Aquino's hat trick lifts Grizzlies

WEST VALLEY CITY — Despite playing without leading scorer Ryan Kinasewich, the Utah Grizzlies weren't lacking for offense Friday night at the E Center.

The Grizzlies capitalized on a stellar offensive night from Luciano Aquino, who recorded his first professional hat trick by scoring a goal in each period, and an excellent night in goal for Rob McVicar to bounce back from Wednesday night's overtime defeat and beat the Fresno Falcons 5-1.

The first period was full of timely bounces for Utah. Aquino started the Grizzlies off with a quick goal at the 17:54 mark when Falcon's goaltender Ryan MacDonald deflected a shot attempt by Utah's Chris Trick. Off the deflection, Aquino whizzed one by MacDonald to pick the corner.

Later in the first, Bill Kinkel put Utah up 2-0 when he scored his first ever goal for the Grizzlies by deflecting his shot off a Falcons player.

In the penalty-filled second period, Fresno went 0-for-5 on power-plays, while the Grizzlies went 1-for-4. The Falcons scored during one of the few times neither team was in the middle of a power play on an unassisted backhanded shot over Grizz goalie McVicar's right shoulder by John Morlang.

The Grizzlies shot back to extend the lead back to two goals during a power-play with only two seconds left in the period when Aquino got away from the defenders to score off an assist by Eric Nelson.

In the third period, it was all Utah. Only two minutes into the period, Danny Stewart scored off an Aquino assist to put the Grizzlies up three, and later in the period Stewart returned the favor, assisting on the goal that clinched Aquino's hat trick.

"It was just working at both ends tonight," Aquino said after the game. "The defense created shots for the offense."

Utah converted 1-of-5 power-plays on the night, while Fresno went 0 of 8.

MacDonald saved 25 out of 30 in goal for the Falcons, while McVicar stopped 39 of 40 shots to secure the win for the Grizzlies. The win puts Utah at 4-2-2 so far during the current 10-game home stand. The Grizzlies and Falcons face off again tonight at 7:05 p.m. at the E Center.

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