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Eagles Clinch Playoff Spot with 5-1 Win over Wichita

February 27, 2007 - Central Hockey League (CHL) - Colorado Eagles News Release

WICHITA, Kansas- The Colorado Eagles clinched a playoff spot for their fourth straight season Tuesday night with a 5-1 win over the Wichita Thunder at the Kansas Coliseum. The Eagles needed either a win or a Tulsa loss to clinch the playoff spot, and they took matters into their own hands winning their league-leading 38th game of the season. Colorado again played with just 11 skaters for the second straight game and they have not played with more than 13 skaters in 13 consecutive games. Scott Polaski and Riley Nelson each recorded three assists and five different Eagles players scored a goal as they will now try to clinch home-ice advantage for the post-season. Paulo Colaiacovo stopped 26 of 27 shots for his third victory of the season as the Eagles will head home for a couple home games this weekend against the Lubbock Cotton Kings and Rocky Mountain Rage.

Colorado jumped out to an early 2-0 lead just 7:22 into the first period. At the 6:10 mark, Chris Hartsburg one-timed a Riley Nelson pass for a five-on-three goal giving the Eagles a 1-0 lead. Just over one minute later, Seth Leonard took a Scott Polaski feed and beat Thunder goaltender Andrew Martin for their second power play goal of the game. Colorado wasn't finished as Fraser Filipic scored his fourth goal of the season at the 17:27 mark giving Colorado a 3-0 lead. The game marked the first time in Eagles history that they have led the Thunder 3-0 after one period in Wichita. The Eagles out shot the Thunder 16-7 in the period.

The teams traded a chances throughout most of the second period until Steve Haddon continued his point streak to four games when he banged in a rebound for the Eagles third power play goal in the game. Wichita bounced back less than one minute later on a goal by Tim Earl at the 16:37 mark cutting the Eagles lead to 4-1. After two periods, the Eagles led in shots 27-24 and held a 4-1 advantage going into the second intermission.

The Eagles added to their lead at the 3:41 mark of the final period when Les Borsheim had an open net on a rebound and buried it for his fourth goal of the season. Borsheim now has career highs in goals (4), assists (11) and points (15) this season. The teams only combined for seven shots in the final period. Colorado finished 4-6 on the power play and they killed all four of Wichita's opportunities. Final score: Eagles 5 - Thunder 1.

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