Seven Goal Second Period Leads to Grizzlies 9-3 Victory
West Valley City, Utah – The Utah Grizzlies scored 8 unanswered goals over the final 40 minutes of regulation as eight players had 2 or more points in a convincing 9-3 victory over the Wichita Thunder in front of a crowd of 6540 at Maverik Center.
Cole Fonstad scored on the first shot of the contest 49 seconds in to give Utah a 1-0 lead. Wichita responded with three unanswered first period goals as Tyler Jette tied the game 6:58 in. Jay Dickman gave the Thunder a 2-1 lead 14:22 in. Dickman added a power play goal 18:59 in to extend Wichita’ lead to 3-1.
Early in the second period Utah’s Derek Daschke scored from the left wing on a power play 2:38 in. The Grizzlies scored their second power play of the night on Bryan Yoon’s sixth goal of the campaign 5:06 in. 29 seconds later Craig Armstrong scored the eventual game winner for his sixth goal of the season. Utah’s Andrew Nielsen fought Wichita’s Declan Smith 6:35 into the second period. Utah extended the lead to 5-3 when Fonstad scored his second of the night 9:11 into the period. Wichita goaltender Samuel St-Hilaire was pulled with the score 5-3 as he stopped 9 of 14 in his pro debut.
Reed Lebster scored 9:51 in against Wichita goaltender Trevor Gorusch to make it a 6-3 game. Cooper Jones extended Utah’s lead with his first goal in a Grizzlies uniform 14:29 in. Andrew Nielsen completed the Gordie Howe Hat Trick as he scored from the left wing 16:35 in to give Utah an 8-3 lead. Utah outshot Wichita 23 to 10 in the second period and 37 to 29 in the contest.
The seven goals in the second period broke a team record for goals in a single period. Utah had 6 goals vs Chicago on November 13, 1995 with the Grizzlies were in the International Hockey League.
Eight Grizzlies players had 2 or more points in the contest. Utah captain Mick Messner scored his ninth of the season 4:18 into the third period to complete the scoring. Messner had 1 goal and 2 assists. Derek Daschke, Cooper Jones and Andrew Nielsen each had 1 goal and 1 assist. Keaton Mastrodonato and Neil Shea each had 3 assists. Cole Fonstad scored two goals and Chad Hillebrand had 2 assists.
Vinny Duplessis earned his third victory in net for Utah as he stopped 26 of 29.
The rubber match of the three game series is on Monday night at 7:10 pm. Tickets are available at utahgrizzlies.com or by calling (801) 988-8000.
3 stars
- Andrew Nielsen (Utah) – 1 goal, 1 assist, 1 fight, +2, 3 shots.
- Cole Fonstad (Utah) – 2 goals.
- Mick Messner (Utah) 1 goal, 2 assists, +1, 2 shots.
Adirondack Thunder
Allen Americans
Atlanta Gladiators
Bloomington Bison
Cincinnati Cyclones
Florida Everblades
Fort Wayne Komets
Greensboro Gargoyles
Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Idaho Steelheads
Indy Fuel
Iowa Heartlanders
Jacksonville Icemen
Kalamazoo Wings
Kansas City Mavericks
Maine Mariners
Norfolk Admirals
Orlando Solar Bears
Rapid City Rush
Reading Royals
Savannah Ghost Pirates
South Carolina Stingrays
Tahoe Knight Monsters
Toledo Walleye
Trois-Rivières Lions
Tulsa Oilers
Utah Grizzlies
Wheeling Nailers
Wichita Thunder
Worcester Railers