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CHL Colorado Eagles

Eagles Come From Behind but Lose in SO

January 8, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


LAREDO, Texas - The Colorado Eagles lost in a shootout to the Laredo Bucks, 6-5, taking a point out of a loss for the second game in a row. The Eagles found themselves down early as the Bucks scored four power-play goals in the first period -- all five of their regulation goals came on the man-advantage -- but Colorado battled back to force overtime with a last-minute score, just as the Brahmas had done to them in their previous game.

Also for the second game in a row, the Eagles had an early goal waved off by a premature whistle from the referee. Making matters worse for the short-benched road team, the Eagles were called for seven penalties in the opening frame, leading the way for Laredo to capitalize with four power-play goals. The Bucks got the opening goal when Colorado netminder Mike Mole was unable to stop the puck off a shot from Robin Richards. Jeff Bes would then put the Bucks up by two when he beat Mole once again on the power play.

Laredo made it 3-0 with a five-on-three score by Todd Griffith from the low slot at 11:35. Andrew Penner then replaced Mole who had given up three goals on eight shots. The Eagles would finally get on the board when Steve Haddon beat netminder Kyle Gajewski off a Riley Nelson feed, narrowing the Bucks' lead to two. But Colorado continued to take penalties, and Laredo continued to make them pay, as Jared Mohr beat Penner on another power play with a shot off the crossbar that bounced behind the Eagles' goalie.

Colorado would prove resilient, however, out-shooting the Bucks by a total of 30-11 through the rest of regulation. The Eagles were the only team to score in the second period, cutting Laredo's lead in half, when the power plays began to go in their favor. Aaron Schneekloth scored a 5-on-3 tally at 12:16 off assists from Jim Jackson and Kevin Ulanski.

The Eagles continued to come at the Bucks hard in the third period and got an early goal from their captain just 41 seconds in. Colorado continued to put pressure on the Bucks net by creating scoring chances, but another penalty would give Laredo their fifth power-play goal of the game. Colorado countered when Haddon picked up the Eagles' second power-play tally of the night to cut the Bucks' lead to one once more.

Griffith had a chance to restore Laredo's two-goal cushion when he was granted a penalty shot minutes later, but he was stonewalled by Penner to keep the Eagles within reach. After failing to score on late power play chances -- including some 5-on-3 time -- Colorado pulled Penner for an extra attacker in the final minute of regulation. The move paid off as Nelson notched his second score of the period with just 18.3 seconds left to force overtime and earn the Eagles a hard-fought point.

In the extra period, both goaltenders came up with quality saves to send the game into a shootout. In the shootout, Griffith would get another chance to beat Penner one-on-one, and this time, he made good, netting the game-winner as Laredo's fifth shooter.

Colorado will travel south to Hidalgo, Texas to face to Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees Saturday night at 6:35 p.m. (MST). The Eagles will return home on Friday, Jan. 15 to take on the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs in back-to-back games.

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