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For those who have been wondering where the Utah Grizzlies — the team that was once the class of the ECHL — have been, search no longer. They showed up Tuesday night.

With a three-goal flurry in only four minutes, Utah seized control of its playoff opener early and finished with a 5-2 upset win over the Stockton Thunder at Maverik Center. If the game is truly a sign of things to come, forget winning the best-of-five first round series: The Grizzlies could go deep into the ECHL postseason.

"From our team meetings all the way into the game, our guys were focused," coach Kevin Colley said. "We played some passionate hockey tonight."

Gone was the team that lost 17 of its last 22 games in the regular season. In its playoff opener, Utah showed its offense could truly be explosive — something it hasn't been in months. The game started out as most have recently: Stockton managed to score first. But only 13 minutes in the game, center Kevin Deeth kicked off Utah's scoring with a shot in the corner to tie the game up. Less than two minutes later, captain Simon Ferguson converted another goal, giving the Grizzlies their first lead. Two minutes after that, Matt Reber slapped in the team's first power play score in eight games.

"They started off real hot, but we just kept playing hard and seized momentum," said Reber, who finished with a goal and an assist in only his second game in a Grizzlies uniform. "I think it's in our own hands how far we go."

A second-period goal helped reclaim some steam for the Thunder. But Brett Parnham added a power play goal and Ferguson scored on an empty net for insurance.

Only 2,167 fans attended the playoff game, one of the worst turnouts of the season. But if the Grizzlies keep playing the way they did in Game 1, there's a good chance there will be a few more games to see at Maverik Center.

"I guess if we come out the same way tomorrow, which I expect we will, it will prove this isn't a fluke," Deeth said. "I don't think we're far off from the team we were. If we keep playing with energy, we'll get there." —

Highlights

R The Grizzlies score five goals for the first time since March 5.

• Simon Ferguson notches 2 goals and 2 assists.