WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah – The Utah Grizzlies scored four power play goals and Andrew Engelage shutout the Eagles in a shootout to give the Grizzlies a 5-4 win. Michael Forney scored two game-tying goals in the third period, while Aaron Schneekloth registered three points (1-2-3) in the loss.
The Grizzlies finished the first period with a 2-1 lead despite the Eagles striking first when Chad Costello found the back of the net at 13:10 of the first period after taking a drop-pass from Kyle Peto.
The Grizzlies tied it up just over a minute later, however, with their first power-play goal of the night when Bryan Cameron put home a rebound from the top of the crease. And just 61 seconds after that, Jeff LoVecchio beamed a shot past Kyle Jones on another power play.
Aaron Schneekloth tied the game back up at 14:32 of the second period — notching his second goal in as many games against the Grizzlies — getting an assist from Luka Vidmar in his first game as an Eagle.
It looked as though the game would enter the second intermission knotted at 2, but the Grizzlies struck again on the man-advantage when Justin Dowling was able to put home a loose puck with just two seconds left in the frame.
The Eagles again tied the game in the third when Forney put the puck past Engelage’s shoulder at 6:52. But the back-and-forth game continued as such when Paul McIlveen put Utah back on top, 4-3, with their fourth power-play goal of the game at 13:34.
However, Forney played hero once more at 17:47, scoring his second goal of the period to tie the game back up and force an eventual overtime.
After an overtime session that featured strong netminding and end-to-end action, the teams headed to a shootout to decide a winner. In the shootout, Engelage stopped three Eagles shooters, while three of four Utah shooters were able to beat Jones.
The two teams will meet again Saturday night at the Maverik Center as the Eagles conclude their road swing for the month. Colorado will then return to the Budweiser Events Center next weekend for a pair of games against the Bakersfield Condors.