berry, in transition, fed Connor Hardowa for a blast that was tipped in by Roberts Lipsbergs and that would prove to be the game-winner.
“Hardowa has scored some big goals for us; he’s been a good pick up,” said Branham. “He’s a good kid who can put the puck in the back of the net. It was a nice shot by Conner and a great job getting traffic in front of the net.”
Utah scored shorthanded 2:05 later with 10:49 left in regulation as Brent Gwidt and Corey Fienhage worked the puck ahead and found Matt Berry for another breakaway as the rookie finished the night with two goals and one assist.
“Our guys are in great shape,” said Branham. “You talk about a third period team – we’ve pulled out a lot of games in the third period. It’s a testament to how the boys work hard in practice and stay in good shape.”
With Utah Grizzlies team release
