CHL Colorado Eagles

Eagles Gain Ground with Win in Rapid City

Published on December 26, 2010 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


RAPID CITY, S.D. - The Colorado Eagles gained ground in the Turner Conference with a 4-2 win in Rapid City. The victory gives Colorado 32 points on the season, one fewer than Missouri and two fewer than the Rush. The Eagles, however, have played four fewer games than Rapid City and one fewer than the Mavericks. Kevin Ulanski assisted on each of Colorado's four goals, giving him nine points in the past two games -- both Eagles wins.

A tightly-contested first period saw the Rush out-shoot the Eagles 8-7, but Colorado took advantage of an extended power play to score the frame's only goal. The Eagles were awarded 1:17 of 5-on-3 play when Vladimir Hartinger was penalized for a high-sticking double-minor in the second half of the period. Although Colorado didn't score on the two-man advantage, they were able to get the game's first goal during the second half of Hartinger's penalty when Ulanski found Riley Nelson in the slot for a 5-hole goal at 16:47.

Rapid City tied the game at 1 with a power-play goal of their own 3:22 into the second period when Dave Grimson put home a Derek LeBlanc rebound from the left circle. But the Eagles countered just 30 seconds later when Daymen Rycroft cleaned up the garbage to the right of Danny Battochio after Ulanski created the scoring chance by driving down the slot. Colorado then made it 3-1at 6:26 when Nelson dropped a pass in the high slot for Brett Thurston, who set a new career high with his third goal of the year.

The Eagles played much of the final five minutes shorthanded, and the Rush took advantage by cutting Colorado's lead to 3-2 at 17:22. Grimson picked up his second power-play goal of the game -- and second goal of any kind on the season -- with a blast from atop the right circle. But the Eagles were able to withstand a final push from the defending champs, and Nelson added an empty-net goal with 15 seconds left to account for the final score.

The rival teams will meet again Wednesday night at the Budweiser Events Center in the eighth of 12 total meetings this season.

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Central Hockey League Stories from December 26, 2010


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