Grizzlies Gameday: March 29, 2024 Idaho at Utah - Maverik Center

Grizzlies Gameday: Friday Night Battle at Maverik Center 

Idaho Steelheads (43-18-2-2, 90 points, .692 Win %) @ Utah Grizzlies (29-33-3, 61 points, .469 Win %) 

Date: March 29, 2024 Venue: Maverik Center

Game Time: 7:10 pm. 

Streaming: FloHockey – https://www.flohockey.tv/events/11055554-2024-idaho-steelheads-vs-utah-grizzlies?nav_id=75 

Audio/Radio: Utah Grizzlies YouTube channel. – https://www.youtube.com/@THEUTAHGRIZZLIES

Friday’s Matchup

It’s the second of a three-game series between the Grizzlies and Steelheads. It’s the eleventh of 14 meetings this season between the clubs. For the Grizzlies it’s the second game of six straight at home. It’s the final homestand of the regular season. 5 of the final 7 games in the regular season will be at Maverik Center, where Utah is 19-10-2 on the season, outscoring teams 104 to 94. Utah is 10-0 at home when leading after 1 period and 12-1 when leading after 2 frames. Utah is 7-1-2 at home in one-goal games. The Grizz have outscored opponents 44 to 28 in the third periods over their last 29 games.

Dylan Fitze has scored 11 goals and 7 assists over his last 16 games. Kyle Mayhew has a point in 5 straight games. Brandon Cutler has a point in 6 of his last 7 games (3 goals, 7 assists). Utah is 6-0-3 in games decided past regulation. Utah is 21-4-2 when scoring first this season.

Games This Homestand 

Wednesday, March 27, 2024 – Idaho 6 Utah 2 – Aaron Aragon and Kyle Mayhew each scored a goal for Utah. Idaho was led by Jake Murray, who had 1 goal and 2 assists. Jordan Kawaguchi and Ty Pelton-Byce each had 1 goal and 1 assist. Utah was 0 for 2 on the power play. The Grizz did not commit any penalties in the game. Utah outshot Idaho 34 to 23. 

Friday, March 29, 2024 – Idaho at Utah. 7:10 pm. Maverik Center. AFCU Friday. 

Saturday, March 30, 2024 – Idaho at Utah. 7:10 pm. Maverik Center. 

Wednesday, April 3, 2024 – Kansas City at Utah. 7:10 pm. Maverik Center. Smith’s Family Night. 

Friday, April 5, 2024 – Kansas City at Utah. 7:10 pm. Maverik Center. AFCU Friday. 

Saturday, April 6, 2024 – Kansas City at Utah. 7:10 pm. Maverik Center. Fan Appreciation Night presented by Les Schwab. 

Tickets for Grizzlies home games are available at utahgrizzlies.com or by calling (801) 988-8000. 

All Times Mountain. 

Scoreboard Watching

Utah is currently in fourth place in the Mountain division, 2 points behind Tulsa for third place. The Grizz have a 4-point lead over fifth place Allen. 

3. Tulsa – 64 games played, 28-29-6-1 record – 63 Points. 8 games left, 3 home, 5 away. (5 vs Wichita – 2 home 3 away, 3 vs Allen – 1 home 2 away). 

4. Utah – 65 games played, 29-33-3 record – 61 Points. 7 games left, 5 home, 2 away (2 vs Idaho, 3 vs KC, 2 at Idaho). 

5. Allen – 63 games played, 27-33-3 record – 57 Points. 9 games left, 5 home, 4 away (2 at Rapid City, 1 at Wichita, 3 vs Adirondack, 3 vs Tulsa – 2 home, 1 away). 

6. Rapid City – 64 games played, 26-35-3 record – 55 Points. 8 games left, 5 home, 3 away (2 vs Allen, 3 at Idaho, 3 vs Wichita).

7. Wichita – 63 games played, 23-32,7-1 record – 54 Points. 9 games left (5 vs Tulsa – 3 home, 2 away, 1 vs Allen, 3 at Rapid City). 

Grizzlies Sign Defenseman Luc Salem, Forward Blake Wells 

The Utah Grizzlies signed forward Blake Wells on March 29^th and defenseman Luc Salem on March 28^th. Wells started his college career at UMass-Lowell and in 4 seasons from 2019-2023 he scored 7 goals and 11 assists. Wells had a +13 combined rating in 4 seasons at UMass-Lowell, including a +11 season in the 2021-22 campaign. Wells was an assistant captain during the 2022-23 season. He transferred to American International College (AIC) and had 4 goals and 6 assists and a +3 rating in 32 games during the 2023-24 season. 

Wells will wear number 54 for the Grizzlies,

Salem played his college hockey at St. Lawrence University. In 4 college seasons he scored 18 goals and 37 assists in 128 games. Salems best statistical season came as junior, where he led his team with 10 goals and 17 assists in 36 games during the 2022-23 season. Salem led the team with a +12 rating in the 2022-23 campaign. Luc was the captain during his senior 2023-24 season, where he scored 3 goals and 5 assists in 38 games. 

Salem resides in Santa Monica, California. He will wear number 5 for the Grizzlies. 

Recent Transactions: 

March 29 – Grizzlies sign forward Blake Wells. 

March 28 – Grizzlies sign defenseman Luc Salem

March 22 – Grizzlies sign defenseman Cody Corbett.

March 20 – Grizzlies sign defenseman Liam Dennison.

March 20 – Grizzlies released forward Dean Yakura.

March 18 – Grizzlies sign goaltender Jarrett Fiske.

March 16 – Grizzlies sign forward Luke Manning.

Utah vs Idaho This Season

It’s the 11^th of 14 meetings this season between the Mountain Division rivals. Utah is 2-8 vs Idaho this season with both wins coming at Idaho Central Arena. 

Kyle Mayhew leads Utah with 12 points vs Idaho (3 goals, 9 assists). Brett Stapley has 10 points (3 goals, 7 assists) in 7 games vs Idaho. Brandon Cutler has 4 goals vs Idaho this season. 

For Idaho they are led by Matt Register, who has 11 points vs Utah (1 goal, 10 assists). Mark Rassell (Now with the AHL’s Texas Stars, has 6 goals vs Utah this season). Ty Pelton-Byce has 4 goals and 6 assists vs Utah this season and Wade Murphy has 3 goals and 7 assists. 

Idaho 6 @ Utah 2 (Mar 27 2024) 

Utah 3 @ Idaho 1 (Mar 2 2024) 

Utah 7 @ Idaho 8 (Mar 1 2024) 

Utah 1 @ Idaho 3 (Feb 28 2024) 

Utah 6 @ Idaho 5 (Feb 10 2024) OT 

Idaho 4 @ Utah 1 (Feb 9 2024) 

Idaho 6 @ Utah 1 (Dec 23 2023) 

Utah 2 @ Idaho 3 (Dec 22 2023) 

Idaho 4 @ Utah 1 (Oct 28 2023) 

Idaho 5 @ Utah 4 (Oct 27 2023) 

Grizzlies Among League Leaders 

Brandon Cutler is tied for 5^th in the league with 31 goals this season. He is 2^nd in shots on goal with 249. 

Brett Stapley has 11 points (4 goals, 7 assists) in his last 7 games. Stapley tied for 7th in the league with 67 points (22 goals, 45 assists). The 45 assists are 7^th best in the league. 

Josh Wesley leads the league in goals among defensemen with 17. Wesley leads league defensemen with 7 power play goals and is 3^rd among defensemen with 170 shots on goal. Kyle Mayhew is 6th among league defensemen with 50 points. The 50 points for Mayhew lead all rookie defensemen. Mayhew is 3^rd among league rookies with 15 power play assists.

Brandon Cutler Joins Grizzlies 30 Goal Club 

Brandon Cutler scored his 30^th goal of the season on March 18^th vs Norfolk. Cutler is the first Grizzly to reach 30-plus goals since Caleb Herbert tallied 32 goals for the 2018-19 club. Current Grizzlies Head Coach Ryan Kinasewich is the only player to have multiple 30 plus goal seasons in team history. 

Grizzlies 30+ Goal Club

Brandon Cutler – 31 (2023-24). 

Caleb Herbert – 32 (2018-19). 

Paul McIlveen – 30 (2011-12). 

Ryan Kinasewich – 48 (2009-10). 

AJ Perry – 30 (2009-10). 

Tom May– 31 (2008-09). 

Kinasewich – 39 (2005-06). 

John Purves – 36 (1999-2000). 

Sean Tallaire – 31 (1999-2000). 

Brad Lauer – 31 (1998-99). 

Kip Miller – 38 (1997-98). 

Mark Lawrence – 36 (1997-98). 

Brett Lievers – 36 (1995-96). 

Utah Has Had Success at Home

The Grizzlies will be home for 5 of their final 8 games of the 2023-24 regular season. The Grizzlies are 19-10-2 at home this season. They have outscored opponents 104 to 94 at Maverik Center this season. 40 of Utah’s 61 standings points have come at home. Utah’s penalty kill is 7^th in the league at home (77 for 93, 82.8 %). Utah is 10-0 at home when leading after 1 period and 12-1 when leading after 2 periods. The Grizz are 7-1-2 at home in one goal games. 

Grizzlies Player Notes 

#7 Brett Stapley has 21 points (6g, 15a) in his last 13 games. Stapley has a point in 16 of his last 24 games. Stapley leads Utah with 45 assists and 67 points. He leads Utah with 17 multiple point games. 

#13 Dylan Fitze has 11 goals and 6 assists in his last 16 games. Fitze has a point in 6 straight games (4g, 5a). 

#20 Josh Wesley leads all league defensemen with 17.  Wesley leads all league defensemen with 7 power play goals. Wesley is 3rd among league defenseman with 170 shots on goal. Wesley has 3 goals and 7 assists in his last 9 games.

#21 Tyler Penner has appeared in 209 consecutive regular season games for Utah, 233 if you include the playoffs. 

#24 Nathan Burke is 4^th on the club with 18 goals. 

#25 Cole Gallant has 2 goals and 6 assists in his last 12 games. Gallant has 7 different 2 assist games. Gallant has a point in 3 of his last 7 games.

#26 Alex Beaucage scored 2 goals and 3 assists vs RC on March 8. Beaucage has 12 points (6g, 6a) in 11 games in March. Beaucage has 102 shots in 21 games. He has a point in 11 of his 21 games with Utah. Beaucage was the league’s Player of the Week for March 4-10, 2024.

#27 Kyle Mayhew has 15 points in his last 12 games (5g, 10a). Mayhew leads all league rookie defenseman with 49 points (13g, 36a). Mayhew is 3rd among league rookies with 15 power play assists. 

#29 Brandon Cutler has 8 goals and 8 assists in his last 12 games. Cutler is 2^nd in the league with 244 shots on goal and is tied for 5^th with 31 goals. Cutler and Wesley are tied for the Grizzlies lead with 7 power play goals. Cutler has 14 multiple point games this season. 

Bear Bites: Grizzlies Team Notes 

The Grizzlies are home for 5 of their last 7 games. Utah has won 11 of their last 17 home games (11-3-2 record). Utah is 19-10-2 at home this season, outscoring opponents 104 to 94. Utah is averaging 6,689 fans per game over their last 19 home games. Utah has had 8 home games with over 7,600 fans. Utah is averaging 5,836 fans per game and is on pace for their largest average attendance since the 2002-03 season when the Grizz averaged 6353 fans per game when the club was in the AHL. Utah is 6-3 in games past regulation this season. Utah is 21-4-2 when scoring first this season. Utah has scored 5 shorthanded goals this season. Utah is 15-2 when leading after 1 period and 16-2-1 when leading after 2 periods. Utah is 10-0 at home when leading after 1 period. Utah has outscored opponents 44 to 28 in the third periods over their last 29 games. The Grizz are 10-12-1 in their last 23 road games. 

2023-2024 Utah Grizzlies Regular Season Totals (league rankings) 

Overall record: 29-33-3

Home record: 19-10-2 

Road record: 10-23-1 

Win percentage: .469

Streak: Lost 3. 

Standings Points: 61

Last 10: 4-4-2

Goals per game: 3.18 (15^th) Goals for: 207

Goals against per game: 3.65 (24^th) Goals Against: 237

Shots per game: 31.77 (11^th) 

Shots against per game: 33.78 (23^rd) 

Power Play: 39 for 205 – 19.0 % (17^th )

Penalty Kill: 150 for 201 – 74.6 % (28^th) 

Penalty Minutes: 676. 10.56 per game. 

Shorthanded Goals: 5. 

Shorthanded Goals Allowed: 7. 

Record When Scoring First: 21-4-2. 

Opposition Scores First: 8-29-1. 

Record in One Goal Games: 11-9-3. 

Games Decided Past Regulation: 6-0-3

Team Leaders 

Goals: Brandon Cutler (31)  

Assists: Brett Stapley (45) 

Points: Stapley (67) 

Plus/Minus: Bryan Yoon (+11) 

PIM: Cutler (75) 

Power Play Points: Stapley (20) 

Power Play Goals: Brandon Cutler (7) 

Power Play Assists: Mayhew (15) 

Shots on Goal: Cutler (249) – 2^nd in the league. 

Shooting Percentage: Nathan Burke (14.3 %) - Minimum 55 shots. 

Game Winning Goals: Cutler/Stapley (4) 

Wins: Dante Giannuzzi (12) 

Save %: Trent Miner (.917) 

Goals Against Average: Miner (2.75) 

Shutouts: Giannuzzi/Garrett Metcalf (1) 

Streaks 

Goals: Aaron Aragon, Kyle Mayhew (1)

Assists: Dylan Fitze, Luke Manning (1)

Points (2 or more): Mayhew (5)