Grizzlies get big win behind Swedish power

WEST VALLEY CITY — Jimmie Kraft thought referee Jason Nissen was going to take his score away.

After rebounding a shot from Ed Campbell and skating to the other side of the slot with the puck, waiting and waiting for a clearing, Kraft finally let the puck fly into an open spot of the net, which was then dislodged by several players pushing into it.

But the goal stood, at 15:05 of the third period, and the Utah Grizzlies finally got a victory after three games without one, 2-1 over the defending Kelly Cup-champion Alaska Aces in the E Center.

It's the first time the two teams have met since the Aces swept the Grizzlies out of the first round of the Kelly Cup playoffs last spring. Other than two playoff games in the E Center, the Aces are 1-2-2 in Utah but were 6-2-2 against the Grizzlies during the regular season.

"We had to figure out a way to win one of those games. That's a good hockey team over there," said Grizzlies' coach Jason Christie.

The teams play each other again in the E Center Friday and Saturday.

"Oh, it's awesome. The first goal is always nice, and over here, too," said the Utah rookie, who is from Sweden. "Kraft is power if you translate it to English," Kraft said, adding it's a "war name."

He was pleased to have contributed to an important win for the Grizzlies, who are just 3-4-2 for eight points. The win technically moves them from fifth to a tie with Alaska (4-3).

"I have the chance to play with some very good players, and you want to give something back," said Kraft.

"He's brought a pretty good work ethic every night, and that's why he's in the lineup," Christie said. "It's good it went in for him. He had a lot of chances on the (last) weekend, even though we struggled there in Idaho, he really picked up his game."

Utah's first goal came on a 5-on-3 power play at 14:43 of the first period, Mike Wirll redirecting a pass from Ryan Kinasewich, but for much of the game, the Aces were content to take penalties because the Grizzlies didn't do much about them. On five second-period power plays, the Grizzlies totaled three shots on goal.

"You try and be too fancy at times," said Christie.

The Aces, however, didn't score either until 11:05 of the third after Alaska left wing Hans Benson won a fight against Grizzly Brandon Tidball to fire up the northerners. Kevin Croxton scored his fifth of the season on a pass to the slot by former Grizzly Peter Metcalf following a giveaway.

Four minutes later, Kraft scored just before the net lost its moorings.

"Any time you have a weekend like we had, you've got to come out and have a good home game," said Christie, "and we definitely have to be ready to go on Friday because they're going to bring everything.'"

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