Incredible Comeback Pushes Eagles to 6-5 Overtime Win
April 22, 2017 - ECHL (ECHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release
Game Recap --- Incredible Comeback Pushes Eagles to 6-5 Overtime Win
(Colorado Eagles)
BOISE, ID. - The Colorado Eagles scored three goals in the final 2:28 of regulation to erase a three-goal deficit and force overtime, with forward Alex Belzile notching the game-winner just 41 seconds into the extra session. The win gives Colorado a 3-1 series lead, with Game Five set for Saturday night in Boise. Belzile and defenseman Matt Register each collected two collects and three assists in the winning effort.
Steelheads forward Anthony Luciani put Idaho on top in the first period, as he tracked down a bouncing puck between the circles and snapped it past Eagles goalie Lukas Hafner to give the Steelheads the 1-0 edge with just 5:47 remaining in the opening frame. Idaho would put 15 shots on net in the first 20 minutes of the contest, while holding Colorado to just five shots on goal.
The Steelheads would quickly grow their lead to start the second period when defenseman Aaron Harstad fired a slapshot from the top of the circle on the power play just 31 seconds into the period to give Idaho the 2-0 advantage.
Just minutes later, Harstad would step into a one-timer from the left circle and light the lamp to give the Steelheads the 3-0 lead with only 4:21 gone in the middle frame.
It would only take 48 seconds for Idaho to expand its lead to 4-0, as Luciani found himself on a breakaway and took advantage with a wrister to give him his second goal of the contest.
Colorado would use its timeout and the move would generate some success for the Eagles, as Register beat Steelheads goalie Landon Bow with a slapshot on a 5-on-3 power play to cut Idaho's lead to 4-1 at the 9:43 mark of the second period.
The Eagles would slice the deficit even further when forward Matt Garbowsky launched a slapshot from the bottom of the circle into the back of the net, trimming the Steelheads advantage to 4-2 with 5:46 remaining in the second stanza.
Idaho would respond quickly, as forward Andre Bouvet-Morrissette capitalized on a breakway for his first goal of the playoffs to put the Steelheads back up 5-2 with just 4:27 to play in the second period.
The Eagles would summon the dramatics late in the third period to kick-off their rally, as forward Julien Nantel deflected a shot in the crease past Bow, pulling the Eagles within a pair with 2:28 remaining in regulation.
Just 29 seconds later and with Hafner pulled in favor of the extra attacker, Belzile would fire a shot from the left circle that would elude the grip of Bow and trim the Steelheads advantage to 5-4 with 1:59 still to play in the final frame.
Colorado would complete the comeback with just nine seconds remaining and the Eagles net still vacant, as Register would unfurl a slapshot from the blue line that would find the back of the net and tie the game at 5-5, forcing sudden-death overtime.
With only 41 seconds off the clock in OT, Belzile would win a battle for a loose puck in the corner and lift a wrist shot over the shoulder of Bow to give Colorado the 6-5 victory. The Eagles finished the night going 1-for-5 on the power play, while Idaho made good on one of its four opportunities on the man-advantage.
The Eagles return to action when they face the Idaho Steelheads in Game Five of the ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs on Saturday, April 22nd at 7:10pm.
Tickets for the 2017 Kelly Cup Playoffs are on sale now and can be purchased by calling the Eagles ticket office at 970-686-SHOT (7468) or purchase online at www.ColoradoEagles.com.
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 Game Recap --- Incredible Comeback Pushes Eagles to 6-5 Overtime Win |
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