Admirals 5, Grizzlies 4WEST VALLEY CITY -- The Milwaukee Admirals seemed like the perfect cure for the Grizzlies' confidence crisis.
Both teams were hoping for a win to end losing streaks -- four games for the Grizzlies and six games for the Admirals. It was physical, emotional and as close as a hockey game can get. But in the end, the Grizzlies lost another game -- in another shootout, 5-4, and are still looking for a way out of the funk they've found themselves in as the playoffs approach.
"Our problems is our mental lapses," said coach Bob Bourne. "Teams are taking advantage of them. When you're exuding a lot of confidence, you don't make those mistakes."
Bourne was taking heart in the fact that his team came back from a one-goal deficit in the final minute of the third period.
"We're not going to win games by allowing four goals a game," he said. "Until we dedicate ourselves to playing very tightly it's going to be a tough go."
The coach also said he didn't feel the energy shift he has in recent games, where his team dominates play for two periods and then plays tentatively in the last. He hopes the improvement in Friday night's game will be a stepping stone to better play when the Grizzlies take on Chicago at home on Sunday.
Utah defenseman Darcy Werenka had two goals, including the game's first at 4:34 in the first period. He came less than inches away from a hat trick during the shootout when he made an incredible move and the puck hit the goal's far pole.
Bourne said he used Werenka to try something different during the shootout which has been one of Utah's weaknesses this season. Werenka said he and his teammates did feel a little better about the game, despite losing.
"We did bounce back and scored that late goal," Werenka said. "We just haven't had much luck in the shootout. . . . I thought we played pretty solid. The only goals they got, they got because of our mistakes."
Werenka isn't sure why a team that has played so tough all year is making mental mistakes as it fights for a playoff spot, but he's taking something positive from the team's ability to come back.
"Once you get into a little rut like we're in, it's tough to get out," he said. "The only thing that can pull you out is hard work."