Colorado's Comeback Falls Short, 4-2
January 20, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release
LOVELAND, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles fell to the Laredo Bucks, 4-2, on the strength of three first period goals and a 39-save effort from Kevin Desfosses. It took the Eagles nearly two and a half periods to get a puck past the Bucks' goalie before they nearly tied the game in the final minutes.
The Bucks stormed out to a 3-0 lead in the first period despite being out-shot 14-11. Darryl Smith got the game's opening goal at 2:53 when he backhanded a loose puck from the doorstep for his team-leading 17th goal of the season.
Smith made it 2-0 with a power-play score at 14:49 when the Eagles' clearing attempt was picked off at the point by Adam Rivet. Rivet made a quick pass to Smith, who skated down the slot and snapped the puck past Mike Mole.
Veteran Brent Cullaton -- who came out of retirement earlier in the day -- then put the Bucks up by three with a goal at 18:45 when he threw home a shot from below the left circle; Jay Holladay and Jeff Bes picked up assists on the play.
Neither team was able to score in the second period, sending the game into the third period with the Bucks up 3-0.
The Eagles were finally able to break through 14:23 into the final frame when Steve Haddon threw the puck toward the crease from below the left faceoff circle and it went in off the body of a crashing Ryan McLeod.
Haddon helped Colorado close the gap to 3-2 at 17:33 when his big hit in the right corner of the offensive zone sent the puck free up the wall. Brett Lutes picked it up along the midboards, skated it toward the net and sent a midair pass to Riley Nelson on the other side of the crease where the Eagles' captain knocked it into the net.
Colorado kept coming hard and nearly tied the game in the following frantic moments. But Igor Agarunov picked up his second goal of the year just 59 seconds later to restore Laredo's two-goal cushion with a rebound tally from low in the left circle.
The two teams will meet again Friday night at the Budweiser Events Center before Colorado takes to the road for a weekend set in Amarillo.
Central Hockey League Stories from January 20, 2010
- Sundogs Drop First Of Five Straight Against Odessa, 4-2 - Arizona Sundogs
- 'Bugs Blister Bees 7-0 - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Colorado's Comeback Falls Short, 4-2 - Colorado Eagles
- Bucks Get Tough Road Win In Colorado - Laredo Bucks
- Gillis Earns 100th Win As Jacks Head Coach, 4-2 - Odessa Jackalopes
- One-Goal Game Favors Rapid City - Amarillo Gorillas
- RiverKings Coming Events - Mississippi RiverKings
- Cullaton Returns To Bucks - Laredo Bucks
- Sundogs Activate Visser, Place Delforte On I.R. - Arizona Sundogs
- RiverKings Feature Charitable Initiative Of Young Hockey Player - Mississippi RiverKings
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