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The Grizzlies have found postseason life to be a bit more treacherous as they've begun their second round series against the second seed Fort Wayne Komets.

Although Utah was tied or within a goal as it entered the third period in Games 1 and 2 at Fort Wayne over the weekend, the club was unable to get over the hump in either contest. Facing an 0-2 deficit as they return home to the Maverik Center for the next three games, the question is: Can the Grizzlies bounce back??

"We've come out flat in both games, we haven't played anywhere near our best hockey and yet the games have been close," Grizzlies coach Tim Branham said. "We need to concentrate more on the defensive end and keep the puck out of our zone. Offensively, they have a lot of firepower and we need to do a better job shutting them down."

Though in a rather significant hole in the best of seven series, not all has been doom and gloom for Utah. The offense has been mostly stellar. The Grizzlies are leading the ECHL with a 4.13 goals per game average in postseason play. Fort Wayne is second with a 3.78 per game average,

Leading the charge for the Grizzlies in the playoffs have been forwards Charles Sarault, Ryan Hayes, and Barry Almeida. Sarault is leading the league in playoff goals with seven; Hayes has a six game scoring streak with three goals and eight assists; Almeida has five goals and six assists. Utah will need to keep that offensive momentum going as the series shifts to West Valley City.

Goaltenders Ryan Faragher and Mark Owuya have been platooning the position, but Faragher was recently recalled to Anaheim's AHL affiliate in San Diego. The task of stopping the Komets shots on goal now rests squarely on the shoulders of Owuya. In limited time this year, Owuya has been very good at home, garnering a 4-1-0-1 record.

Utah will be looking to get out of the gates more quickly. Five of the 11 goals the Grizzlies gave up in Games 1 and 2 came in the first period. The Grizzlies recovered in both games, outscoring the Komets 7-6 in the final two periods. But the early holes have been too big to dig out of.

"We need to focus more on playing team defense which will translate into offense," Almeida said. "We have the talent to get back into this series and there isn't any panic in the locker room. We have the best fans in the ECHL and we're confident in our building. We know that if we focus on taking it one game at a time, good things will happen." —

Grizzlies vs. Komets

Schedule for Utah-Fort Wayne best of seven playoff series (times MDT)

April 29 • Fort Wayne 6, Utah 4

April 30 • at Fort Wayne 5, Utah 3

Wednesday • at Utah, 7 p.m.

Friday • at Utah, 7:30 p.m.

x-Saturday • at Utah, 7:30 p.m.

x-May 10 • at Fort Wayne, 5:30 p.m.

x-May 11 • at Fort Wayne, 5:30 p.m.

x-if necessary