The Utah Grizzlies scored three goals in the first period to take the lead and went on to a 7-2 victory against the Colorado Eagles on Tuesday night in Loveland, Colo., clinching the ECHL Western Conference first-round playoff series in Game 6.
Charles Sarault had two goals and an assist, four different players had a goal and assist, and Erik Higby added three assists for the Grizzlies, who won two of three games in Colorado in the series.
Ryan Faragher made 27 saves on 29 shots for Utah, which plays either Cincinnati or Fort Wayne in the second round.
Bryan Moore opened the scoring for Utah in the first period before Colorado tied the game at 1. The Grizzlies then established control with goals in the first period by Barry Almeida and Marc Cantin, whose goal made it 3-1 with 45 seconds left in the first period.
Colorado scored in the second period to cut the deficit to 3-2, but Alex Krushelnyski replied for the Grizzlies to restore a two-goal lead. Sarault then scored 1:05 into the third period for a 5-2 advantage before Matt Berry added an empty-net goal at 13:45. Sarault's second goal was at 17:21, also an empty-netter.