NEW ULM, Minn. – The Rochester Grizzlies continued their hot streak, defeating the New Ulm Steel 5-1 on the road Saturday. With the win, the Grizzlies bumped their win streak to 10, which is good for the second longest win streak in the league (the Helena Bighorns are riding a 12 game win streak).
While the Grizzlies (10-1-0-0) had some lapses in yesterday’s game against New Ulm which led to the Steel keeping it close, today’s game was not the case.
Rochester took the lead at the 15:30 mark of the first as Richard Szabo would score his ninth goal of the year. Vladislav Sorokin would get the lone assist. The Steel would come back just over a minute later, with Sam Ayd tying the game at one. The Grizzlies would get a power play goal with 22 seconds left in the first as Kory Potach would score his first of the season. This was Potach’s first game since the season opener as he missed the last nine games with a lower-body injury.
The Grizzlies would be put to the test in the second period, picking up three minor penalties. New Ulm would not be able to tie the game on any of those chances. Sorokin scored his team leading 13th goal at the 17:43 mark, giving Rochester a 3-1 lead.
The game would be put out of reach in the third as Szabo would get his second of the game at 9:20 of the third. Joey Fodstad would continue his strong play of late, adding a power play goal at 14:28 of the third, sealing it for the Grizzlies.
Liam Kelly was given the start in net and played strong, stopping 27 of 28 shots to pick up his second win of the season.
Rochester is back in action Friday on the road against the Alexandria Blizzard. This is the first meeting between the teams this season. The two will be in Rochester next Saturday, as well. That game is a 7:05 puck drop from the Rochester Rec Center.