Deseret News | Utah Grizzlies: Grizzlies hope to ride momentum

Utah Grizzlies: Grizzlies hope to ride momentum

By Linda Hamilton
Deseret News

Published: Saturday, May 3, 2008 12:19 a.m. MDT

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WEST VALLEY CITY — The Utah Grizzlies are feeling the momentum after that remarkable comeback win Thursday night that gave them a 2-1 lead in this best-of-seven ECHL Kelly Cup second-round series.

Because of that 7-5 victory in the E Center, after being down 5-1, Utah actually has the chance to close out the higher-seeded Victoria Salmon Kings — who won the West Division during the regular season with 91 points to fourth-place Utah's 74 — in the E Center with games tonight at 7 and Sunday at 4 p.m.

If not, Game 6 would be in Victoria on Tuesday, and if Game 7 is needed, it's Wednesday in Victoria, where playoff crowds are the largest in the league, averaging 5,851. Utah is drawing 3,297.

"It's just a great team win," said Grizz rookie Keith Johnson, who had two goals and two assists Thursday to take over the team lead and move into a tie for ninth among ECHL playoff scorers, and a tie for third among rookie scorers. "It's a good feeling in that locker room right now."

Linemate Ryan Kinasewich, who did the hat-and-feather thing Thursday, was as high as he's been in his three years with the Grizzlies and was gratified to see Utah win at home after a season in which it won more on the road (17) than at home (15). Utah is 4-1 in road playoff games and 2-2 at home.

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"It's great to get a win at home and get the crowd into it. It's an awesome feeling," Kinasewich said.

"We're far from over here, but that was a good way to finish that game," said Utah coach Jason Christie.

He wouldn't say what changes the Grizzlies made for the third period Thursday to make such a dramatic difference — Utah scored two goals in the final 1:26 of the second period and four goals in the third period — but he acknowledged there were some things. "We had to change up a little bit.

"We did little adjustments, but I think the biggest thing is how we battled, the commitment, the belief that we could do it."

Victoria's Wes Goldie, who has scored the second goal of the game in the last two games, is the ECHL scoring leader with 14 points (5-9). Brother Ash Goldie has 10 points, tied with Utah's Tyler Haskins, who had three assists Thursday centering the line with Johnson and Kinasewich.

E-mail: lham@desnews.com

ECHL second round