LOVELAND, Colo. – The Colorado Eagles picked up two key points in the standings, beating the Utah Grizzlies 4-3 at the Budweiser Events Center on Friday. Colorado scored three goals on four shots in the first period en route to the win.
Utah took advantage of two early power-play opportunities, as Forward T.J. Syner scored on the man-advantage to give the Grizzlies a 1-0 lead with15:02 to play in the first period. Just 1:06later, defenseman Connor Hardowa gave Utah a 2-0 lead, beating Eagles goaltender Clarke Saunders with a shot from the blue line.
The Eagles cut the lead to one at 2-1 when forward Kyle Ostrow wrapped the puck around the net and beat Utah goaltender Ryan Faragher on the left side at the 8:09 mark of the first period.
Colorado added two more goals late in the first to tie the game and eventually take the lead, as defenseman Adrian Veideman buried a shot from the blue line evening the game at 2-2 with 1:50 left in the opening frame. Then 52 seconds later, forward Everett Sheen scored from the circle to give Colorado the 3-2 advantage heading into first intermission.
Neither team would score in the second period, as Colorado held a 17-15 shot advantage after 40 minutes of play.
Utah picked up their third power-play tally of the game when forward Barry Almeida scored the tying goal from the low-slot at the 5:39 mark of the third to square the score at 3-3.
The Eagles answered at the 9:15 mark of the final period when rookie forward Tyler Fiddler scored his first professional  goal, stuffing home his own rebound near the post to give Colorado the 4-3 lead. Utah pulled Faragher late in the game in favor of the extra attacker, but Fiddler’s goal would remain the deciding factor in Colorado’s 4-3 victory.
The Eagles and Grizzlies will face off again Saturday night at the Budweiser Events Center for the annual “Pot of Gold” game. Action starts at 7:05 PM MST.
With Colorado Eagles release
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