CHL Colorado Eagles

Eagles Have Their Way With Scorps

Published on March 3, 2009 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


RIO RANCHO, N.M. - The Colorado Eagles continued their long history of dominance over the New Mexico Scorpions with a 4-1 victory at the Santa Ana Star Center. The win allowed Head Coach Kevin McClelland to reach 39 wins behind the bench for the third consecutive season and improved the Eagles' record against the Scorpions to an astonishing 32-4-4 all-time.

The Scorpions out-shot the Eagles 13-7 in the first period -- a stat bolstered by three power plays -- but it was Colorado who led 2-0 after the first 20 minutes of play. The Eagles built their two-goal lead on their first five shots as Riley Nelson and Kevin Ulanski teamed up for a goal each.

Ulanski set up Nelson first, at 2:57, with a pass from the end boards to the left of the New Mexico net into the slot where the veteran centerman ripped a shot past Kyle McNulty from between the circles. Then at 8:28, Nelson got the assist on Ulanski's goal after the first-year Eagle entered the Scorpions' zone along the right wing and cut across the top of the circle before beating the New Mexico netminder up high.

Colorado led 3-0 after the second period thanks to a goal by former-Scorpions star Konrad Reeder and some solid work in net by Morgan Cey. Reeder would tally his 27th goal of the season at 5:25 after entering the offensive zone along the left wing, beating defenseman Tom Maldonado in the left circle and taking the puck hard to the net (Ed McGrane picked up the assist, extending his point streak to 11 games). Cey would continue his strong play in between the pipes, stopping another set of 13 shots from the Scorpions to take a shutout into the third.

New Mexico was called for five penalties in the final frame, and the time with the extra man helped Colorado set a new franchise high with 26 shots in the period. Ryan Tobler scored on one of the first at 2:38 when he steered a Brett Hammond slap-pass from the point into the Scorpions' net for his league-leading 19th power-play goal to make it 4-0.

Craig Macdonald notched his seventh point against the Eagles this season at 10:45 when he scored the Scorpions' only goal of the game. With Colorado on the power play, Scott Polaski's breakout pass exiting his own zone went errant and the New Mexico winger picked it off and deposited it behind Cey from below the right circle. McNulty stoned the Eagles on the power play several times as the period wound down to keep the score the same.

Colorado's five-game road trip comes to an end in Broomfield, Colo. on Thursday night before the Eagles finish their home-and-home series with the Rage on Friday. Colorado will then play their third game in as many days when they host the Rapid City Rush on Saturday.

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Central Hockey League Stories from March 3, 2009


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