Rarely in hockey does a team recover from a three-goal deficit, particularly against a club as red-hot as the Idaho Steelheads, losers of only two of their last 10 games. But that's exactly what the Utah Grizzlies did. Led by Jon Puskar's two goals, the team forced overtime and an eventual shootout. And when goalie Ryan Faragher stood on his head and stopped all three Steelhead shots, the crowd erupted and the comeback was complete, 5-4.
"Puskar's line was tremendous tonight and Faragher was huge when he needed to be," Utah coach Tim Branham said. "I'm proud of the way we played and the boys battled. They're calm on the bench and whether we're down or not, nobody panics."
Precious minutes were remaining in the contest and the Grizzlies were trailing by a lone goal when Brad Navin leveled the contest, firing a puck at point-blank range that beat Philippe Desrosiers. And with just one second remaining, Faragher made a diving save to preserve the game.
Utah's Cam Reid scored the only goal in the shootout.
Following a quiet beginning to the first period, a rapid succession of three goals was scored just 45 seconds apart halfway through the frame. Unfortunately for the Grizzlies, only one belonged to them. Puskar scored his 12th goal of the season to get Utah on the board, but his goal was sandwiched by Steelhead forwards Joe Basaraba and Travis Walsh to give Idaho a 2-1 advantage. And when Anthony Luciani found the back of the net at 13:06, Utah found itself in a heap of trouble with two periods remaining.
After Rob Linsmayer made it 4-1 for Idaho, things looked dire for the Grizzlies. However, Taylor Richart and Puskar refused to accept Utah's apparent fate. Richart launched a shot from the blue line that blistered the back of the net, and when Puskar scored his second of the night, Utah suddenly had life with 20 minutes of hockey remaining, trailing by one goal.
"Our players lead by example and we're gelling as a team and that's what you need in a locker room," Puskar said. "When we're down it doesn't matter anymore, we refuse to quit."
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Grizzlies forward Cam Reid (14) high-fives his team mates after scoring what became the game winning goal, in the overtime shoot-out, as the Grizzlies defeated the Idaho Steelheads 5-4 in overtime, in ECHL hockey action, Utah Grizzlies vs. Idaho Steelheads, at the Maverick Center, Monday, January 16, 2017.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Grizzlies forward Cam Reid (14) gets the goal past Idaho Steelheads goalie Philippe Desrosiers (30) to score the game winning goal, in the overtime shoot-out, as the Grizzlies defeated the Idaho Steelheads 5-4 in overtime, in ECHL hockey action, Utah Grizzlies vs. Idaho Steelheads, at the Maverick Center, Monday, January 16, 2017.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune The Utah Grizzlies celebrate their 5-4 overtime victory over the Idaho Steelheads, in ECHL hockey action, Utah Grizzlies vs. Idaho Steelheads, at the Maverick Center, Monday, January 16, 2017.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Grizzlies forward Cam Reid (14) skates past Idaho Steelheads defenseman Brandon Anselmini (27), in ECHL hockey action, Utah Grizzlies vs. Idaho Steelheads, at the Maverick Center, Monday, January 16, 2017.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Grizzlies forward Erik Bradford (19) celebrates with forward Jon Puskar (23) after Pusher's second goal of the afternoon, in ECHL hockey action, Utah Grizzlies vs. Idaho Steelheads, at the Maverick Center, Monday, January 16, 2017.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Grizzlies fans cheer in hopes of getting a t-shirt, during a break in ECHL hockey action, Utah Grizzlies vs. Idaho Steelheads, during the annual Martin Luther King Holiday matinee game, at the Maverick Center, Monday, January 16, 2017.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Grizzlies fans cheer in hopes of getting a t-shirt, during a break in ECHL hockey action, Utah Grizzlies vs. Idaho Steelheads, during the annual Martin Luther King Holiday matinee game, at the Maverick Center, Monday, January 16, 2017.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Idaho Steelheads goalie Philippe Desrosiers (30) deflects a shot by Utah Grizzlies forward Colin Martin (6), in ECHL hockey action, Utah Grizzlies vs. Idaho Steelheads, during the annual Martin Luther King Holiday matinee game, at the Maverick Center, Monday, January 16, 2017.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Grizzlies forward Jon Puskar (23) celebrates his first period goal, in ECHL hockey action, Utah Grizzlies vs. Idaho Steelheads, at the Maverick Center, Monday, January 16, 2017.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah defenseman Taylor Richart (11) celebrates after scoring a goal for the Grizzlies, in ECHL hockey action, Utah Grizzlies vs. Idaho Steelheads, at the Maverick Center, Monday, January 16, 2017.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Grizzlies forward Jon Puskar (23) brings the puck down the ice, in ECHL hockey action, Utah Grizzlies vs. Idaho Steelheads, at the Maverick Center, Monday, January 16, 2017.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Grizzlies forward Ralph Cuddemi (28) skates skates down the ice, in ECHL hockey action, Utah Grizzlies vs. Idaho Steelheads, at the Maverick Center, Monday, January 16, 2017.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Grizzlies forward Cam Reid (14) and defenseman Taylor Richart (11) celebrates Richard's goal, in ECHL hockey action, Utah Grizzlies vs. Idaho Steelheads, at the Maverick Center, Monday, January 16, 2017.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah defenseman Taylor Richart (11) celebrates after scoring a goal for the Grizzlies, in ECHL hockey action, Utah Grizzlies vs. Idaho Steelheads, at the Maverick Center, Monday, January 16, 2017.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Grizzlies forward Jon Puskar (23) celebrates his first period goal, in ECHL hockey action, Utah Grizzlies vs. Idaho Steelheads, at the Maverick Center, Monday, January 16, 2017.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Idaho Steelheads goalie Philippe Desrosiers (30) and Idaho Steelheads forward Branden Troock (44) watch the puck hit the back of the net to tie the game 4-4, in ECHL hockey action, Utah Grizzlies vs. Idaho Steelheads, during the annual Martin Luther King Holiday matinee game, at the Maverick Center, Monday, January 16, 2017.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Grizzlies forward Jon Puskar (23) celebrates his first period goal with his team mates, in ECHL hockey action, Utah Grizzlies vs. Idaho Steelheads, at the Maverick Center, Monday, January 16, 2017.