CHL Colorado Eagles

Eagles Crush Oilers 9-1

February 21, 2007 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


LOVELAND, Colo.- Seth Leonard had a first period hat trick as the Colorado Eagles cruised to a 9-1 victory over the Tulsa Oilers Wednesday night at the Budweiser Events Center. For Colorado, the win completed a season sweep over the Oilers and they are 10-2-1 all-time against Tulsa at home. Ed McGrane had a four-point night for Colorado with a goal and three assists and Riley Nelson and Scott Polaski each had a goal and two assists in the Eagles league-leading 37th victory of the season. Paulo Colaiacovo stopped 28 of 29 shots for his second win of the season as the Eagles remain in first place in the Northwest Division. They will head to Arizona for a pair of games this weekend against the Sundogs.

The Oilers scored on their first shot of the game at the 2:03 mark of the first period when Jamie Lovell slapped a shot on goal next to the blueline, it bounced of the leg of an Eagles defender and into the back of the net. The Eagles had recorded the first five shots of the game prior to the shot by Lovell. Colorado soon got on track and tied the game on a goal by Seth Leonard at the 4:45 mark of the period when he intercepted a clearing attempt of Oilers goaltender Bill Ruggiero and stuffed the puck into the net. Riley Nelson gave the Eagles a 2-1 lead when he jammed in a backhand in a scrum in front of the net for his team-leading 34th goal of the season. After that, Seth Leonard took over as he scored twice more in the period to complete a hat trick. At the 10:04 mark, Leonard took a feed from Riley Nelson, skated around a defenseman and beat Ruggiero low on the stick side. He collected his third goal at the 18:18 mark on a rebound when he lifted over the goaltender. After one period of play, the Eagles led 4-1 and had a 17-11 advantage on shots.

Bill Ruggiero was pulled after the first period in favor of Jason Montgomery, but the Eagles extended their lead to 5-1 only 2:32 into the period on a goal by Aaron Schneekloth. He was left alone in the slot and slapped a shot past Montgomery for his ninth goal of the season. That proved to be the only goal of the period and the Eagles again out shot the Oilers 14-6.

The Eagles continued to pour the pressure on the in the third period. Ed McGrane made it a 6-1 game on a wrist shot that went five-hole on assists from Les Borsheim and Craig Strain. Just 19 seconds later, Chris Hartsburg picked up a rebound and lit the lamp for his 26th goal of the season. The Eagles added two more before the final buzzer rang. Scott Polaski ripped a slapshot that beat Montgomery at the 7:20 mark and Jay Birnie took a great feed from Ryan Tobler and buried his first professional goal with 4:30 remaining in the game. Final score: Eagles 9 - Oilers 1.

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Central Hockey League Stories from February 21, 2007


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