ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — His given name is Joseph, but you can call him “Clutch.”
Rookie defenceman Joseph Duszak scored the game-winner 1:37 into overtime as the Newfoundland Growlers downed the Utah Grizzlies 4-3 in ECHL play Wednesday night in West Valley City, just outside Salt Lake City.
Duszak’s deciding marker came when he took advantage of former Growlers netminder Brad Barone, who was caught mishandling the puck; Barone prepared to leave the puck for a teammate behind the net, but Duszak stole it and banked a shot off the goalie for the winner.
🚨OVERTIME GOAL🚨
— Newfoundland Growlers (@NLGrowlers) December 12, 2019
JOSEPH DUSZAK gets an assist from BRAD BARONE and this one is a GROWLERS WIN!#StandOnGuard pic.twitter.com/gEpXw6LYWl
The result extended Newfoundland’s winning streak to six games.
Wednesday’s contest was the first of three straight matchups between the Growlers (18-8-0) and Grizzlies, who play again at the Maverik Center Friday and Saturday.
Duszak has scored six times this season and five of them have been game-winners, the last two coming in OT. In all, he has 24 points, more than any other rookie in the league, and is tied for first place in scoring by ECHL defencemen.
Two of the league’s hottest scorers were among the other goal-getters for Newfoundland on Wednesday. Giorgio Estephan extended his point streak to 11 games — the longest current streak in the ECHL — with his 11th goal of the 2019-20 campaign, while Marcus Power now has six goals in his last six games after getting the Growlers on the board in the first period. And Newfoundland defenceman Evan Neugold hasn’t been a slouch as of late, with 10 points (5G, 5A) in his last nine games, including a tally on Wednesday.
Fellow rearguard Michael Kapla added two assists from the winners, who got 26 saves from goaltender Maksim Zhukov.
Griffen Molino, who played 10 games for the Growlers last season, had a goal and an assist for Utah, while Tim McGauley and Joe Wegwerth also scored for the home side.
Barone, who appeared in three games for Newfoundland last season, had 21 saves.
DOG BITES
Defenceman Sergei Sapego and forward Reid Jackman both were activated off injured reserve before Wednesday’s game and both were in the Newfoundland lineup Wednesday. It was Sapego’s first game since Nov. 1 and Jackman’s first since Nov. 2 … Attendance Wednesday was just under 2,800 ... The three stars were 1. Duszak, 2. Molino, 3. McGauley
Twitter: @telybrendan