ECHL: Bulls top Grizzlies in shootout 3-2

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West Valley City • For the second straight game, the Utah Grizzlies played overtime hockey, and for the second straight night, the Grizzlies came up short.

The Grizzlies fell to the San Francisco Bulls, 3-2, in the team's first shootout of the year at the Maverik Center on Friday night.

Utah learned Friday that it would lose the ECHL's top goal scorer and points leader, as Jamie MacQueen was called up to the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL after a stellar start to the season. MacQueen was one of only two Grizzlies to find the back of the net through three regular-season games this season, leaving questions about where the team's offensive production would come from.

On Friday anyway, the production came during Utah's power-play opportunities.

The Grizz converted on their first power-play opportunity of the night at 14:42 in the first period via David Vallorani's slap shot from the right side. The goal was Vallorani's first of the season, and through four games, the talented forward has scored or assisted on all but three of the Grizzlies' goals. This is Vallorani's first season with Utah after spending last year with the Reading Royals, where he scored 17 goals and accumulated 42 assists.

After pulling even with the Grizzlies early in the second period, the Bulls were assessed a double-minor penalty for roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct, giving Utah a four-minute power-play advantage.

The Grizzlies capitalized once again.

Forward Kris Fogg netted his first goal of the season at 16:39 in the second period on a rebound from Vallorani's missed shot for Utah's second power-play goal of the night. But just when it appeared the Grizzlies had gained the upper hand, San Francisco caught their defense off guard and broke away for another game-tying goal with only eight seconds remaining in the second period.

That score held until Bulls center Ryan McDonough found the back of the net for the only score for either team in the shootout.

The Grizzlies have a week off before facing off against the Thunder in Stockton, Calif., next Friday. —

Bulls 3, Grizzlies 2 (SO)

O The Grizzlies remain perfect at home this year on penalty kills (17-for-17) through three home games.

• In a scary moment, Channing Boe takes a puck to the face as time expired in the first period. The defenseman eventually returns to the ice later in the second period.