CHL Colorado Eagles

Bugs beat Eagles, 4-2

December 2, 2004 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


LOVELAND, CO – The Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs backed by the goaltending of Jeff Blair beat the Colorado Eagles tonight 4-2 at the Budweiser Events Center. Blair had 45 saves and made the difference as the Mudbugs improved to 9-4-3 on the season and remain in second place in the Northeast division.

The Eagles, only 5-3-2 at home had plenty of chances out shooting the Bugs 47-31, but couldn't seem to get the puck past Blair. Eagles goaltender Gian Baldrica starting for the second time in as many games gave up four goals on 31 shots. It was Lyle Steenbergen, Dan Wildfong, Chris Brassard and Craig Soke who scored goals for the Bugs. Kevin Marsh and Mike Lephart notched the Eagles goals in the contest, and Eagles right winger Greg Pankewicz was held scoreless for the first time all season.

The Mudbugs came out of the gates firing and had the first three shots of the game, but it was the Eagles that got on the board first. At the 14:33 mark of the first period Kevin Marsh skated behind the net and made a magnificent pass with his backhand and centered the puck to a streaking Mike Lephart who beat Jeff Blair glove side. Kris Mallette also assisted on the play. The Mudbugs continued their assault on net after a double minor to Chris Hartsburg for roughing, but the Bugs could not get the puck in the net. Bossier-Shreveport that had the lead in shots 10-9, but it was Colorado that had a one-goal lead going into the intermission.

The Eagles killed off the rest of the penalty to Hartsburg to open the second period, but only 16 seconds later Kris Mallette took a penalty for tripping and the Eagles found themselves short handed again. Just after Mallette came out of the box the Eagles turned the puck over to Scott Sheppard who passed it over to Dan Wildfong along the far boards. Wildfong dished a centering pass that went airborne through the crease and Lyle Steenbergen batted it in past Baldrica. Only 32 seconds later Dan Wildfong silenced the crowd at the Budweiser Events Center on a great individual effort when he skated past a couple Eagles defenders and snuck the puck under Baldrica's stick to give the Mudbugs a 2-1 lead. The lead would stand going into the third period.

It didn't take long for the Eagles to even the score in the third period. Lyle Steenbergen took a penalty six seconds into the period and Kevin Marsh scored his second power-play goal of the season when he picked up a loose puck in front of the net and drove it past Blair. Sean Robertson and Karlis Zirnis each had an assist on the play. The Eagles persisted in the offensive zone and as a result they gave up an odd-man rush and Chris Brassard brought the puck all the way down the ice and lit the lamp on a pinpoint slap shot that beat Baldrica. The goal was assisted by Brett Smith and turned out to be the game-winning goal. At the 12:52 mark, the Bugs all but turned the lights out on the Eagles when Craig Soke netted a slap shot to give the Bugs a two-goal lead. He was assisted by Joe Gerbe and David Oliver. Colorado poured on the shots in the third period, 25 in all, but had nothing to show for it. It was Bossier-Shreveport that netted two goals on just eight total shots.

Colorado and Bossier-Shreveport will play again on Friday night. The game starts at 7:05 p.m. and will be televised on the Altitude Network. On Saturday, the Eagles take on the Lubbock Cotton Kings at the Budweiser Events Center at 7:05 p.m. to end their second six-game home stand. The Eagles will then travel to Albuquerque, New Mexico for two games over the weekend against the Scorpions.

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Central Hockey League Stories from December 2, 2004


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