Utah Grizzlies rout Rapid City Rush 5-1 at home

West Valley City • The Utah Grizzlies haven't quite been themselves in recent weeks. Gone is their 12 week stranglehold atop the standings in the Western Division of the ECHL. And the club has lost four consecutive games for the first time this season.

However, the team has a 16-4-1 record against opponents with a sub .500 record.

Inviting the last place Rapid City Rush to the Maverik Center, then, was just what the doctor ordered. Behind a prolific offensive assault and the stellar goalkeeping of Ryan Faragher, Utah released some pent up frustrations, embarrassing the opposition to the tune of 5-1.

"We were able to move the puck around a lot tonight and we won the special teams battle, which was huge," head coach Tim Branham said. "Our penalty kill was strong and we needed this one. We gained some confidence today."

With only 2:51 of hockey played, Rush goaltender Sam Marotta emerged from behind his net to play a puck and it turns out he shouldn't have.

Grizzlies forward TJ Syner battled with the keeper and rescued the puck, fired it in front of the net to Erik Higby, who promptly deposited it into the exposed mesh for a 1-0 lead. As it turned out, the rout was just beginning.

"We came together as a team tonight," forward Ryan Walters said. "We've been in a bit of a slump, especially a scoring slump. "We're battling for first place right now and this was a game we needed."

Alex Krushelnyski made a gorgeous cross-ice pass to Ryan Hayes who scored his first goal this season for the Grizzlies and the home team ended the period with a comfy two goal advantage.

In the second, public address announcer Chris Haggin hadn't even completed his high-volumed announcement of a Grizzlies power play when Ryan Walters got in on the action scoring a mere 8 seconds in.

Following two Grizzlies goals by Walters and team captain Brent Gwidt just nine seconds apart in the third, bedlam erupted. Several fights ensued and a bevy of 14 penalties were handed out between the teams. Mikhail Stefanovich scored the lone Rapid City goal, spoiling the shutout.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Young hockey fans cheer at the Grizzlies gameMonday, February 15, 2016. The Grizzlies had a huge crowd today in their afternoon holiday game.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Young hockey fans cheer at the Grizzlies game, hoping to get one of the T-shits, that were being tossed into the crowd, Monday, February 15, 2016. The Grizzlies drew a huge crowd in their afternoon holiday game today.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Young hockey fans try to snag one of the dollar bills that was a dropped from the rafters into the crowd, during a beak in the action, Monday, February 15, 2016. The Grizzlies drew a huge crowd in their afternoon holiday game today.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Betty, Mary, Stanley and Henry, cheer at the Grizzlies game, hoping to get one of the T-shits, that were being tossed into the crowd, Monday, February 15, 2016. The Grizzlies drew a huge crowd in their afternoon holiday game today.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Monday, February 15, 2016.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Cash Mower 9, holds his hockey stick high in the air, hoping to get the attention of man shooting T-shirts into the crowd, at the Grizzlies game, Monday, February 15, 2016. The Grizzlies drew a huge crowd in their afternoon holiday game today.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Linesman Official, Andrew Collins, gets caught in the middle, as James Melindy (42), Rapid City Rush fights Utah Grizzlie, T.J. Syner (17) in hockey action Utah Grizzlies vs. The Rapid City Rush, Monday, February 15, 2016.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Monday, February 15, 2016.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Cody Ferriero (19) Rapid City Rush, collides with Utah Grizzlie, Marc Cantin (12) in hockey action Utah Grizzlies vs. The Rapid City Rush, Monday, February 15, 2016.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Alex Krushelynski (27) brings the puck down, in hockey action Utah Grizzlies vs. The Rapid City Rush, Monday, February 15, 2016.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Tim Daly (5) brings the puck down, in hockey action Utah Grizzlies vs. The Rapid City Rush, Monday, February 15, 2016.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Young hockey fans cheer at the Grizzlies game, hoping to get one of the t-shits, that were being tossed into the crowd, Monday, February 15, 2016. The Grizzlies had a huge crowd today in their afternoon holiday game.

Utah Grizzlies rout Rapid City Rush 5-1 at home

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