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West Valley City • For the first time this season the Utah Grizzlies were televised on KMYU and whether you were in attendance or watching at home, the Grizzlies didn't disappoint, routing their division rival Colorado Eagles, 4-0 on Friday night.
The Grizzlies have been gathering steam at home in recent weeks and posted their sixth straight win at the Maverik Center, securing their standing atop the Western Division of the ECHL.
The Grizzlies have been notorious this season for saving their best period for last. This time, however, it was the second period when the Grizzlies shined the brightest, tallying three goals in the period to seal Colorado's fate.
At 2:02, defenseman Jason Binkley scored his first goal of the season on a wraparound, and it began raining teddy bears in the Maverik Center, literally.
As part of the holiday season, fans tossed a variety of plush toys onto the ice by the dozens to benefit children in need.
Six minutes later, TJ Syner gathered an awkward bouncing puck but was able to direct it past the pads of former Grizzlies and now Eagles goalie Eric Levine for a two-goal lead.
Weaving his way into the Colorado zone, Erik Higby deposited the puck into the back of the net at 11:57 to finalize the frenzy.
Following a three-week stint playing for the Anaheim Ducks' AHL affiliate in San Diego, goalie Ryan Faragher returned to don a Grizzlies uniform. Although Utah's netminder wasn't tested often, he stopped all 21 shots faced for his second shutout this season.
With the outcome already well decided and just three minutes remaining in the third, Ryan Walters fired a shot into an empty net to end the onslaught.
The Grizzlies stymied the Eagles defensively all night, including allowing a meager three shots on goal in the first period. —
ECHL standings
EASTERN CONFERENCE
East Division
GP W L OL SL Pts GF GA
Manchester 28 18 9 0 1 37 87 77
Elmira 27 18 9 0 0 36 87 77
Adirondack 22 16 4 1 1 34 73 51
Reading 26 12 11 1 2 27 82 75
Norfolk 28 9 18 0 1 19 77 100
North Division
GP W L OL SL Pts GF GA
Toledo 25 14 7 1 3 32 75 66
Wheeling 26 14 9 1 2 31 79 74
Kalamazoo 27 10 14 2 1 23 64 85
Brampton 25 8 14 2 1 19 66 84
South Division
GP W L OL SL Pts GF GA
Florida 29 20 9 0 0 40 95 61
South Carolina 27 15 9 2 1 33 70 56
Atlanta 25 15 9 1 0 31 73 82
Orlando 24 10 9 2 3 25 76 77
Greenville 26 11 12 3 0 25 77 92
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Central Division
GP W L OL SL Pts GF GA
Missouri 24 20 3 0 1 41 82 42
Allen 26 15 10 1 0 31 80 78
Tulsa 23 10 10 2 1 23 62 58
Wichita 25 7 17 0 1 15 48 80
Midwest Division
GP W L OL SL Pts GF GA
Quad City 26 14 9 1 2 31 70 71
Cincinnati 23 12 7 2 2 28 72 62
Fort Wayne 22 11 10 1 0 23 66 69
Evansville 25 10 13 2 0 22 74 89
Indy 26 10 14 2 0 22 60 75
West Division
GP W L OL SL Pts GF GA
Utah 25 15 8 2 0 32 85 74
Rapid City 22 12 8 1 1 26 63 61
Colorado 27 12 13 2 0 26 70 67
Idaho 29 11 14 4 0 26 81 92
Alaska 26 8 15 1 2 19 67 86
NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss.
Friday's games
Elmira 5, Reading 2
Atlanta 3, Kalamazoo 1
Florida 2, South Carolina 1, OT
Adirondack 5, Norfolk 3
Manchester 5, Fort Wayne 3
Missouri 5, Cincinnati 2
Wichita 3, Tulsa 2, OT
Wheeling 4, Quad City 1
Evansville 2, Indy 1
Utah 4, Colorado 0
Idaho 6, Allen 3
Rapid City at Alaska, late
Saturday's games
Atlanta at Kalamazoo, 5 p.m.
Elmira at Reading, 5 p.m.
Orlando at Greenville, 5 p.m.
Florida at South Carolina, 5:05 p.m.
Manchester at Toledo, 5:15 p.m.
Adirondack at Norfolk, 5:15 p.m.
Brampton at Fort Wayne, 5:30 p.m.
Wichita at Tulsa, 6:05 p.m.
Cincinnati at Missouri, 6:05 p.m.
Wheeling at Quad City, 6:05 p.m.
Indy at Evansville, 6:15 p.m.
Colorado at Utah, 7:05 p.m.
Allen at Idaho, 7:10 p.m.
Rapid City at Alaska, 9:15 p.m.