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With the stretch run of the 2015-16 season in full swing, the Utah Grizzlies find themselves entrenched in a three-way fight for first place in the western division of the ECHL with the Idaho Steelheads, and Friday night's opponent, the Colorado Eagles. As they square off in an important four game series against their division foes, the Grizzlies couldn't have gotten off to a worse start as Colorado embarrassed the Grizzlies on home ice 6-2.
"At this point in the season these points are so important," team captain Brent Gwidt said. "But it's about how we bounce back. If we focus on playing hard for a full 60 minutes we'll be okay."
The Eagles erased any thoughts of this game being closely contested as they thoroughly dominated Utah in the second period, registering a total of three goals. Collin Bowman blistered a shot from the blue line to give Colorado a 2-1 advantage, his second goal of the night. And just six seconds into an Eagles power play, the visitors took a 3-1 lead as Curt Gogol skated his way through the Grizzlies defense and lobbed a shot past Grizzlies goalie Ryan Faragher. Then, Johnny Lazo claimed a loose puck on a Grizzlies power play and blazed down the ice shorthanded and nestled a shot for a 4-1 lead.
The Eagles continued to pour it on in the third as Jesse Mychan blazed the back of the net for a 5-1 advantage. Utah responded, albeit a little too late at 14:33, as Jon Puskar cut the deficit to 5-2.
Colorado completed the rout as Trent Daavettila scored on an empty net for the 6-2 final.
Colorado began the scoring on the evening as the Eagles were the recipients of a turnover in the Grizzlies defensive zone. Faragher was able to make one save, but not two as Bowman found the back of the net to put the visitors ahead 1-0. Utah responded with a power play goal to level the contest at 1-1.
Defenseman Shayne Taker blasted a shot from the blue line that was redirected by Ryan Hayes.
ECHL standings
EASTERN CONFERENCE
East GP W L OL SL Pts GF GA
Manchester 61 36 17 3 5 80 189 174
Adirondack 60 34 20 2 4 74 164 150
Elmira 61 32 25 3 1 68 173 179
Reading 60 29 23 5 3 66 186 166
Norfolk 59 25 30 3 1 54 170 192
North GP W L OL SL Pts GF GA
Toledo 58 38 15 2 3 81 179 138
Wheeling 58 29 23 2 4 64 177 178
Kalamazoo 58 27 26 4 1 59 180 197
Brampton 58 16 31 7 4 43 145 211
South GP W L OL SL Pts GF GA
South Carolina 60 35 18 5 2 77 184 136
Florida 59 37 20 0 2 76 175 140
Atlanta 60 29 24 5 2 65 161 186
Orlando 58 27 23 3 5 62 181 185
Greenville 59 27 25 7 0 61 170 190
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Central GP W L OL SL Pts GF GA
x-Missouri 59 46 8 3 2 97 200 127
Allen 59 34 20 3 2 73 181 167
Tulsa 58 28 25 3 2 61 150 154
Wichita 59 14 33 6 6 40 122 203
Midwest GP W L OL SL Pts GF GA
Fort Wayne 58 33 19 5 1 72 193 159
Cincinnati 58 32 20 3 3 70 180 158
Quad City 58 27 25 4 2 60 158 172
Indy 60 27 30 3 0 57 143 160
Evansville 58 23 27 6 2 54 167 196
West GP W L OL SL Pts GF GA
Idaho 61 33 21 5 2 73 172 158
Utah 61 32 24 3 2 69 188 179
Colorado 58 32 23 2 1 67 183 150
Rapid City 59 24 29 3 3 54 142 173
Alaska 59 21 31 4 3 49 156 191
Friday's games
Reading 5, Manchester 1
Greenville 3, Florida 1
Norfolk 5, Kalamazoo 2
Elmira 4, Adirondack 2
South Carolina 4, Atlanta 1
Orlando 6, Brampton 3
Toledo 2, Wheeling 1, SO
Evansville 2, Indy 1, OT
Cincinnati 3, Quad City 1
Missouri 3, Tulsa 1
Colorado 6, Utah 2
Rapid City 2, Idaho 1
Fort Wayne at Alaska, late
Saturday's games
Reading at Manchester, 5 p.m.
Florida at Greenville, 5 p.m.
Atlanta at South Carolina, 5:05 p.m.
Norfolk at Toledo, 5:15 p.m.
Quad City at Cincinnati, 5:35 p.m.
Kalamazoo at Wheeling, 5:35 p.m.
Wichita at Allen, 6:05 p.m.
Indy at Evansville, 6:15 p.m.
Colorado at Utah, 7:05 p.m.
Idaho at Rapid City, 7:05 p.m.
Fort Wayne at Alaska, 9:15 p.m.