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CHL Colorado Eagles

Colorado Comeback Comes Up Short

February 14, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


LOVELAND, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles fell to the Mississippi RiverKings for the second night in a row, this time 5-3. The defeat marked the first time the Eagles have incurred back-to-back losses to the same opponent at the Budweiser Events Center since the final games of the 2005-06 regular season (both 4-1 losses to the Wichita Thunder).

Colorado came out with more jump than Friday night, but their results were no better. The Eagles were awarded two power plays in the first half of the period, and despite good pressure on both, were unable to find the back of the net. From then on, the period swung in Mississippi's favor.

At 9:10 of the first, the RiverKings struck for the first of three goals in a row when Louis Dumont found Garret Larson on a backdoor score. Then just 19 seconds later -- after a turnover at the left point -- Dallas Costanzo picked up the puck and walked into the left circle before feeding Adam Smyth for his second goal in as many games. The 'Kings third goal came at 12:15 while on the man advantage when Joe Markusen beat Andrew Penner from inside the left circle.

The Eagles got on the board at 5:03 of the second when Steve Haddon took the puck down the left wing and sent a cross-ice pass to Adam Hogg crashing the right side of the net. But the RiverKings countered at 13:10 -- off another turnover -- after Aaron Schneekloth lost the puck entering the offensive zone, springing a 3-on-1 rush the other way. Matt Summers took the puck down the ice before feeding Smyth for his second goal of the game. Mississippi locked the period down defensively from then on, being out-shot 16-7 in the period, but keept any high-percentage scoring chances to a minimum.

Colorado dominated the third period in an attempt to come back from their three-goal deficit, but came up just short. The ice was so tilted in the Eagles' favor that almost the entire first 10 and a half minutes were spent in Mississippi's zone with the 'Kings getting out-shot 9-0.

Ed McGrane started chipping away at Mississippi's lead at 8:19, when the Eagles caught the RiverKings on a line change, by blasting a laser shot past Kevin Beech from the top of the left circle. And at 16:33, Hogg and Haddon combined for another goal to make it a one score game when Hogg threw the puck on net from the left corner and Haddon jammed it home after it had slipped under the Mississippi goaltender's feet. But with Penner pulled, Stephen Margeson threw the puck into an empty net with under a minute left to seal the 'Kings' sweep.

The Eagles will head on the road for a game Tuesday night against the Rapid City Rush before coming back home for a weekend set against the Rocky Mountain Rage on Feb. 20 and 21.

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Central Hockey League Stories from February 14, 2009


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