With one minute remaining in a tie game, Grizzlies forward Colin Martin scored his second goal of the night to lift Utah over the Tulsa Oilers, 3-2, and extend its win streak to four games — the longest winning streak of the season.
"Sometimes you have to find a way to win ugly and we did that and we got the two points and that's what matters," head coach Tim Branham said. "Martin was huge for us tonight and he has been all year."
The Grizzlies came out blazing in front of the largest crowd at the Maverik Center so far this season. Before Tulsa had even recorded a shot on goal, Martin scored his first goal of the night to give Utah a 1-0 lead.
Erik Bradford then fired a shot from the blue line to make it 2-0 as Utah continued to apply the pressure in the first. Tulsa could barely generate any offense against Utah's stifling defense, which held the Oilers to a meager seven shots on goal.
In a reversal of fortune (as far as shots are concerned), Tulsa applied the pressure in the second period but were no match for Utah goalie Ryan Faragher. Tulsa fired a barrage of 22 shots Utah's way, but Faragher didn't allow a single one to sneak through.
Faragher's most impressive save came on a breakaway by Danick Paquette as Faragher extended his left pad and denied the Tulsa forward.
"Faragher stood on his head and Tulsa made him work tonight," Branham said. "They're a good club but we're as confident as we have been all season."
The Grizzlies held 2-0 lead in the third, but Tulsa refused to go quietly. Darcy Murphy and Danick Gauthier both scored to pull the Oilers into a 2-2 tie, wiping away Utah's lead with five minutes to play.
Martin put the game away for the Grizzlies with a minute remaining.