CHL Colorado Eagles

Eagles Take 1-0 Series Lead in Conference Finals

Published on April 11, 2008 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


LOVELAND, Colo. - Sebastien Laplante came within one minute and 15 seconds of his second consecutive shutout and Scott Polaski tallied three points (2-1-3) to push the Colorado Eagles past the Texas Brahmas 4-1 in Game One of the Northern Conference Finals. The loss was just the second of the playoffs for Texas - and just their ninth in the last 42 games - after sweeping the top-seeded Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs in the last round.

The Eagles were all over the Brahmas in the first, out-shooting them 18-8, out-scoring them 2-0 and (unofficially) creating eight scoring chances to Texas' one. Greg Pankewicz got his team-leading fifth goal of the playoffs at 6:24 after a broken play left the puck on his stick at the right point. Brad Williamson threw a pass from the goal line toward Seth Leonard between the circles, but the puck skipped off Leonard's stick and right to the Eagles' captain who teed it up and fired a laser into the top left corner. The Eagles struck again exactly six minutes later on a great play by Polaski. Polaski received a Riley Nelson pass with his skate and kicked it to his back-hand before flicking a sharp-angle shot past David Cacciola for a two-goal lead.

The second period brought more of the same as Colorado expanded its lead to 4-0 and out-shot Texas 15-6. The Brahmas had a golden chance to get on the scoreboard when they were awarded 1:55 of 5-on-3 play just four minutes in. But the Eagles killed the whole thing and held the Brahmas to just a single shot - the crowd showed its appreciation with a standing ovation. Kris Wiebe got his second goal of the playoffs at 15:29 as he skated the puck out from behind the Texas goal line, but stumbled and swept the disc at the net on his way down; the puck slid under the Brahmas' netminder to give the Eagles a three goal lead. Polaski then got his second goal of the night at 18:07 when he snapped a shot top shelf from the left hashes. Cacciola hadn't allowed more than three goals-against in any of his four previous playoff games this year.

Texas finally got on the board with a 5-on-3 power play goal at 18:45 of the third, ruining Laplante's shutout bid with his first goal-allowed in 124 minutes and four seconds (it would have been his third shutout in six playoff games). Anders Strom got his team-leading 10th point of the playoffs with a shot top-shelf from between the hashes.

The Eagles will look to take a 2-0 series lead in Game Two, Sunday night. There will be a Block Party before the game, starting at 4:30 (weather permitting), featuring Brahma-beating events such as a "Texas" Oyster eating contest and a mechanical bull, food ($1 hotdogs) and drink specials (half-priced beer) and much more for the entire family.

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Central Hockey League Stories from April 11, 2008


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