Grizzlies Weekly: Grizz Sweep KC in 3 Game Series

Grizzlies Weekly: Grizz Sweep Mavericks at Maverik Center

West Valley City, Utah – The Utah Grizzlies completed a 3 game sweep against the Kansas City Mavericks with a 6-3 final score in front of a big crowd of 7713 on Military Night presented by Darren Bideaux RV.

Ben Tardif was outstanding in the 3 game series last week, scoring 8 points (5 goals, 3 assists). Tardif scored the game winning goal 2:14 into overtime on March 9. 2 days later he scored the game winning goal 9:22 into the second period as Utah won 3-1. On March 12 Tardif scored 3 goals in a 6-3 win. It was the first hat trick of Tardif’s pro career and the first Grizzlies hat trick at home this season. Tardif had 1 assist in each of the 3 games last week. Tardif leads the club with 16 multiple point games.

Charle-Edouard D’Astous was a star last week as he scored 7 points (3 goals, 4 assists). D’Astous has a goal in 4 straight games. He leads the club with 51 points (23 goals, 28 assists) and a +24 rating. Luke Martin had 5 points in 3 games last week. Martin is 2nd on the team with 29 assists. Luka Burzan had 2 assists on March 9 and 1 goal and 1 assist on March 12.

Garrett Metcalf won 2 games in net for Utah, saving 79 of 83 shots. Metcalf saved 39 of 40 and was the number one star of the game on March 11 as Utah won 3-1. The next night he saved 40 of 43. Peyton Jones won the first game of the series as he saved 23 of 27 in a 5-4 overtime victory. Jones leads the club with 15 wins on the season.

The Grizz are on the road March 18-19 at Idaho. The Grizz return to Maverik Center for 6 straight games as they face Tulsa on March 23, 25-26 and Rapid City on March 30, April 1-2. Face-off for all 6 games on the next homestand will be at 7:10 pm. In fact all 13 games remaining in the regular season will start at 7:10 pm.

Grizzlies Games Last Week

Wednesday, March 9, 2022 Kansas City 4 Utah 5 – Miles Gendron 2 goals. Mason Mannek and Charle-Edouard D’Astous added 2nd period goals. Ben Tardif won the game 2:14 into overtime. Peyton Jones saved 23 of 27. Burzan, Clurman and Martin each had 2 assists.

Friday, March 11, 2022 Kansas City 1 Utah 3 – Garrett Metcalf saved 39 of 40. Ben Tardif had 1 goal and 1 assist. Miles Gendron 2 assists.

Saturday, March 12, 2022 Kansas City 4 Utah 6 – Ben Tardif 3 goals, 1 assist. Charle-Edouard D’Astous 1 goal, 3 assists. Luka Burzan 1 goal, 1 assist. Garrett Metcalf saved 40 of 43. Attendance was 7713, which is the 2nd largest crowd at Maverik Center this season.

Games This Week

Friday, March 18, 2022 – Utah at Idaho. 7:10 pm. Idaho Central Arena.

Saturday, March 19, 2022 – Utah at Idaho. 7:10 pm. Idaho Central Arena.

Family Fun Zone is on the concourse for every Grizzlies home game.

All times Mountain. Every game can be seen on FloHockey and heard on Mixlr.

First Place Grizzlies

Utah is in first place in the Mountain Division with a .619 points percentage. Utah has played in 59 of 72 games in the regular season. If the season ended today the .619 % would be the 5th best season in franchise history.

Best Points % in Team History

2019-20 season: .637 (Season cancelled on March 14, 2020)

1995-96 season: .622 (Turner Cup Champions).

1997-98 season: .622 (Lost in 1st round)

1999-2000 season: .622 (Lost in 2nd round)

2021-22 season: .619

Grizzlies Sign Defenseman James Shearer

Utah signed defenseman James Shearer, who just completed a 3-year career with the University of Calgary.

Shearer played at the University of Calgary for 3 seasons from 2018-2020 and the 2021-22 season which just completed. Shearer had 32 points (11 goals, 21 assists) in 3 seasons. Shearer had a combined +31 rating in 3 seasons.

Before his college days Shearer played in the WHL with the Brandon Wheat Kings for 3 seasons from 2015-2018. Shearer was captain of the Wheat Kings in the 2017-18 season. His best statistical season in Brandon was in the 2016-17 campaign where he had 31 points (8 goals, 23 assists) in 65 games. In Brandon he was a teammate with former Grizzlies forwards Ty Lewis and Tim McGauley. Shearer will wear number 3 for the Grizzlies.

Grizzlies Are Cruising With the Shorties

Utah scored 2 shorthanded goals on March 12 vs Kansas City. The Grizz lead the league with 20 shorthanded goals this season. The league record for shorthanded goals by a team in a single season is 24, set by the Louisiana IceGators in the 1998-99 season.

Grizz Win When Leading After 2

Utah is 24-1 when leading after 2 periods this season. The Grizz led after 2 periods in all 3 games vs Kansas City last weekend.

Burzan Joined Double Digit Goal Club

On March 12 vs Kansas City Luka Burzan scored a shorthanded goal 6:18 into the third period. He became the 10th different Grizzlies player to score 10 or more goals this season. Last season 7 players scored 10 or more goals.

Players with 10 or more Goals

23: Charle-Edouard D’Astous.

20: Brian Bowen.

19: Mason Mannek

15: Trey Bradley, Ben Tardif

13: Matthew Boucher

12: Tyler Penner, Quinn Ryan

10: Luka Burzan, Brandon Cutler. 

Grizzlies Among League Leaders

Charle-Edouard D’Astous leads all league defenseman with 23 goals and is 2nd among d-men with 51 points. D'Astous also leads league D-men with 6 game winning goals and 8 power play goals. Luka Burzan has 2 goals and 5 assists in 6 games in March. Burzan has 14 points in his last 12 games. Mason Mannek is 5th in points among rookies with 42. Ben Tardif leads all rookies with 7 shorthanded points. Tardif is 2nd among rookies with 46 points. Brian Bowen is among league leaders with 194 shots on goal. Connor McDonald leads all league defenseman with 4 shorthanded assists.

Grizzlies Roster

Forwards: Matthew Boucher, Brian Bowen, Trey Bradley, Luka Burzan, Taylor Crunk, Nick Henry, Mason Mannek, Tyler Penner, Zac Robbins, Quinn Ryan, Christian Simone, Benjamin Tardif, Johnny Walker.

Defenseman: Nate Clurman,Joey Colatarci, Austin Crossley, Charle-Edouard D’Astous, Miles Gendron, Shane Kuzmeski, Luke Martin, Connor McDonald, Kyle Pouncy, James Shearer, Jordon Stone.

Goaltenders: Peyton Jones,Garrett Metcalf, Trent Miner.

2021-2022 Utah Grizzlies Regular Season Totals (league rankings)

Overall record: 35-21-2-1

Home record: 19-9. Utah has outscored opponents 101 to 81 at home.

Road record: 16-12-2-1.

Win percentage: .619. Best win % in Mountain Division.

Streak: Won 3.

Standings Points: 73. 

Last 10: 6-4.

Goals per game: 3.39 (9th) Goals for: 200.

Goals against per game: 3.20 (12th) Goals Against: 189.

Shots per game: 32.59 (8th)

Shots against per game: 31.97 (16th)  

Power Play: 34 for 188 – 18.1 % (19th)

Penalty Kill: 187 for 245- 76.3 % (25th)

Penalty Minutes: 821. 13.92 per game.

Shorthanded Goals: 20 (1st).

Shorthanded Goals Allowed: 9.

Record When Scoring First: 16-8-0-1. Utah has scored first in 25 of 59 games this season. Utah is 19-13-2 when the opposition scores first.

Record in One Goal Games: 13-4-2-1. 20 of the 58 games have been decided by 1. 14 games have been decided by 2. Utah is 10-6 in 2 goal games. 

Team Leaders (2021-22 season)

Games: Mason Mannek/Tyler Penner (59).

Goals: Charle-Edouard D’Astous (23).

Assists: Ben Tardif (31)

Points: Charle-Edouard D’Astous (51)

Plus/Minus: D’Astous (+24)

PIM: Andrew Nielsen (114) Mason Mannek leads active Grizzlies with 90.

Power Play Points: D’Astous (20)

Power Play Goals: D’Astous (8)

Power Play Assists: D’Astous (12).

Shorthanded Goals: Trey Bradley/Matthew Boucher/Tardif (4)

Shots on Goal: Brian Bowen (194)

Shooting Percentage: Quinn Ryan (12 for 71). 16.9 %. – Minimum 60 shots.

Game Winning Goals: D’Astous (6).

Wins: Peyton Jones (15).

Save %: Garrett Metcalf (.918).

Goals Against Average: Metcalf (2.63)

Bear Bites: Grizzlies Team Stats

Utah has the 2nd best points percentage in the Western Conference at .619. Utah leads the league with 20 shorthanded goals, including 2 on March 12 vs Kansas City. Utah is 13-4 when scoring a shorthanded goal. Utah is 19-9 at home this season and have outscored opponents 102 to 81 at home. Utah is 10-13-2 when trailing after 1 period. The 10 wins when trailing after 1 is the most in the league. Utah is 13-3 when leading after 1 period. Utah is 24-1 when leading after 2 periods. Utah is 20-8-1 when outshooting opponents. The Grizz are 13-4-2-1 in one goal games. Utah is outscoring opponents 80 to 55 in the 2nd periods this season. Utah is 19-13-2 when the opposition scores first.

Multiple Point games (2021-2022)

16: Ben Tardif

14: Charle-Edouard D’Astous

12: Trey Bradley,

10: Brian Bowen, Luke Martin.

9: Mason Mannek.

6: Matthew Boucher,Luka Burzan,Brandon Cutler. Andrew Nielsen.

5: Tyler Penner.

3: Miles Gendron, Gehrett Sargis.

2: Nate Clurman, Christian Simeone.

1: Neil Robinson, Bailey Conger, Zac Robbins, Quinn Ryan, Connor McDonald, Nick Henry.

Active Streaks (2021-2022 Season)

Goal Streaks: Charle-Edouard D’Astous (4) Ben Tardif (3) Luka Burzan, Zac Robbins (1).

Assist Streaks: Martin, Tardif (3) Brian Bowen, Burzan, D’Astous, Connor McDonald, Tyler Penner (1)

Point Streaks of 2 or more: D’Astous (5) Martin, Tardif (3) Robbins (2)