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CHL Colorado Eagles

Eagles Clinch Division Despite Questionable Goal

February 28, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


SOUTHAVEN, Miss. - The Colorado Eagles won their sixth Northwest Division title in as many seasons by picking up a point in their 4-3 shootout loss to the Mississippi RiverKings. The Eagles secured the one point needed for the division by going into overtime despite a 9-4 RiverKings edge in power plays, a 51-24 edge in shots and a controversial tying goal in the third period.

The first period saw even play between two of the Northern Conference's best with the RiverKings amassing a 12-11 edge in shots. Kevin Ulanski got Colorado on the board at 8:41 -- with his first goal since Jan. 30. -- after picking off an ill-advised Derek Landmesser backhand pass from the goal line and beating Kevin Beech from between the hash marks.

The RiverKings tied the game at 1 at 13:43 of the second when Adam Smyth got his 10th goal of the season; remarkably, five of them have come in as many games against the Eagles. But Colorado retook the lead just 22 seconds later when Aaron Schneekloth scored from the point through a screen in front of the Mississippi netminder.

And then with just 12 seconds left in the period, Ed McGrane continued his hot streak (five goals and eight assists in his 10 game point streak) with a shorthanded goal to give the Eagles a two goal cushion heading into the third. McGrane broke through the neutral zone, man-on-man with the RiverKings defenseman, then faked a delay at the top of the left circle before beating Beech with a shot.

Mississippi made it 3-2 with a power-play goal at 3:26 of the third -- on their seventh power play of the night -- when David Simoes scored on a shot from the point. Then at 13:43, Louis Dumont tied the game with a questionable goal while shorthanded. Dumont's shot appeared to hit the post and bounce out of the net, but referee Steve Cruickshank ruled it a goal.

A minute later, Andrew Penner came out to his left midboards to play an approaching puck and was run into by Dallas Steward. The Eagles' netminder spun hard to the ice and immediately rolled over to deliver punches to the diminutive RiverKings forward. Colorado would kill two more Mississippi power plays as time wound down to force the overtime period and secure their division-clinching point.

After neither team scored in the five minute overtime period, the RiverKings beat Penner on three of four shootout attempts to secure the win. Martin Gascon, Dumont and Landmesser scored for Mississippi, while Ryan Tobler was the only Eagle (out of four) to beat Beech.

The next game of Colorado's five-game road trip will come Tuesday in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.

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