Eagles Lead Best-of-Seven Series 1-0

Published on March 30, 2007 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Youngstown SteelHounds News Release


Loveland, Colorado - The name of the game was turnovers and the Colorado Eagles were opportunistic in Game One of the best-of-seven series capturing a 7-2 victory in front of a sellout crowd of 5,289 fans at the Budweiser Events Center. Youngstown had two separate one-goal leads but Colorado scored six unanswered goals en route to the victory paced by Riley Nelson's hat trick and goaltender Marco Emond's 29 saves.

The start of the game saw choppy play by the Eagles lead to an early SteelHounds goal. Just 50 seconds into the game, Mark Odut made a great play behind the net creating an opportunity for Jeff Alcombrack whose shot created a big rebound to the right of the net for Jeff Christian. The Captain buried the puck up high giving the Hounds the 1-0 lead. Youngstown had a great chance to increase their advantage when Dallas Anderson drove hard down the left side centering a pass for former Eagle Garrett Larson who redirected the puck off the post. Colorado tied the game at the 7:09 mark when an unforced turnover by the Hounds defense found Riley Nelson alone to the side of the net where he put the puck past Brad Roberts, unassisted.

Shortly thereafter, the Eagles had over a minute and a half of a two-man advantage that Youngstown thwarted. The Hounds used that kill and a power play of their own to build momentum and earn their second lead of the night. Stephen Margeson was the recipient of an Odut pass and he went through the five-hole of Marco Emond for his first goal of the post season. Odut and Christian drew the assists for their second points of the night respectively. Amateur Rob Sirianni saw considerable playing time in his first professional game and created a power play when he was dragged down by Craig Strain late in the period. On that power play, Colorado actually outchanced the Hounds and Roberts made a great save on a chance by Nelson and by Ryan Tobler. Late in the period, Colorado took advantage of another miscue behind the Hounds net as this time Tobler walked out with the puck and was untouched as several Youngstown players watched him roof a shot by Roberts for his first goal of the playoffs. Scott Polsaki and Aaron Schneekloth drew the assists. The SteelHounds outshot the Eagles 13-10 in the period and really used their forecheck to create better scoring chances but all they could muster was a 2-2 tie.

The teams started the second period skating four aside after minor penalties were called against Chris Shaffer and Les Borsheim at the end of the opening 20 minutes. Youngstown saw two early chances in the first two minutes, one by Christian and the other by Tab Lardner. Just over three minutes into the period, Tobler was shaken up on the ice as he missed on a check and went hard into the boards. The hit created a small delay as the glass Tobler hit became dislodged. The Eagles didn't register their firt shot on goal in the second period until 6:13 into the frame and took their first lead of the game on their second shot just 14 seconds later when Ed McGrane scored on a one-timer off a feed from Tobler. Craig Strain received the second assist at the 6:27 mark giving the Eagles a 3-2 lead.

Later in the period, both teams got a taste of five-on-three hockey with each club getting opportunities. For the Hounds Shaun Landolt miss-fired on a back door feed from Christian and Tab Lardner had a great chance sliding in on the left side but Emond made a big save. The Eagles, who lead the league with a CHL record 30 shorthanded goals during the regular season, were at it again with Nelson scoring his second goal of the night off a second chance in front of Roberts giving the Eagles a 4-2 lead. Youngstown had chances to cut the lead, notably on a two on one with Christian and Mark Johnson that ended with Emond make a great save off a Johnson blast.

Emond, 28-8-0 during the regular season, stole the show in the second period stopping all 10 shots he faced several of which were great scoring chances for the Hounds. Each team finished the period with 10 shots on goal.

The Hounds came out jumping in the third period outshooting the Eagles 4-1 I the first five minutes and had a great scoring chance early with Brad Patterson finding Christian in front of the net but Emond covered most angles and made the save. Colorado added to their lead on a quick burst down the right side by Brent Hughes who beat Roberts on the stick side at the 5:43 mark assisted by Sean Robertson and Brett Thurston (an amateur added by the Eagles for the playoffs). Colorado didn't take long to light the lamp again as Nelson recorded the hat trick off a rebound giving the Eagles a 6-2 lead. The two goals were scored 10 seconds apart makring the fastest two goals allowed by the Hounds in team history (old mark was 18 seconds). Tobler scored a late power play goal giving Colorado a five-goal cushion.

Youngstown outshot the Eagles for the fifth straight time, tonight by a 31-29 margin.

Notes: Chris Richards missed the game with an injury. The Eagles and Hounds finished the regular season 1-2 in the Central Hockey League in scoring. Youngstown scored the first goal of the game in half of the 64 regular season games they played and went 22-7-3 in those games. Garrett Larson had three assists in 11 post-season games for the Eagles last year. With his two points tonight, CHL Most Valuable Player Jeff Christian is on a six-game point streak (4-7=11) dating back to the regular season. The three goals by Riley Nelson marked his first playoff hat trick.

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Central Hockey League Stories from March 30, 2007


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