ROCHESTER, MN – The defensive effort was strong for the Rochester Grizzlies this weekend. Saturday night saw the home team hold the visiting Milwaukee Power to just 16 shots on net as the Grizzlies came away with a 3-1 victory. With the win, the Grizzlies ended their eight-game homestand with a 7-1 record.
Rochester came out strong in the first period, maintaining pressure for most of the period and racking up the shots. Eventually, Luke Nemeth found the back of the net at 16:23 of the first with his second goal of the year. The Grizzlies maintained zone time for an extended period before Nemeth beat Spencer Northway from in close.
The second period saw Rochester come out strong as Justin Wright found just enough space high over the glove to rifle the puck past Northway for his seventh of the year. The second Grizzlies goal came at 1:06 of the second period. Just over three minutes later Cole Gibson finished off a give-and-go with Matthew Shaw for his third of the year to make it 3-0 Rochester. Noah Hope got Milwaukee on the board at 10:01 of the second period, drawing the game closer by making it 3-1.
Rochester would shut Milwaukee down the rest of the way including holding the visitors to just two shots on net in the third period. Overall, Rochester tallied 59 shots on net while Lucas Henderson, making his second straight start since coming back from injury, stopped 15 of 16 Power shots.
The Grizzlies are now 18-1-0 and still in first place in the Central Division. They’re back on the road next weekend for two games against division rival Wausau Cyclones and will be back home Dec. 10 against the Mason City Toros