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Eagles move into tie for second place in Mountain Division

December 12, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release


On the heels of a five-game unbeaten streak (3-0-2) and a 6-2-2 run in their last 10 games, the Colorado Eagles have moved into a tie for second place in the Mountain Division with a mark of 12-8-3 for 27 points.

Colorado opened a three-game series at Idaho on Wednesday, rallying for a 4-2 win. After spotting the Steelheads a 2-0 lead midway through the first period, the Eagles responded with goals from Jon Landry and Riley Nelson to pull even before the opening 20 minutes ended. Patrick Cey scored the eventual game winner less than two minutes into the second period, and Jack Combs provided an insurance marker early in the third period. Andrew Penner earned his second win of the season, making 24 saves.

The Eagles earned a point in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Steelheads on Friday. Once again, Idaho skated out to a 2-0 lead in the first period, before the Eagles rallied to tie it on goals from Jason Beatty and Chad Costello . The teams traded goals for the balance of regulation, with Colorado forcing overtime on a Michael Forney tally with just under six minutes remaining in the third period.

Colorado captured the final game of the series on Saturday with a 5-1 win. Kevin Ulanski provided all the offense the Eagles needed scoring three goals and adding an assist while Nelson added a goal and two assists. Kyle Jones made 32 saves to record his 10th win of the season.

Combs and Costello have been the main cogs in Colorado's offense this season. The two line mates rank first and second in the ECHL in scoring with Combs leading the way with 37 points (17g-20a) and Costello ranking second with 36 points (12g-24a). Combs' 17 goals are second in the league while Costello leads the league with 24 assists.

Not to be outdone, a pair of Eagles' defensemen rank first and second among ECHL blue liners in scoring as well. Jon Landry leads all league defensemen with 22 points (8g-14a) while Aaron Schneekloth is second with 21 points (9g-12a). Schneekloth's 12 goals are tops among defensemen, with Landry tied for second with eight. Schneekloth also paces the way among league defenders with 12 power-play points (5g-7a).

In goal, Kyle Jones has gone 6-0-1 in his last seven decisions, and is tied for third in the league with 10 wins.

Colorado meets Utah in a crucial three-game series this week. The two teams, who are tied for second place in the Mountain Division, meet for games in Utah on Wednesday and Friday before the scene shifts to Colorado for the series finale on Saturday.

Four teams set season highs in attendance

The ECHL enjoyed its best attendance since opening weekend during last week's action as the league averaged 4,167 fans during the 31 games on the schedule.

Saturday saw four teams welcome their largest crowds of the season. Gwinnett had ECHL-season high 9,059 fans on Saturday against South Carolina and followed that up with 5,043 for Sunday's match-up against the Stingrays. The Gladiators are fifth in the league with 5,220 per game.

Cincinnati had 7,723 fans on Saturday against Toledo, and is averaging 4,786 per game this season, an increase of 13.4 percent over last season's attendance.

Florida welcomed 7,180 fans to Germain Arena for Saturday's game against Elmira, marking its largest crowd since March 19, 2010.

Ontario, which ranks second in the league with 5,563 fans per game, had 7,915 for Saturday's game against Las Vegas. The Reign have led the ECHL in attendance each of the previous two seasons after finishing second in their first season in the league.

Over 10,000 fans attended two games at Stockton over the weekend, keeping the Thunder on top of the ECHL in attendance with 5,969 per game. Stockton has averaged over 6,000 fans per game in each of its six seasons in the league and led the ECHL in attendance for the first four seasons before finishing third in 2009-10 and second last season.

Overall on the season, ECHL teams are averaging 4,032 fans per game. The ECHL averaged 4,339 fans per game in 2010-11, marking the seventh consecutive season and the 19th time in the last 21 years that the ECHL has averaged over 4,000 fans.

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Divisions

ATLANTIC DIVISION

- Elmira is 7-3-0 in one-goal games.

- Dustin Gazley is fifth among ECHL rookies with 18 points (4g-14a).

- The Jackals are at Chicago on Friday and at Kalamazoo on Saturday.

- Reading's penalty kill did not allow a goal in three games this week (13 chances) and have successfully defended 57 of their past 61 power plays faced.

- Goaltender Mark Owuya established a team record with 55 saves in a win over Wheeling on Friday.

- The Royals are at Wheeling on Friday and host the Nailers on Saturday.

- Trenton is 7-5-3 over the last five weeks.

- Andy Bohmbach is tied for the ECHL lead with seven power-play goals.

- The Titans host Toledo for games on Saturday and Sunday.

- Wheeling has won eight of 11 road games this season.

- Patrick Johnson netted two game-winning goals last week, and has at least one point in five of six games in December.

- The Nailers host Reading on Friday, are at the Royals on Saturday, and host Chicago on Sunday.

NORTH DIVISION

- The Express are 9-0-0 when leading after the first period.

- Chad Painchaud had six points (4g-2a) in three games last week.

- Chicago hosts Toledo on Wednesday and Elmira on Friday, and travels to Cincinnati on Saturday and Wheeling on Sunday.

- The Cyclones eight-game home point streak is the longest active streak in the ECHL.

- Mathieu Aubin has a five game point-scoring streak after a goal and an assist on Saturday against Toledo.

- Cincinnati hosts Kalamazoo on Tuesday, is at Kalamazoo on Friday, and hosts Chicago on Saturday.

- The K-Wings last two wins have come with the team coming back from a third period deficit.

- Brandon Svendsen leads Kalamazoo with three multi-goal games.

- The K-Wings are Cincinnati on Tuesday, host the Cyclones on Friday, and host Elmira on Saturday.

- Toledo is 7-6-1 on home ice this season.

- Walleye forward Joey Martin has three goals and six assists during a current seven game point streak.

- Toledo is at Chicago on Wednesday and in Trenton on Saturday and Sunday.

SOUTH DIVISION

- The Everblades are fourth in the ECHL with 3.48 goals per game.

- David Rutherford is currently on an eight-game home point streak.

- Florida is at Gwinnett on Thursday and at Greenville on Friday and Saturday.

- The Road Warriors have a five-game home winning streak.

- Brendan Connolly has seven goals in his last six games.

- Greenville hosts Florida on Friday and Saturday before traveling to South Carolina on Sunday.

- Gwinnett has played an ECHL-leading 10 overtime games and five shootouts.

- Jeff Jakaitis is second in the ECHL with a .935 save percentage.

- The Gladiators host Florida on Thursday, and travel to South Carolina on Friday and Saturday.

- South Carolina is second in the ECHL with 2.38 goals-against per game.

- Johann Kroll is second among ECHL defensemen with two shorthanded points.

- The Stingrays host Gwinnett on Friday and Saturday and Greenville on Sunday.

MOUNTAIN DIVISION

- Alaska leads the league with 1.83 goals-against per game.

- Wes Goldie has goals in seven of his last nine games, and is on a five-game point streak.

- The Aces host Ontario on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

- Jack Combs (37 points) and Chad Costello (36 points) are the top two scorers in the ECHL.

- Eagles have scored at least four goals in five consecutive games.

- Colorado is at Utah on Wednesday and Friday and hosts the Grizzlies on Saturday.

- Goaltender Jerry Kuhn leads the ECHL with 567 saves.

- Rookie defenseman Derek Matheson scored his first professional goal Saturday night against Colorado.

- Idaho is at Stockton on Friday and Saturday.

- Utah is 11-1-1 in one-goal games.

- Mitch Fadden is tied for the league lead with three shootout goals.

- The Grizzlies host Colorado on Wednesday and Friday, and are at the Eagles on Saturday.

PACIFIC DIVISION

- The Condors lead the league with eight shorthanded goals.

- Robby Dee has scored goals in three consecutive games.

- Bakersfield is at Ontario on Wednesday and at Las Vegas on Friday and Saturday.

- The Wranglers have recorded points in nine consecutive home games.

- Eric Lampe scored two shorthanded goals last week.

- Las Vegas hosts Bakersfield on Friday and Saturday.

- Jason Christie took sole possession of fifth place in all-time ECHL coaching victories with 318.

- Dustin Carlson made 27 saves for his first professional win in a 5- 2 victory over Las Vegas on Saturday.

- Ontario hosts Bakersfield on Wednesday before traveling to Alaska for games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

- Stockton broke a team record with nine goals in Saturday's 9-6 win over Bakersfield.

- Kevin Baker collected his first hat trick of the season Saturday against Bakersfield.

- The Thunder host Idaho on Friday and Saturday.

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