Grizzlies 4, Cyclones 3
WEST VALLEY CITY — Whaddya know? The Utah Grizzlies have an offense after all.
You couldn't have guessed that, judging from the Grizz's two ugly losses to the Chicago Wolves earlier this week. Even after the first half of their game against the Cincinnati Cyclones that point was debatable.
Then it finally happened. For the first time in a week, luck and the puck bounced the Grizz's way, and they took full advantage of it to rally for a rejuvenating 4-3 win over the Cyclones at the E Center.
"I just about puked for a period and a half," said Utah coach Bob Bourne, whose team trailed by two goals after 33 minutes of play. "But this is a great feeling. Our guys are pretty resilient. They seem to bounce back."
It took somewhat of a fluke flip of the puck before that happened. With the Grizz trailing 2-0 midway through the second period, Lauer tipped in a pretty lucky goal after a scramble in front of the net.
That was only the second goal in three games for the Grizz, but it unchained the deadbolt lock on their offensive floodgate.
Only a minute later, captain John Purves, positioned just to the right of Cincinnati goalie Marc Magliarditi, snared in a sweet pass from Evgueni Tsybouk and easily tapped it in to even the contest at 2-all.
The Cyclones regained the lead in the third period, but the momentum had clearly shifted Utah's way for a change. That was evident when Gregor Baumgartner only allowed Cincinnati to celebrate its 3-2 lead for 22 seconds before whacking in a goal from the right circle on a rush.
It only took another minute and a half for the Grizz to get the game-winner in the net. Jamie Wright scored that one in similar fashion to Baumgartner's goal to help him atone for missing a golden breakaway opportunity early on.
"It's gotta happen sometime if you keep working," said Bourne, speaking of the puck finally bouncing the Grizz's way. "The key is they didn't get down. Look how one bounce turns the whole thing around."
The come-from-behind victory was Utah's first of the season in which it trailed after the first period. The Grizz were 0-7 before Friday. It also prevented Utah, now 11-9-1, from losing three in a row for the first time.
Bourne credited Utah's energy output for helping them turn their fortunes around.
"The practice level was so high this morning (in shoot-around)," he said. "And they carried it on tonight."
The Grizz will get another crack at the Cyclones (10-12-2) tonight at 7:30 for the last of a seven-game homestand.
SLAP SHOTS: Defenseman Mark Wotton returned to the lineup for the first time since the second game of the season. Wotton, one of the Grizz's alternate captains, was out after having hernia surgery . . . Former Grizz goalie Corey Hirsch is now with Cincinnati . . . Attendance was 6,336 . . . John Purves (1g, 1a) and David Ling (2a) finished with two points apiece . . . Rick Tabarraci earned the win for Utah, improving to 6-5. He also had an assist to go with his 24 saves. Magliarditi (4-6-2) lost but made 30 of 34 saves.
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