By Jon Gilbert

| Special to The Tribune

They did it the hard way, but the Utah Grizzlies (16-17-0-4)did it nonetheless, earning a 4-2 win over the Idaho Steelheads (16-17-2-1) Saturday at the Maverik Center to snap a six-game losing streak.

Playing with only 14 of a possible 16 skaters due to injury, forced into 15 penalty kills and reeling from an 0-5-0-1 stretch in their last six games, Utah found a way to win in front of 5,347 fans.

At a glance

—

Storylines Grizzlies get a win

The Utah Grizzlies snap a six-game losing streak Saturday with a 4-2 win over the Idaho Steelheads at the Maverik Center Saturday.

» Utah spends 52 minutes in the penalty box and kills 13 of 15 penalties to earn the win.

» Goalie Andrew Engelage makes 44 saves, many of which came during 5 on 3 penalty-kill hockey.

	Join the Discussion
	Post a Comment

"We were playing a rough game tonight," captain defenseman Nick Tuzzolino said. "We didn’t want to make it easy for them."

The Grizzlies didn’t make it easy for themselves, either.

They survived two periods of penalty-marred hockey to be tied 2-2 at the start of the third period. Finally, Utah got on its own power play — it earned none in the second period — and took advantage at 5:27 in the third when Paul McIlveen put home a rebound for a 3-2 lead. Tyler Kindle followed with a rebound goal of his own at 7:47 and the Grizz rode their penalty kill to a 4-2 win.

"We were definitely in a slump, but that was the way to get out of it," Tuzzolino said. "It is a good time right now. We’re getting guys back in the lineup and if we get on a roll … it could be a perfect storm."

The "perfect storm" that Tuzzolino mentioned involves more and more healthy bodies in the locker room, a losing streak snapped and a day of rest following a win that drained the legs of the penalty-kill participants.

With the halfway point of the season marked by Saturday’s win, Utah believes it’s time to put the days of filling lineups with non-Grizzlies behind it and make a playoff push.

"The biggest thing is confidence," coach Kevin Colley said. "When you’re not winning you can sometimes get into a routine, and you’ve got to nip it in the butt."