Eagles Spoil Rush's Party With Another Win
October 23, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release
RAPID CITY, S.D. - A short-benched Colorado Eagles squad defeated the defending champion Rapid City Rush for the second night in a row with a 7-4 win in their first road game of the season. The victory spoiled the Rush's home opener as they held a pre-game celebration, raising four banners to the rafters and handing out their championship rings.
The Rush began the game with plenty of momentum from the pre-game ceremonies, out-shooting the Eagles 13-7 in the opening frame, and controlling much of the play. But Andrew Penner turned aside all 13 of Rapid City's shots and Steve Haddon got his second goal in as many games to put Colorado on top 1-0 at the first intermission. On the goal, University of Denver alumnus Matt Glasser fed Haddon from behind the net for a backhand score (the assist representing the rookie's first professional point).
Andrew Martin got Rapid City on the board 2:30 into the second period with an end-to-end rush that resulted in a 2-on-1 breakaway and a shot past Penner. The Eagles, however, answered with a pair of goals by the 15 minute mark to hold a 3-1 lead. But Rapid City took advantage of a 5-on-3 power-play opportunity late in the frame to tie the game heading into the second break.
Colorado's second goal came after a turnover in the Rush zone, when Haddon sent a shot from the right dot and defenseman Brett Thurston knocked home the rebound as he pinched down the slot in support. Penner stopped Les Reaney a minute later on a quick breakaway to keep the momentum on the Eagles' side, and the red-hot Scott May added the team's second goal of the period at 14:49 with a power-play blast from the high slot on a one-timer from Kevin Ulanski.
The Rush, though, evened the score before the second buzzer by scoring a 5-on-3 goal at 18:55 and another power-play goal just 19 seconds later. On the first, Vladimir Hartinger struck from the hash marks after a faceoff win in the left circle. On the second, Colt King found Ryan Menei from behind the cage for a quick equalizing strike.
Colorado won the final frame, and thus the game, as they out-shot Rapid City 12-10 and out-scored them 4-1 (with two empty-net goals) in the final 20 minutes of play. Daymen Rycroft put the Eagles up 4-3 at 12:49 by converting an assist from May after he brought the puck out of the left wing corner along the goal line.
Then, under a minute later, Derek LeBlanc deflected a Hartinger point shot just four seconds into another Rapid City power play -- the second time they struck so quickly on the night -- to knot the game back up at 4. But Rycroft would counter once more with a power-play goal of his own a minute and a half after that when he put home a Riley Nelson rebound from the same spot as his previous tally.
And for the second night in a row, with time winding down, the Rush pulled Danny Battochio for an extra attacker and May deposited the puck into the empty net with 63 seconds left. Nelson would add another with just three ticks left to account for the final score.
The Eagles next game will be on Tuesday, Oct. 26 in Tulsa, Okla.
Central Hockey League Stories from October 23, 2010
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