WEST VALLEY CITY— We'll see your hat trick and double it while holding you scoreless.

After Utah wounded the Admirals in Milwaukee Saturday with a hat trick from Jarrod Skalde and strong goaltending from Jason Bacashihua, the Admirals came to the E Center Monday night and got a 6-0 shutout from veteran goaltender Wade Flaherty, a former Grizzly.

It was the seventh time Utah has been shut out this season and the third 6-0 shutout against the Grizzlies.

Four of the goals were scored against Bacashihua, who took over in the second period for starter Ron Tugnutt, who is down from Dallas for conditioning purposes and made his Salt Lake Valley debut after going 1-1 on the recent Grizzly road trip.

Tugnutt pulled a groin muscle on Milwaukee's second goal, at 8:13 of the second period, but played another eight minutes before coach Don Hay pulled him from the game. Bacashihua gave up a goal in about a minute.

"I didn't want to put ' 'Cash' in on that power play," Hay said. "He had really played well (in Milwaukee), but he came in cold and just had a tough night."

Hay said Bacashihua playing normally wouldn't have given up goals the way he did in the third period. "They won the game in the first two periods," Hay said, somewhat discounting the three-score third as an aberration for the Grizzlies.

Milwaukee averages more goals than any team in the American Hockey League, 3.14 a game. It has 112 scores now, 29 more than Utah, even though the Admirals have played five fewer games.

"They're a good-skating team and create opportunities with their speed and attack," Hay said.

Hay also figured the Admirals were playing extra hard after being beaten 4-1 by Utah in Milwaukee Saturday on Skalde's hat trick and Bacashihua's strong 39-save performance.

"Beating them the last game, they came out with purpose," Hay said. Also, the Grizzlies "weren't strong in our positioning," he said. Players just a few feet out of position creates chances for an aggressive opponent.

Monday's game began a period of Utah having eight of nine games at home. The Grizzlies host the Admirals again Wednesday night at 7 in the EC, then travel to San Antonio for a one-game road trip and are back again to host Hartford for two on Saturday and Monday.

Mathieu Darche scored the first goal for Milwaukee Monday against Tugnutt. He put Milwaukee on the board at 7:08 of the first period as the teams played 4-on-4 after offsetting penalties.

Darche assisted the second goal after a Grizzly turnover in their own zone, Tony Hrkac planting the shot at 8:13 of the second period. Hrkac had assists on the first and third Milwaukee goals.

The Admirals' fourth straight goal came at 9:57 of the third, unassisted and off a pipe against Bacashihua, and Timofei Shishkanov added his 10th of the season swinging behind the net, coming out on the other side and sweeping it in at 12:39 of the third.

NOTES: John Erskine played his first game this season for the Grizzlies after being sent down for conditioning by Dallas . . . Right wings Antti Miettinen and Rob Valicevic were injury scratches Monday, Miettinen with a leg injury and Valicevic sitting due to a concussion. Valicevic is expected back Wednesday.

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E-MAIL: lham@desnews.com