ROCHESTER, Minn. – It’s good being on top. The Rochester Grizzlies continued their winning ways with a big 4-0 win Saturday evening over the Oregon Tradesmen. The win now marks eight in a row for Rochester and is the team’s longest win streak since the 18-19 season when it strung 10 wins in a row.
Much like Friday, the home team opened the scoring. Garrett Smith scored his second of the season after getting to a rebound and knocking past Tradesmen goalie Hunter Adams. Sam Williams and Kyle Brown assisted on Smith’s goal, coming at the six minute mark of the first period. Rochester would go on to put up 16 shots on net compared to nine for Oregon.
The second period saw the Grizzlies blow the game wide open with three goals. Rochester, MN, native Dylan Schneider tallied his fifth goal of the season at 3:04 of the second period, beating Adams top shelf. Joey Fodstad would convert on a penalty shot for his first goal of the season at the 9:48 mark. The Grizzlies were on the power play when Fodstad was tripped on the way to the net, allowing him the penalty shot. His first goal of the season would count as a power play tally for Rochester. With 2:18 to go in the second, newcomer Cole Gibson tallied his second goal in as many games after banging home a rebound past Adams. Fodstad picked up his second point of the night with an assist, while Teejay Torgrimson picked up the secondary assist.
Rochester wouldn’t find the back of the net in the third period, despite carrying the play. The Grizzlies held the Tradesmen to just five shots on net through the final two periods, while putting up 42 on Adams. Zach Foster picked up his first career North American 3 Hockey League shutout by stopping the 14 shots on net he saw.
With the win, the Grizzlies now move up to 8-0-0-0, good for 16 points on the young season. Rochester is now six points clear of second place Oregon in the Central Division.
The Grizzlies are back home next weekend for games against the Peoria Mustangs Friday and Saturday. Puck drop for both contests is 7:05 PM. For ticket information, click on the single game tickets tab on the Grizzlies website, or email Austin Balko at abalko@rochestergrizz.com.