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Colorado Eagles

Jaeger Stops 41 of 42 in Brahmas Win

February 6, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas - The Colorado Eagles lost to the Texas Brahmas 4-1 in a match-up between two of the best teams -- with two of the best goaltenders -- in the CHL. Texas netminder Brett Jaeger stopped 41 shots to best Colorado's Andrew Penner who lost his first regulation game since November 1, 2008. The win -- along with Odessa's loss -- made the Brahmas the top team in the Southern Conference, and handed the Eagles their first back-to-back losses of the season.

In a fast-flowing first period, it was the Brahmas who tallied the only goal -- on their third of four opening period power play chances -- to take a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes of play. Just half a minute after Jaeger stopped a shorthanded chance between Greg Pankewicz and Ed McGrane, Travis Banga circled below the Colorado net and found Jordan Cameron in the right circle for a power-play blast past Penner.

The second period was as tightly contested as one would expect between two conference powers, but it was a tale of two halves as the Brahmas owned momentum for the first portion of the period. Through nine minutes of play, Texas had an 8-1 advantage of shots, but the Eagles would go on to post a 14-1 margin over the next 11 minutes (for a 15-9 edge in the period).

Helping the Eagles to that shot advantage were four power play chances, but their struggling unit continued to go goal-less, dropping their conversion rate to under 10 percent over the past nine games and 40 minutes.

Jay Birnie, taking the ejected Fraser Filipic's spot on Colorado's third line, got the Eagles' only goal of the game 2:43 into the third when he wrapped the puck past Jaeger from in front for his first goal of the season (not including the All-Star Game). But the Brahmas answered just 24 seconds later to take back the lead they wouldn't relinquish when Matt Burto scored after being left alone in front of Penner.

Then at 14:27, Matt Quinn sent a puck toward the Colorado cage from the left circle and Greg McConnell deflected it past the Eagles' goalie from the back door. Jason Deitsch closed out the scoring with another quick strike 69 second later.

The Eagles will finish their tough three-game road trip Saturday night in Oklahoma City.

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