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CHL Colorado Eagles

Eagles Top 'Jacks in Shootout, 2-1

December 12, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


LOVELAND, Colo. - In a matchup of the CHL's two conference leaders, the Colorado Eagles came out on top of the Odessa Jackalopes in a tightly contested, 2-1, shootout. Despite the Eagles and the Jackalopes being the two highest-scoring teams in the league, the game came down to solid defense and fantastic netminding.

As would be expected, the two teams were evenly matched with the first period play and shots nearly identical (Odessa held a slight edge at 8-7). The only goal of the period came when the Jackalopes showed why they own the league's top power play as Mike Ramsay snapped a shot past Andrew Penner from the slot at 8:28. Penner rebounded with several big saves later in the frame -- the biggest coming on a 2-on-0 shorthanded break -- to keep it 1-0.

Joel Martin made his fair share of solid saves in the second, and Odessa showed why their penalty kill is also atop the league standings as they held the home team to just six shots in the stanza despite Colorado having three power plays. Jim Jackson got the Eagles on the scoreboard, however, when he scored eight seconds into the third man-advantage chance by one-timing a low, hard shot past the 'Jacks netminder from the top of the right circle.

The goaltenders continued to steal the show -- and rob opposing shooters -- as Martin denied Brett Lutes 1:45 into the third period by sliding right to left across his crease. He then stopped Kevin Ulanski four minutes in when the Eagles winger teamed up with Riley Nelson for a shorthanded rush.

The Eagles out-shot the Jackalopes 11-8 in the third, winning the shot battle for the first time in the game and nearly evening the overall shots. But despite Colorado out-chancing Odessa down the stretch, neither team could score again in regulation and the game headed to overtime.

After a back-and-forth overtime frame failed to decide the contest, the CHL's top teams headed to a shootout to crown a winner. Dominic Leveille and Nelson started the shootout netting goals for their respective squads, but Penner turned aside each of the other four Odessa shooters and Ed McGrane picked up his 100th goal as an Eagle with a shot that trickled over the goal line for the winner.

The Eagles will take on the Wichita Thunder on Wednesday night at the Budweiser Events Center before a weekend set with the expansion Missouri Mavericks (also at home).

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