This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Things were going great Monday night at the Maverik Center for the Utah Grizzlies against the visiting Idaho Steelheads. The home team had a one-goal lead more than halfway through the third period, goalie Chris Rawlings had denied all 22 shots faced, and it appeared Utah was finally going to reward its fans with its first home win of the season. Then the floodgates opened.
Idaho scored two goals less than three minutes apart in the third, the first by forward Emil Molin. The next proved to be the game-winner, a violent slapshot by Brandon Magee from the far corner and past the pads of Utah's keeper. The Steelheads won the ECHL game 2-1.
"We've just got to do a better job of putting together a full 60 minutes on the ice," forward Matt Berry said. "Rawlings was on his game, they had a few pucks bounce their way and ultimately we weren't able to get it done."
Following a similar scenario to Saturday's matinee, Idaho goalie Phillipe Desrossiers once again stood on his head, staving off 47 of 48 shots faced. With Utah desperate for a goal to tie the game, Desrossiers made a diving save off of Grizzlies forward Alexander MacMillan. And with Utah's net empty and less than a minute to play, Desrossiers snatched up Phil Pietroniro's shot with his glove, securing the win.
Halfway through the opening period the Grizzlies garnered their first lead on home ice this season as Matt Berry's slapshot found its way through traffic and past Desrossiers. Berry has had at least one point in each of Utah's first seven games (four goals, four assists).
The Grizzlies would attack early and often, outshooting the Steelheads by a nearly two to one ratio, but could manage only one goal. "I thought they had two really weak goals that we need to stop," coach Tim Branham said. "But we're learning as a group and I like what I see."