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CHL Colorado Eagles

Eagles silence Thunder, 5-3

December 7, 2007 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


LOVELAND, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles beat the Wichita Thunder, 5-3, to keep pace with the Rocky Mountain Rage atop the Northwest Division. Colorado dominated much of the game and ended with a 48-21 edge in shots as Greg Pankewicz extended his point streak to 10 games with two goals -- one the game-winner.

The Eagles dominated the first period of play (out-shooting the Thunder 13-5), and the edge in play began right out of the chutes as Colorado was able to keep the puck deep in the Wichita zone for over a minute at the start of the game. And at 13:42, when the Thunder were penalized for too many men on the ice, the Eagles did everything but score on the ensuing power play. Wichita's goaltender, Sebastien Laplante, kept the puck in front of him on the Eagles' many chances, his best save coming when he stoned the red-hot Aaron Schneekloth with a right pad save against the post. After a Pankewicz rocket from the point sailed just wide, Schneekloth threw a backhand rebound toward the empty net, but Laplante -- already sprawled out on his stomach -- was able to flash his right leg against the post to stop the quick shot. Despite the decided edge in play, Wichita took advantage of a 5-on-3 as Kris Richardson was able to get the Thunder just their third road power play goal of the season when he poked the puck past Marco Emond from a scrum at the front of the crease.

The Eagles continued to dominate play in the second period, expanding their edge in shots to 34-13, but the game remained locked in a tie. At 3:12, Seth Leonard's shot from the left wing boards was blocked down low, but it went right to Brad Williamson in the low slot; he threw the puck over Laplante's glove to put Colorado on the board. Riley Nelson earned the second assist on the play, extending his point streak to six games (3-9-12). Then on a power play at 12:06, Schneekloth faked a shot from the point -- freezing the defense -- and passed the puck to Williamson in the left circle. Williamson one-timed a pass to Pankewicz in the slot and he put the Eagles up 2-1, extending his own point streak to 10 games (4-15-19). But just as the period was coming to an end, the Thunder cashed in with just 32.4 seconds left when Tyler Liebel crashed the net and went top shelf as the net was coming up and off its moorings. The officials determined that the puck had crossed the goal line before the net came up and the period ended at 2-2.

Colorado's dominance finally came to fruition in the third as the Eagles increased their lead with three goals. At 7:17, Seth Leonard slid a pass from behind the goal line to the left of the goal to an open Schneekloth on the doorstep for the Eagles' second power play goal of the night. Less than a minute and a half later, Brett Thurston sent Pankewicz into the offensive zone with a great lead pass and the captains fired a low shot from the top of the right circle that beat Laplante's right leg. But at 10:18, the Thunder got their second power play goal of the night -- matching their total of two road power play goals coming into the game -- when Dominic D'Amour scored from the right circle to cut the Colorado lead to 4-3. But with time winding down, and the Thunder net empty, Leonard scored with 45.6 seconds left after hitting the post just moments earlier as the Eagles came away with a win.

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Central Hockey League Stories from December 7, 2007


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