
Grizzlies Advance with 7-2 Win in Colorado
Published on April 27, 2016 under ECHL (ECHL)
Utah Grizzlies News Release
Loveland, Colorado - The Utah Grizzlies defeated the Colorado Eagles 7-2 Tuesday night at Budweiser Events Center to win the first round best-of-seven series four games to two.
Utah will await the winner of game 7 Wednesday night between Fort Wayne and Cincinnati. The schedule for the second round, which will open this weekend on the road, will be announced at the conclusion of that game.
Grizzlies goaltender Ryan Faragher stopped 27 of 29 shots for the win as the opportunistic Grizzlies scored seven goals on 18 shots, including two empty-netters late.
"It was a good game by everyone," said forward Erik Higby. "Faragher shut the door, we were able to capitalize on our chances and it was a good game all around."
Utah got the scoring started 3:54 into the contest as Charlie Sarault won a neutral zone face-off and Erik Higby fed Bryan Moore for the goal from the right circle. Colorado tied the game less than two minutes later before the Grizzlies would take over and never look back.
"We talked before the game about treating this like a game seven," said Higby. "We didn't want to play in the actual game seven tomorrow, we just wanted to end it and look forward to a day off and seeing who we play in the next series."
Barry Almeida made it 2-1, at 13:45 of the first period, with his second of the series as he threw in a puck from behind the net after Ryan Hayes picked up a turnover. Utah made it 3-1 with 45 seconds left in the first period after Jon Puskar won a face-off and then a battle before setting up a screen for Marc Cantin who blasted the puck home.
Colorado made it 3-2 with a second period power-play goal before the Grizzlies quickly got their two-goal lead back as Cantin fed a streaking Alex Krushelnyski to make it 4-2.
Utah got their first three-goal lead of the night as Bryan Moore fed Sarault on a two-on-one and he buried the shot into an open net. Higby picked up the second of his three assists on the play.
Matt Berry and Sarault added empty-netters going down the stretch to seal the win.
Cantin (one goal, one assist), Moore (one goal, one assist), Sarault (two goals, one assist), Krushelnyski (one goal, one assist) and Berry (one goal, one assist) joined Higby (three assists) with multiple-point games.
Best-Of-Seven Series: Utah Wins 4-2
Game 1: Thursday, April 14: Utah 3 Colorado 2
Game 2: Sunday, April 17: Colorado 5 Utah 4 (3 OT)
Game 3: Thursday, April 21: Utah 3 Colorado 2
Game 4: Saturday, April 23: Utah 7 Colorado 2
Game 5: Sunday, April 24: Colorado 5 Utah 2
Game 6: Tuesday, April 26: Utah 7 Colorado 2
On The Radio
All games are broadcast live on 1320 KFAN/.com/app and ECHL TV.
The Grizzlies Minute has the latest news of the day every day at 5:20 p.m. during "Gunther and Ben in the Afternoon" on 1320 KFAN.
Head Coach Tim Branham makes his weekly appearance on 1320 KFAN every Friday at 9:05 a.m. with Tim Lewis and The Morning Huddle
"Voice of the Grizzlies" Adrian Denny joins Gunther and Ben every Friday at 3:30 p.m. during the "Wasatch Whiparound"
ECHL Stories from April 27, 2016
- Steelheads' Season Ends in OT - Idaho Steelheads
- Cyclones Season Comes to a Close Following Game Seven Loss - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Grizzlies to Play Fort Wayne in Second Round of Playoffs - Utah Grizzlies
- Civic Center And Rush To Hold Hockeyville Watch Party - Rapid City Rush
- Stingrays Open Eastern Conference Semifinals at Home this Weekend - South Carolina Stingrays
- Game 7 Tonight in Allen - Allen Americans
- ECHL Transactions - April 27 - ECHL
- Traveling to South Carolina - Adirondack Thunder
- 31 Days of Thunder Starts this Sunday - Wichita Thunder
- Cyclones Playoff Game Notes: WQF Game 7 vs Ft. Wayne - Cincinnati Cyclones
- ECHL Today - April 27 - ECHL
- Grizzlies Advance with 7-2 Win in Colorado - Utah Grizzlies
- Royals Announce Playoff Schedule for Second Round against Wheeling - Reading Royals
- Utah Wins Series with 7-2 Victory over Eagles in Game Six - Colorado Eagles
- Steelheads Fall as Allen Forces Game 7 - Idaho Steelheads
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
