Grizzlies finish off Admirals to win series
Dylan Fitze scored twice as the Utah Grizzlies clinched a series victory over Norfolk, defeating the Admirals 5-2 Sunday before 3,419 fans at Maverik Center in West Valley City, a suburb of Salt Lake City.
The Grizzlies have won the first two of a rare three-game, threeday series between teams far apart geographically in a league that emphasizes intradivision play. The series will conclude with a game at 9:10 p.m. Monday.
Utah goalie Will Cranley made 28 saves for the victory in a relatively chippy game that included 76 penalty minutes, 49 on the Admirals (34-20-5-1). Norfolk goalie Yaniv Perets took the loss, making 23 saves.
The Grizzlies (28-30-2-0) went ahead 2-0 in the first period on goals by Fitze 5:14 into the game and by Brandon Cutler at 10:17.
Stepan Timofeyev scored for the Admirals just 55 seconds later to trim the deficit to 2-1, and Thomas Caron netted a powerplay goal 1:18 into the second period to even the score at 2.
The Grizzlies, the Colorado Avalanche’s ECHL affiliate, then took command when Cole Gallant and Fitze scored even-strength goals just 34 seconds apart, giving Utah at 4-2 lead at 11:29 into the middle period. Adam Berg netted the final goal at 15:37 of the third.
Admirals fall Saturday: Saturday night, the Admirals squandered a three-goal lead in the final three minutes of regulation and ended up losing 5-4 in overtime before a crowd of 8,562.
Three of the Grizzlies’ last four goals — all of which came after 57 minutes had run off the clock — were on power plays. Josh Wesley netted the tying goal at even strength with 1:49 remaining in regulation, then beat Admirals goalie Oskari Salminen for the winning goal 1:30 into overtime.
For most of the night, it seemed the Admirals were on their way to what would have been their eighth victory in nine games.
Goals by Andrew McLean and Danny Katic gave Norfolk a 2-0 lead in the first period. Keaton Jameson extended the margin to 3-0 3:41 into the second period.
Gallant’s goal for Utah 15:40 into that period left the Admirals ahead 3-1 at the second intermission, but Jameson scored again on a power play 4:28 into the third.
The Grizzlies capitalized after the Admirals’ Darick Louis-Jean was called for delay of game and teammate Mark Liwiski was whistled for tripping 34 seconds later, giving Utah a two-man advantage with 3:48 on the clock.
Utah’s Kyle Mayhew scored with 2:57 remaining, allowing the Admirals to play 4-on-5. But Fitze scored 48 seconds later, cutting Norfolk’s margin to 4-3.
Back at even strength, the Admirals still couldn’t hold the lead. With 1:49 remaining, Wesley’s first goal of the night tied the game.
In overtime, a penalty proved costly again. McLean went to the box for slashing 51 seconds into the extra period, and Wesley ended the contest 39 seconds later.