Outliers’ Comeback Comes Up Short in 4-3 Shootout Loss to Grand Junction

PARK CITY, U.T. - Despite trailing 3-0, the Utah Outliers hockey team battled into a 4-3 shootout loss at home against the Grand Junction River Hawks on Saturday night. Grabbing a point in the extra time finish, the Outliers hold the fourth-place spot in the Mountain Division by 12 points over the Pueblo Bulls.

Utah’s head coach Richard Bohan called out a rocky start to the meeting. He said, “I thought we came out and struggled a bit in the first five minutes, but after that I thought we settled in and controlled most of the first period.”

The first and second periods provided discouragement for Bohan’s group, winding up with a 3-0 River Hawks advantage until the final moments of the middle frame. With just six seconds left on the clock, defenseman Jonas Pettersen ripped through his third goal of the season, giving him three points total over the two weekend contests.

After that, the third period trended all-Outliers with Utah clawing back and tying the game. Forwards Zachary Palik and Tyler Gudjonson both scored within the last six minutes to bring the matchup back to even.

Bohan praised his team’s resiliency in the late minutes. He said, “I thought the guys really took over the game in the third period, outshot them, really grinded them down in the [offensive] zone.”

Palik finished the weekend with three total goals. After assisting on the Arvada, C.O.-native’s snipe, Gudjonson deposited the puck into the back of the net (with just 43 seconds on the clock) for his 12th tally of the season and 49th in his N.C.D.C. career. Forward Colin Hazlett also contributed assists on Pettersen’s and Palik’s markers.

Throughout overtime and regulation, Utah dominated the aggression, outshooting Grand Junction 45-33.

Palik reappeared in the goal column in the shootout, but he was the only Outliers skater scoring to counter the pair of goals from Grand Junction’s Gavin Mears and Isaiah Yates.

The Outliers suit up again on Thursday at home against the Casper Warbirds. Fans can start the countdown to the end of the regular season with only five contests left on the schedule. Puck drop for Thursday night’s affair is set for 7:05 p.m. M.D.T.