WEST VALLEY CITY — Perhaps the only thing more difficult than a 17-game road trip is coming back home.

In their first E Center date in 40 days, the Utah Grizzlies dropped a 3-2 decision to the Springfield Falcons. The setback comes on the heels of a successful Olympic excursion where the Grizz went 9-6-2.

Though excuses could easily be made, Utah coach Don Hay wouldn't employ any. Thursday's outcome was simple to diagnose.

"I was disappointed that we made their goalie the first star of the game," Hay said of Springfield's Dieter Kochan, who was credited with 40 saves. "It's our job to outwork them. Even though we got 42 shots on goal tonight, I thought we could have done a better job with battles at the net."

Hay went on to explain that quality chances in the American Hockey League come on second and third opportunities. AHL goalies, he added, are going to stop first shots.

"We have to get into the mindset that we're going to get into the battle zone," said Hay. "When goals aren't coming easy, you've got to manufacture them. And that's through tip-ins, going to the net and getting one off your shin pads or rear end."

Of particular frustration was Utah's 42-25 advantage in shots. Despite the disparity, the Grizz failed to score until the third period. By that time, Springfield had built a 2-0 lead. The Falcons picked up a goal in each of the first two periods when Sascha Goc and Erik Westrum slipped shots by Grizz goaltender Wade Flaherty.

Roman Lyashenko netted Utah's first score at 5:55 of the third, but Springfield answered with a late power play goal by Josef Boumedienne to thwart off any threat. The Grizz, however, did make things interesting down the stretch. Jim Montgomery's goal with less than two minutes remaining, though, capped all scoring in the contest.

Hay credited Springfield for playing smart and effectively killing penalties. Utah's power play went 0 for 9, including a failed 5-on-3 opportunity.

All said, the Grizz didn't seem very comfortable. Hay denied it affected the outcome, but Utah clearly found itself in a changed environment. The E Center didn't resemble the cozy arena the team vacated on Jan. 19.

For starters, the front row of seats that was removed to accommodate the wider playing surface used during the Olympics has yet to be reinstalled. Other arena seats are also out of commission. Several rows were transformed into temporary press boxes for the Olympics and Paralympics. And speaking of the latter, clear dasher boards to be used during the upcoming sledge hockey tournament are in use in front of the benches, which were composed of folding chairs instead of the traditional bench. Even the penalty box was different and required a hammer just to get it open once.

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Additional differences inside the arena include wall coverings. The area surrounding the video board is still adorned in Olympic blue and multicolored banners emblazoned with "Salt Lake 2002" remain in place between the upper and lower sections. Outside, the parking lot is still a sea of trailers, tents and temporary buildings brought in for the international competitions.

Hay, however, wasn't buying any theories of distraction. He doesn't have time. The Grizz and Falcons meet again tonight at 7.

SLAP SHOTS: The attendance was 5,136 . . . C Serge Payer saw his first action since suffering a back injury on Nov. 17 . . . Several Grizz skaters are sidelined with injuries. The list includes: D Mark Wotton (shoulder), RW Denis Shvidki (ankle), D Paul Elliott (shoulder), LW Steve Gainey (concussion) and RW Gregor Baumgartner (broken finger) . . . The parent Dallas Stars have assigned D Dave Manson to Utah.


E-MAIL: dirk@desnews.com

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