IHL: Grizzlies Capitalize on Second Period Scoring Smorgasbord to Edge Orlando

THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, Saturday, March 18, 2000

    The Utah Grizzlies scored three goals every possible way in a 5 1/2-minute stretch of the second period Friday night and beat Orlando 3-2 at the O-Rena in Orlando, Fla.
    John Purves' power-play goal, Taj Nelson's even-strength goal and Micah Aivazoff's short-handed goal gave the Grizzlies a 3-0. They withstood Orlando's two goals early in the third period.
    The Solar Bears dominated the final period with 14 shots on goal to the Grizzlies' two, but new goalie Rick Tabaracci was equal to the challenge. Tabaracci came from on Thursday as part of the three-team, nine-player transaction just before the IHL trade deadline.
    The Grizzlies fired only 18 shots on goal in the game, so converting on three attempts was fairly remarkable.
    Utah remains five points behind Chicago, a 4-3 shootout winner over Kansas City on Friday, in the Western Conference standings. The Grizzlies and Solar Bears will meet again tonight, then the Grizzlies visit Long Beach on Wednesday.

ORLANDO, Florida (Ticker) -- Micah Aivazoff's shorthanded tally capped a three-goal second period as the Utah Grizzlies held on for a 3-2 victory over the Orlando Solar Bears. John Purves and Taj Melson tallied two minutes apart to open the scoring for the Grizzies, who improved to 32-2-3 when leading after two periods. Rick Tabaracci stopped 29 shots, including 12 in the third period, in his Utah debut. Herbert Vasiljevs and Shawn Carter tallied in the third for the Solar Bears, who have lost four of their last five games.

Grizzlies Can't Complete Sweep of Solar Bears

SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, March 19, 2000

    The Utah Grizzlies scored more often in Orlando this weekend when they took fewer shots.
    The Grizzlies lost 4-1 to the Orlando Solar Bears on Saturday night, while launching 28 shots -- including 26 in the last two periods. Utah had managed only 18 shots in Friday's 3-2 victory.
    John Purves scored the Grizzlies' only goal -- his 29th of the season -- early in the second period. The Grizzlies stayed within 2-1 until the final three minutes of the game, when the Solar Bears scored twice, including an empty-net goal.
    Thanks to Chicago's 5-3 loss to Kansas City, the Grizzlies remain only five points behind the first-place Wolves in the IHL Western Conference. Utah plays Wednesday at Long Beach, then returns home to play the Ice Dogs again Friday.
    Rick Tabaracci, Utah's new goalie, settled down after allowing two first-period goals. He had given up two goals in Friday's third period. Tabaracci then kept Orlando off the scoreboard for 43 minutes until Herbert Vasiljevs scored the clincher for the Solar Bears.
   
   Solar Bears 4, Grizzlies 1
   Utah 0 1 0--1
   Orlando 2 0 2 -- 4
    First Period -- 1, Orlando, Snyder 9 (Shuchuk), 5:45 pp. 2, Orlando, Beaufait 22 (unassisted), 14:04. Penalties -- Hiller, Utah (tripping, 3:29); Kos, Utah (elbowing), 5:00; Vasiljevs, Orlando (obstruction-tripping), 14:19; Ricci, Orlando (obstruction-hooking), 19:12.
    Second Period --3, Utah, Purves 29 (Brady, Kruse), 3:31. Penalties -- Archibald, Utah (holding), 9:30; Kos, Utah (holding), 12:58; Vyshedkevich, Orlando (boarding), 13:13; Beaufait, Orlando (obstruction-holding), 15:33; Tallaire, Utah (unsportsmanlike conduct), 15:33.
    Third Period -- 4, Orlando, Vasiljevs 20 (Clark), 17:05. 5, Orlando, Snyder 10 (Carter), 18:15 eng. Penalties -- Skalde, Utah (high-sticking), 9:43; Ricci, Orlando (slashing), 15:54; Kruse, Utah (roughing), 15:54; Shuchuk, Orlando (obstruction-tripping), 17:54.
    Shots on goal -- Utah - 2-11-15 - 28. Orlando - 11-5-8 - 24.
    Power-play opportunities -- Utah 0 of 4; Orlando 1 of 5.
    Goalies -- Utah, Tabaracci (23 shots, 20 saves). Orlando, Shulmistra (28 shots, 27 saves). A-10,123. Referee -- Matt Dunne. Linesmen -- Russ Johnson, Shawn Carlson.

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