NEW ULM, Minn. – After a solid win yesterday on the road over Willmar, the Rochester Grizzlies ended the weekend on a down note. The Grizzlies fell to the New Ulm Steel on the road, 6-5, in what was a back-and-forth contest for most of the game.
Rochester started the game strong, spending substantial time in the Steel’s zone, but could not put one past goalie Henry Baribeau. New Ulm would open the scoring first as Jacob Halvorson beat Grizzlies goalie Nick Bucklin on a 2-on-1. The Steel would string together two more goals in less than four minutes, getting out to a 3-0 lead. Jack Parks and Keegan Bauman would get the tallies, with Bauman’s goal ending Bucklin’s night in net for the Grizzlies. He would be replaced by Liam Kelly.
The Grizzlies would storm back with two of their own coming late in the first period. Peyton Hart scored a power play goal at 17:49 of the first, redirecting in a point shot from Colin Mehren. Just a little over a minute later, Joey Fodstad cut the lead to one with his 14th goal of the season.
The second period proved to be different for both teams, as only one goal would be scored. New Ulm’s Michael Savelkoul scored from a bad angle halfway through the period to extend the lead to 4-2. This period would prove to be much more physical, as Grizzlies’ defenseman Seth Bacon and Steel defenseman Bayler Kraus were given matching head contact majors and game misconducts.
Matt DeRosa gave some life to the Grizzlies, albeit brief, just 4:21 into the third to cut the lead to 4-3. The score would last only 37 seconds as Carson Sandwick gave the Steel the two goal lead once again. Each team would trade goals for the rest of the period. Hart scored his second of the game after a nice passing play to convert a power play goal for Rochester at 6:27. Parks added his second of the game at 9:38 for New Ulm, which would prove to be the game-winner. Fodstad added an unassisted goal for Rochester at 18:30 of the third.
The Grizzlies were unable to convert with the extra man after Fodstad’s goal. The Grizzlies would tally 38 shots on goal compared to just 27 for the Steel. With the loss, Rochester is now 25-12-0-0 on the season and still sit in second place in the West Division, one point up on North Iowa. The Bulls lost to the Alexandria Blizzard Saturday night. Both teams are chasing the Granite City Lumberjacks, who defeated the Breezy Point North Stars Saturday.
Rochester is back in action next Saturday on the road taking on the New Ulm Steel yet again. That game is a 7:10pm start time and can be found on Hockey TV.