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CHL Colorado Eagles

Eagles Erupt In Third For Win Over 'Jacks

March 3, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


LOVELAND, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles exploded for five goals in the third period to take a 6-3 win over the Odessa Jackalopes. The victory over the CHL's top-ranked team helped keep the Eagles on pace with the Rapid City Rush in the race for the Northern Conference crown; Rapid City won as well to make the point totals 83-77 for the respective teams.

The period started appropriately for two of the CHL's heavyweights as newly-acquired Mario Joly -- facing his former club -- dropped the gloves with Will Bodine one second in. And 59 seconds later, Ryan Tobler and Garrett Gruenke ended the opening minute with a bout at center ice.

The rest of the period was dominated by power plays, with Odessa -- owners of the league's top unit -- scoring the lone goal 5:24 in when Kenny Bernard deflected Mike Ramsay's low point shot from the doorstep. Colorado went 0-3 in the frame, including extended time with a two-man advantage.

Colorado controlled much of the second period, out-shooting the 'Jacks 12-8, but each team tallied once to enter the second intermission with Odessa on top 2-1. The Jackalopes' power play struck again 2:19 into the second when Collin Circelli sent a slick backhand pass along the top of the crease to a wide open Jeff Pierce.

The Eagles got on the board at 6:09 after a turnover in their own end almost resulted in another Odessa goal. But the puck rebounded back into the slot and sprung Ryan McLeod and Ed McGrane on a 2-on-1 the other way. McGrane then put the puck into the net past Joel Martin for his team-leading 31st goal (second-most in the league).

Things opened up in the third after Martin was injured and pulled from the game 3:03 in. Juha Toivonen -- who was the scheduled starter, but was injured during pre-game warm ups -- replaced him and allowed four goals on 14 shots.

McGrane added his second goal in a row to tie the game at 2 on the power play at 10:34. On the play, McGrane's initial shot was blocked, but the rebound went right to Riley Nelson, who found McGrane back in the slot for the equalizer.

Then, at 14:22, Brian Swiniarski put Odessa back on top as he worked a 2-on-1 break and sent a shot from the right circle over Penner's glove hand. But Colorado tied it right back up 11 seconds later with the first of four unanswered goals when Nelson got a step behind the 'Jacks' defense and sent a pass across the low slot that Ryan Tobler deposited into the net.

Nelson set up another 17 seconds later to make it 4-3 when he picked up the puck behind the Odessa net and found Aaron Schneekloth pinching down the slot. Schneekloth then added his second in a row under two minutes later to make it 5-3. Brett Lutes cemented the game with an empty-netter in the final minute.

The Eagles now head to Missouri for a game on Friday before returning home for a pair of weekend games against the Wichita Thunder on Saturday and Sunday.

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Central Hockey League Stories from March 3, 2010


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