ECHL Colorado Eagles

Eagles Complete Sweep of Grizzlies Behind Costello's Hat Trick

November 10, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


LOVELAND, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles defeated the Utah Grizzlies, 6-2, completing a three-game sweep and running their winning streak to five games. In the five games, Colorado has out-scored their opponents by a total of 35-9. They out-scored the Grizzlies 22-6, holding them without an even strength goal in the three games. Tonight's win was fueled by Chad Costello's hat trick and a penalty-killing effort that stifled 10 of 12 Utah power plays.

The first period was a tale of two halves, as the Grizzlies dominated the first portion of the period, establishing a 6-0 advantage in shots through the first nine minutes, despite a power play opportunity for the Eagles. But 30 seconds after registering its first shot, Colorado found the back of the net on its second power play of the period, and would go on to out-shoot the Grizzlies, 10-2, to close out the first frame.

The opening tally came at 9:42 when Jack Combs knocked a rebound out of the air in the slot, stickhandled toward the crease and found Costello. The league's leading point producer then displayed his own fancy piece of stickwork before putting the puck in the net behind Andrew Engelage. After recording their first shot, the Eagles out-shot the Grizzlies, 10-2, to close out the first frame.

The Eagles spent most of the second period killing penalties -- they accumulated 19 penalty minutes and gave Utah six power plays -- but still managed to out-score the Grizzlies, 2-1, to take a 3-1 lead into the third frame. Colorado went up 2-0 just 27 seconds into the period when Michael Forney sent a tap-pass to Costello entering the offensive zone and the league's reigning MVP converted the breakaway chance for his second goal of the game.

Utah cut that lead in half with a power-play goal eight minutes in when Brad Mills put the puck behind Tyler Plante. Just under nine minutes later, Kyle Ostrow and Joey Sides converted an odd-man rush to put Colorado up, 3-1, as Engelage's momentum knocked the loose puck into the net behind him.

Colorado ran its lead to 4-1 at 6:10 with another power-play goal when Combs kept whacking away at the puck against Ryan Donovan's left skate and the post; Donovan replaced Engelage in the Utah net to start the third period.

Utah had a chance to counter when they were awarded 1:45 of a 5-on-3 five minutes later, but Eagles defenseman Jason Beatty instead made it 5-1 with a great shorthanded effort. He turned on the jets in the neutral zone in a race for a loose puck, angled himself toward the crease and then chipped a shot over the Grizzlies' goalie.

Still with a two-man advantage, Kory Falite countered Beatty's goal moments later to make it 5-2, but that was as close as the Grizzlies would get. And with the Eagles working their own 5-on-3 advantage a few minutes later, Costello registered his third goal of the game, giving the Eagles three hat tricks in their past four contests, each by a different player.

Colorado will take their five game winning streak on the road next week to Alaska, where they'll face last season's regular season champions in a three game set (Wednesday, Friday & Saturday).

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