D'Astous and Company Leads Utah to 6-2 Game 3 Victory: Utah Leads Series 3-0

D’Astous Scores 3 Goals in Utah’s 6-2 Game 3 Win

Rapid City, South Dakota – Charle-Edouard D’Astous scored 3 goals, including 2 on the power play to lead the Utah Grizzlies to a 6-2 victory over the Rapid City Rush in game 3 of the best of 7 series. Nick Henry scored 2 goals and Ben Tardif had 4 assists as Utah takes a 3-0 series lead. Peyton Jones was outstanding in net for Utah as he saved 44 of 46.

D’Astous got Utah on the board on a one-timer from the right circle exactly 8 minutes into the game. It was a 5 on 3 power play goal. D’Astous scored again 15:33 in on a pass from Tardif as Utah led 2-0. The Rush got on the board with a power play goal of their own as Calder Brooks got his 5th of the postseason. Nick Henry made it 3-1 on a wraparound with 48 seconds left. The Grizz led 3-1 in the first period despite being outshot 15 to 11 for the period.

Rush defenseman Ryan Zuhlsdorf scored 2:51 into the second period. The Grizz led 3-2 after 2 periods. D’Astous concluded the hat trick 10:49 into the third. It’s the first professional hat trick of his career. D’Astous has a goal in 9 of 10 playoff games and a point in all 10. Nick Henry added some insurance 12:13 in on a nice centering pass from Tardif to give Utah a 5-2 lead. Luka Burzan added a goal with 55 seconds left. Utah outscored Rapid City 3-0 in the third period. The Grizz have outscored opponents 19 to 7 in the third periods in the playoffs.

Peyton Jones earned the win for Utah. He won 17 regular season games. Rapid City’s Dillon Kelley saved 23 of 29. Utah went 2 for 5 on the power play and Rapid City was 1 for 6.

Ben Tardif’s 4 assist performance is his 8th multiple assist game of the playoffs. Tardif has 19 assists in 10 playoff games. Luke Martin had 2 assists. 5 different Grizzlies players were a +3 on the night (Betts, Henry, Tardif, D’Astous, Martin).

Charle-Edouard D’Astous tied a league record for power play goals in one playoff year with 9. Former Grizzlies head coach Kevin Colley and former Utah forward Greger Hanson each had 8 in a single postseason.

MOST POWER-PLAY GOALS, ONE PLAYOFF YEAR

9         - Chris Minard, Alaska, 2006

Charle-Edouard D’Astous, 2022

8 - Greger Hanson, Allen, 2016

- Kevin Colley, Atlantic City, 2003

7 - Jason Cipolla, South Carolina, 1997

Chris Hynes, South Carolina, 1997

Mark Deazeley, Toledo, 1994

Sheldon Gorski, Louisville, 1992

The Grizz look for the sweep on Tuesday night at 7:05 pm. The game can be seen on FloHockey and heard on Mixlr.

Second Round Playoff Series

Game 1: Rapid City 1 Utah 5 – Utah was 1 for 3 on the power play and 7 for 7 on the penalty kill.

Game 2: Rapid City 4 Utah 5 – Charle-Edouard D’Astous scored the game winning goal with 7.8 seconds left.

Game 3: Utah 6 Rapid City 2 – Charle-Edouard D’Astous 3 goals. Nick Henry 2 goals. Ben Tardif 4 assists. Peyton Jones saved 44 of 46.

Game 4: Tuesday, May 10, 7:05 p.m.: Utah at Rapid City

Game 5 Wednesday, May 11, 7:05 p.m.: Utah at Rapid City

Game 6 Monday, May 16, 7:10 p.m.: Rapid City at Utah

Game 7 Tuesday, May 17, 7:10 p.m.: Rapid City at Utah

Games 5-7 are If Necessary. All Times Mountain.

3 stars

1.       Charle-Edouard D’Astous (Utah) – 3 goals, +3, 7 shots.

2.       Ben Tardif (Utah) – 4 assists, +3.

3.       Nick Henry (Utah) – 2 goals, +3, 5 shots.