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CHL Colorado Eagles

Back-To-Back Shutouts at the BEC

March 16, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


LOVELAND, Colo. - In the regular season finale at the Budweiser Events Center -- Fan Appreciation Night -- the Colorado Eagles treated the best fans in the Central Hockey League to a 3-0 blanking of the Oklahoma City Blazers. The shutout marked the first time in franchise history that the Eagles have posted back-to-back shutouts at home; Andrew Penner stopped 35 of 35 shots a night after Morgan Cey stopped 39 of 39.

The Eagles and Blazers played a fairly even first period, with Colorado having a slight 14-13 edge in shots, and both clubs getting two power play chances. The difference after 20 minutes of play was that the Eagles scored on one of their two man-advantage opportunities. Ryan Tobler added to his league-leading power-play goal total at 9:01 when he snapped a shot over Doug Groenestege's shoulder from the top of the right faceoff circle.

The Blazers' doubled up the Eagles in shots in the second period, 16-8, but it was Colorado who scored the period's lone goal to take a 2-0 lead into the third period. Adam Hogg tallied his first goal since Feb. 24 when he used a burst of speed from center ice to get behind the Oklahoma City defense and beat Groenestege with another shot over the goaltender's shoulder.

Colorado made it 3-0 with their second power-play marker of the evening at 6:36 -- and Ed McGrane kept his lengthy scoring streak alive as well -- when the Eagles' forward registered his 23rd goal of the season. The 17-game streak (25 points, 7-16-25) matches the longest in the CHL this season and ties the third-longest in franchise history.

The Eagles clamped down defensively as the period wound down, snuffing a four-minute double-minor with 48 seconds of 5-on-3 play overlapping into another two-minute penalty. Colorado went 6-for-6 on the penalty kill, making it three games in a row that they haven't given up a power-play score.

Colorado will finish the regular season with three road games in as many days, starting in Broomfield, Colo. on Thursday, followed by a pair of games in Rapid City, S.D.

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