Grizzlies Win 5-4 in Miracle Comeback at Maverik Center
West Valley City, Utah – The Utah Grizzlies scored 3 goals in a 1 minute 8 second stretch late in the third period to turn a 4-1 deficit into a 4-4 tie. Josh Wesley scored the game tying goal 18:11 into the third period and Wesley scored the dramatic game winner 1:30 into overtime as the Grizzlies win 5-4 over the Norfolk Admirals in front of a crowd of 8562 on Military Night at Maverik Center.
Norfolk scored the first 3 goals of the contest. Andrew McLean scored 3:38 into the contest. Later in the period Danny Katic extended the Admirals lead 18:08 in. Norfolk led 2-0 after 1 frame. Keaton Jameson made it a 3-0 game on a one-timer from the left circle on a delayed penalty 3:41 into the second. Grizzlies got on the board 15:40 in as Cole Gallant redirected a Quinn Wichers shot. Norfolk led 3-1 after 2 frames.
Jameson extended the Admirals lead as he scored his second of the night 4:28 into the third period on a power play goal. Late in the third period Utah got a 5 on 3 power play. Norfolk’s Darick Louis-Jean got a delay of game penalty 15:38 seconds in. 32 seconds later Norfolk’s Mark Liwiski got a tripping minor to give Utah a 2 man advantage for a minute 28 seconds. Kyle Mayhew scored on the 5 on 3 as he bounced the puck off Jameson 17:03 in. 48 seconds later Dylan Fitze redirected a Mayhew shot to make it a 4-3 game. 20 seconds later Josh Wesley scored on a one-timer from the high slot to tie the game. Utah scored 3 goals in a span of 68 seconds to overcome a three-goal deficit.
The Grizzlies got a power play early in overtime as Andrew McLean got a slashing minor as he stopped a Luke Manning breakaway 51 seconds in. It was Grizzlies captain Josh Wesley who had the game winner 1:30 in as the Grizzlies completed the miracle comeback in the opener of the three-game series. Wesley had 2 goals and 1 assist to lead the way. Brett Stapley had 3 assists in the win. Cole Gallant had 1 goal and 1 assist. Utah went 3 for 6 on the power play. Norfolk went 1 for 5.
Utah goaltender Dante Giannuzzi got his team leading 12th win of the season as he stopped 18 of 22. Norfolk goaltender Oskari Salminen saved 32 of 37.
The series continues on Sunday afternoon at 3:10 pm. Tickets are available at utahgrizzlies.com.
3 stars
- Josh Wesley (Utah) – 2 goals, 1 assist, 3 shots.
- Kyle Mayhew (Utah) – 1 goal, 2 assists, 4 shots.
- Brett Stapley (Utah) – 3 assists.
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