ROCHESTER, Minn. – It was like night and day for the Rochester Grizzlies. Friday night, the Grizzlies didn’t get off to the start they wanted and as a result, the Coulee Region Chill took advantage and ultimately held on to win the game. Saturday night, Rochester scored three goals in the first five minutes of the game en route to a 5-2 victory.
Team leader in goals Joey Fodstad notched his ninth of the season just 1:06 into the game. He was sprung on a partial breakaway by Michael Heitkamp and beat Chill goalie Michael Janke. The hot start would continue as just 28 seconds later Garrett Smith knocked home a rebound for his third of the season, doubling the lead to 2-0. Peyton Hart and Clayton Shultz were credited with the assists. The Grizzlies’ 2019 North American 3 Hockey League first-round pick Devin Hays scored his first as a member of the Grizzlies at 4:51 of the first. Porter Haney and Fodstad got the helpers, as that line’s strong play continued.
The Grizzlies (6-2-0-0, 12 points) would take 15:50 seconds to score in the second period. Fodstad got his second of the game and 10th of the season to increase the lead to 4-0. The Rogers, MN native is now halfway to his total number of goals from last season (20). Haney continued his strong weekend by picking up his second assist of the evening.
Rochester would actually be outscored in the third, but it would be too late for Coulee Region. Peyton Hart scored on a breakaway goal, beating Janke with a wrist shot from the bottom of the circles to make it 5-0 Rochester. Jacob Best would tally a power play goal and Mason Manglitz cut the lead to 5-2, but it would be all the Chill would get.
The third period would get a little rough, with both teams racking up the penalties. Rochester went 0/6 on the power play while the Chill went 1/6 with the man-advantage for the game.
Shane Soderwall improved his record to 4-0 in net for Rochester, stopping 26 of 28 shots he saw. The rookie from Algonquin, IL has won every start of his so far this season.
Rochester will be back in action Saturday, October 12th on the road against the Peoria Mustangs. That game is a 6:45 start time. The two teams are back at it Sunday the 13th for a 1:15 start time from Peoria. That marks the final time Rochester will travel to Peoria for the regular season.
The Grizzlies are back home Friday, October 18th against the Granite City Lumberjacks. That game will be First Responders Night, as any first responder gets free admission to the game with a valid identification. For more information, call the Grizzlies’ front office during the week at 507-722-0415.