The Utah Grizzlies (20-16-4-3) defeated the Bakersfield Condors, 6-3, on Friday night at Rabobank Arena to improve to 7-1-1-1 in their last 10 contests.
Utah goaltender Igor Bobkov stopped 14-of-15 in the first period and 35-of-38 in the game to improve to 5-3-1-0.
Michael Pelech led Utah with four points as he assisted on four of six Utah goals. Alex Krushelnyski and Ryan Hayes each had two goals and one assist. Jacob Johnston had a plus-five and was one off the all-time team high plus-six set by Milan Tichy in 1995.
The Grizzlies erased a 1-0 first intermission lead with three goals in the first 5:28 of the second period on scores by Mathieu Aubin, Krushelnyski and Danick Paquette.
After Bakersfield made it 3-2, Krushelnyski scored again four-on-four, and Utah held a 4-2 second intermission lead as it scored four goals in a period for the third time this year. It was the third time this year that the Grizzlies have scored six or more goals in a game.
“We really responded well in the second period and it helped us carry momentum into the third,” Ryan Hayes said.
Hayes added a pair of goals at 1:44 of the third and 6:18 of the period to make it 6-3.
“I’m glad to get the win because they’re right on our tails and it’s a big two points,” Hayes said. “Now we’ve got to put some more wins together.”
The Grizzlies are next in action Saturday in Stockton at 8:30 p.m.
Utah returns home Friday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m., and Saturday, Feb. 7 at 8 p.m., to take on the Condors once again.