Utah eliminates another top-seeded team

Jarrett Konkle and Jean-Philippe Lamoureux

STOCKTON , Calif. – The Utah Grizzlies decimated the Stockton Thunder in game four of the Western Conference quarterfinals with a final score of 5-0.
As 3,364 fans at the Stockton Arena looked on, the Thunder crashed, resulting in being outshot 28-20. It was a hard pill for them to swallow, as their offense and defense were sloppy and unorganized.

Matt Reber

Sunday’s game belonged to the Grizzlies. In the first period Hugo Carpentier scored a goal at 12:17, followed at 14:33 by a second goal by Paul McIlveen. As the final seconds of the period dwindled down, Utah sunk yet another goal past Stockton’s net minder Bryan Pitton, short-handed, on a break away by Matt Reber, to give the Grizzlies the three goal advantage going to the first break. As the teams filed off the ice, the fans echoed their dissatisfaction.

Kevin Deeth

B. Pitton just arrived from AHL Oklahoma for todays match-up, but was replaced following the first period by Tyson Sexsmith for the duration of the game.

The second period went quickly, with several slipped opportunities by Stockton, including a near goal in a scrum near the net that was quickly called off by the officials, much to the chagrin of the fans. Stockton could not find a way to solve Utah’s goaltender Jean-Philippe Lamoureux.

Samson Mahbod

The third period, Samson Mahbod sunk an unassisted goal early at 2:39. The Thunder offense worked to set up shots, but appeared out of sink. A final goal at 18:34 on a power play by Kevin Deeth, with an assist from Riley Emmerson (former Thunder forward) was the last blow.

Utah held Stockton to less than seven shots on goal per period, as Stockton was zero for five on the man advantage.

Thunder and Grizzlies

Throughout the four game series, Stockton did not seem to play to their full potential. They were one for thirteen in power play opportunities, while Utah scored in six of 17 chances, not to mention two short-handed goals for the series.

The Grizzlies will advance to the Western Conference semi-finals and face the Victoria Salmon Kings. The Salmon Kings dispatched the Bakersfield Condors in four games to advance to the next round.