BREEZY POINT, Minn. – In what has become a trend as of late, the Rochester Grizzlies won yet again. Perhaps a more impressive stat (if possible) is forward Vladislav Sorokin getting his third straight hat trick, this time to help lead Rochester to a 5-2 victory on the road over the Breezy Point North Stars.
The Grizzlies (7-1-0-0, 14 pts) would open the scoring with Sorokin netting his first of the night. The goal would come at the 4:37 mark of the first. Matt DeRosa would pick up the lone assist. The North Stars would answer just a little over a minute later as James Curran would tie the game at one.
The second period would yield no goals for either team despite both teams getting power play chances. Grizzlies goaltender Nick Bucklin, starting his third straight game, would only face five shots in the second period.
Rochester would pull away in the third period. Sorokin would score after a scramble in front to give the Grizzlies back the lead. Just over a minute later, Sorokin would complete the hat trick by scoring a power play goal to give Rochester a 3-1 lead.
Matt DeRosa would join in on the scoring at the 15:26 mark with Sorokin picking up an assist as well as Richard Szabo. The Grizzlies would give up a shorthanded goal before Bryar Flanders converted on a late power play for Rochester, making it 5-2.
Bucklin would stop 19 of 21 shots to earn his third straight victory. Sorokin would end with four points on the night (3 goals, 1 assist).
The Grizzlies sit alone in first place in the West Division with 14 points on the season.
Rochester and Breezy Point are back at it Saturday evening in Rochester for a 7:05 start time.