West Valley City, Utah (ABC 4 Sports) - The Utah Grizzlies improved to 2-0 on the season with a 2-1 win over the Idaho Steelheads at Maverik Center before 7,247 on Saturday night. The crowd was the Grizzlies largest for a home opener since 2001.
“For the most part, the guys have done a good job, a lot of positives this weekend,” said Grizzlies Head Coach Kevin Colley. “We just have to make sure we’re getting better every day.”
Utah goaltender Andrew Engelage stopped 35 of 36 Idaho shots, including 13 in the first period as Utah also killed two penalties and kept the game scoreless after 20 minutes.
Utah took a 1-0 lead 1:11 into the second period as Gaelan Patterson pressured Idaho goaltender Tyler Beskorowany into turning the puck over as he attempted to play it in the circle. Patterson fed Vock who fired the puck into a wide open empty net.
The Grizzlies made it 2-0 at 14:36 of the second period as James Martin started the play up ice before Riley Armstrong and Paul McIlveen took over with Armstrong feeding McIlveen from behind the net for his first goal of the year.
Idaho broke the shutout with 7:59 left in the third, but Utah would hold on with a couple of late clears.
The Grizzlies resume action next Friday and Saturday in Alaska with 9:15 p.m. face-offs both nights.
Utah is back home Friday, October 26 with Colorado and Saturday, October 27 with Idaho for Oktoberfest weekend. Saturday the 27th is also Angel’s Hands Night.
