The Utah Grizzlies got one much-needed point this last weekend with a shootout loss to the Idaho Steelheads. This weekend was a home-and-home series as Wednesday’s game was up in Boise, Idaho. This was a game the Grizzlies were behind for most of the game but with 1:10 left in Regulation. Luke Martin put the biscuit in the basket to tie the score late in the third period, allowing Utah to get their one point on the weekend. However, Idaho scored in overtime as they are now 31-4 at home. The 31 home wins break a league record previously set by the 2018-2019 Cincinnati Cyclones, who won 30 home games.
Wednesday, April 5, 2023- Boise, Idaho. Utah 2 Idaho 3 (Overtime) – Utah was trailing 2-1 at Idaho late in the third period when Luke Martin scored the game-tying goal with 1:10 left in the third period. Idaho went on to win into overtime as Ty Pelton-Byce scored on a rebound. Jordan Martel scored the first goal of the game at the 10:43 mark. Cody Haiskanen scored two unanswered goals for Idaho late in the first period to put them ahead late into the third. Jade Miller had an assist on both of Idaho’s regulation goals. Both teams went 0 for 1 on the power play. Utah outshot Idaho 33 to 29. Utah is 5-4 in games decided past full-time.
Friday, April 7, 2023, West Valley City, Utah. Utah 1 Idaho 2 – Jordan Martel scored a goal for the 6th straight game as he fired a goal 10:40 into the first period. AJ White scored shorthanded 7:33 into the third period to tie things up late. Wade Murphy scored the game-winner for Idaho 16:38 into the third. Idaho outshot Utah 47 to 28. Both teams were scoreless on the power play. It was only the second time this season that the Grizzlies lost when leading after the first and second periods. It was the first time this season the Grizzlies lost in a game where they allowed less than three goals.
Saturday, April 8, 2023 – West Valley City, Utah. Idaho 3 Utah 2 – The Steelheads scored first and quickly as Justin Ducharme put one in the goal just 1:04 into the contest. Utah tied it up as Dylan Fitze scored 5:16 into the first period. A minute and a half later, Jordan Martel gave Utah a 2-1 lead. On the goal, Nolan Ritchie scored an assist for his first professional point. Martel now has a goal in seven straight games.
In the second period, Idaho’s Jade Miller tied it up 9:58 in on a tip-in. Ryan Dmowski’s game-winner was a four-on-four goal 16:41 in. Neither team could capitalize on their opportunities in the third as Idaho got the weekend sweep all in games decided by one goal.
Idaho tied a league record with their 56th win of the season, a mark previously set by the 2001-2002 Louisiana IceGators.
It was a rough weekend overall for Grizzlies In the win/loss column, but overall three one-goal losses to the best team in the west by far is a pretty good weekend. The Grizzlies are also in a prime spot to make a run to the Kelly Cup Playoffs.
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