Utah Grizzlies: Steelheads crush Grizzlies, 8-2

The Utah Grizzlies had owned the Idaho Steelheads this season, garnering a 7-1 record against their division rivals. Friday night at the Maverik Center, however, that changed. Idaho poured it on, embarrassing the Grizzlies on home ice to the tune of 8-2.

"Tonight wasn't our night and I wouldn't even say one player played well," head coach Tim Branham said. "You just have to throw this one away and refocus your energy for tomorrow's game."

The first period was the Steelheads' show, led by Joe Basaraba who scored the first two goals of the game and assisted on a third. The first occurred when goalie Ryan Faragher gave up a juicy rebound that Basaraba pounced on. Just two minutes later, Basaraba was successful again.

After Anthony Luciani and Bryce Van Brabant scored, Utah pulled Faragher for Troy Redmann. Idaho held a commanding 4-0 lead with two periods still to play.

Things went from bad to worse in the second, as Redmann fared no better than Faragher. Connor Chatham scored another to give Idaho a 5-0 advantage.

Idaho took a two-man advantage when Utah's Travis Howe was issued a five-minute major for fighting and Michael Pelech joined him in the penalty box. Aaron Harstad, on Basaraba's second assist, increased Idaho's lead to 6-0.

Utah salvaged some dignity 13:35 into the second period, as Brad Navin got the home team on the board.

Idaho added two more goals in the third, from Brian Nugent and Wil Merchant.

Utah's Colin Martin scored his tenth goal in the past 11 games on a nifty wrap-around.

Utah was playing with just four defensemen, as injuries to Sam Windle, Tim Daly, Taylor Richart and Evan Stoflet cost the Grizzlies. There isn't a timetable for their return. —

ECHL standings

EASTERN CONFERENCE

East GP W L OL SL Pts GF GA

Manchester 51 29 13 5 4 67 197 172

Reading 49 30 17 1 2 63 186 144

Brampton 49 28 16 2 3 61 179 174

Adirondack 49 26 14 5 4 61 179 156

Wheeling 49 26 18 5 0 57 171 151

Elmira 49 9 34 6 1 25 108 195

South GP W L OL SOL Pts GF GA

Florida 47 33 9 2 3 71 174 133

Orlando 52 26 18 6 2 60 194 190

South Carolina 51 28 20 2 1 59 156 142

Greenville 50 27 18 4 1 59 164 166

Cincinnati 51 24 23 4 0 52 143 151

Atlanta 50 19 24 6 1 45 168 194

Norfolk 50 18 28 4 0 40 138 184

Western Conference

Central GP W L OL SOL Pts GF GA

Toledo 49 34 12 2 1 71 203 143

Fort Wayne 49 29 15 5 0 63 180 150

Quad City 50 29 19 0 2 60 158 150

Tulsa 54 24 25 5 0 53 154 168

Kalamazoo 50 24 22 1 3 52 138 162

Wichita 47 15 28 3 1 34 134 186

Indy 51 14 33 2 2 32 126 202

Mountain GP W L OL SOL Pts GF GA

Allen 54 34 16 2 2 72 214 159

Colorado 50 32 14 1 3 68 185 146

Idaho 51 27 17 5 2 61 176 164

Alaska 47 25 15 1 6 57 152 147

Utah 50 25 21 3 1 54 160 172

Missouri 49 23 19 2 5 53 163 168

Rapid City 50 17 25 8 0 42 159 190

Friday's games

Orlando 7, Norfolk 4

Reading at Elmira, ppd.

South Carolina 5, Manchester 2

Brampton 6, Wheeling 3

Atlanta 3, Adirondack 2, OT

Fort Wayne 1, Kalamazoo 0

Allen 6, Indy 0

Rapid City 5, Tulsa 3

Toledo 4, Wichita 1

Cincinnati 2, Quad City 1

Idaho 8, Utah 2

Colorado at Alaska, late

Saturday's games

Elmira at Reading, 5 p.m.

Florida at Greenville, 5 p.m.

Kalamazoo at Wheeling, 5:05 p.m.

Adirondack at Atlanta, 5:05 p.m.

Manchester at South Carolina, 5:05 p.m.

Brampton at Fort Wayne, 5:30 p.m.

Rapid City at Allen, 6:05 p.m.

Indy at Tulsa, 6:05 p.m.

Toledo at Wichita, 6:05 p.m.

Quad City at Missouri, 6:05 p.m.

Idaho at Utah, 7 p.m.

Colorado at Alaska, 9:15 p.m.