Grizzlies break losing streak, beat Steelheads

WEST VALLEY CITY — With 10 days between games, it's nice to get practices, but game speed is another thing.

The Utah Grizzlies, off since Dec. 3, spotted the Idaho Steelheads two first-period power-play goals, then came back with three even-strength scores to notch a 3-2 victory, break a two-game losing steak and win their first game back in the E Center since Nov. 25 Wednesday night to kick off their three-game homestand this week.

Utah had won just two of its last 10 games, but the Steelheads, usually one of the ECHL's top teams, have won only four of their last 11 and are 1-6 in their most recent games.

"They went out hard and threw everything at us right away," Grizzlies' coach Jason Christie said about the Steelheads, who probably had an idea the Grizzlies would be a little stale after the long layoff.

But Andy Sertich scored with 1:53 left in the first period to cut the deficit in half, and Utah came out with purpose in the second period, skating with urgency and "creating plays," Christie noted. "It took us awhile."

"We dug deep in the second and got some pretty timely goals and worked pretty good together as a unit," said the Grizzlies' leading scorer, Ryan Kinasewich, who put in the game-winner off a faceoff at 17:23 of the second period.

"We came out a bit flat, obviously, after eight, nine days off. Once we got our legs under us in the second and started working, things started happening."

Grizzly newcomer Jake Riddle got the break Utah needed at 16:51 of the second period when he scored just throwing the puck from behind the goal line to in front of the net. The puck hit Steelhead goalie John Daigneau's stick and caromed into the five-hole.

Kinasewich struck while Daigneau was probably still thinking about the Riddle goal, shooting off the drawback to him from the left-wing circle. "I think it's only his third game in the league. We knew that going in, and we took advantage of that," said Kinasewich.

"Stewie" (rookie center Danny Stewart) won a good drawback to me, and I just grabbed her and fired. I don't think the goalie was expecting that. I don't think he even saw it. Luckily it went in."

It was Stewart's second assist of the night.

"We had some younger guys step up and (goalie Rob) McVicar played a heckuva game," said Kinasewich. "We need him to steal a game for us, and he did."