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CHL Colorado Eagles

Eagles win game one of Northern Conference Finals

April 11, 2005 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


LOVELAND, CO – The Colorado Eagles took a 1-0 lead over the Wichita Thunder Sunday night in the Central Hockey League's best-of-seven Northern Conference Finals with a 4-2 victory in front of another sold out crowd (5,289) at the Budweiser Events Center. Greg Pankewicz scored two goals, while Riley Nelson and Karlis Zirnis each contributed two assists for the Eagles. Tyler Weiman stopped 28 of 30 shots for his fourth victory in the playoffs. Wichita defenseman Nate Metcalf scored both of the Thunder's goals in the loss. Game two of the Northern Conference Finals is Monday night at the Budweiser Events Center.

In the first period, for the first ten minutes, neither team was willing to concede quality scoring chance. Colorado's Ryan Tobler took the first penalty of the series at the 8:36 mark of the period for cross checking, but the Thunder were unable to score, and Paul Esdale took a penalty for Wichita at the end of their power play. The Eagles had a couple good chances, but were unable to put the puck in the net. Colorado out shot Wichita in the period 13-6, and both teams were 0-1 on the power play, although the Thunder had 1:12 left in a penalty to Aaron Grosul.

The Eagles killed off the rest of the penalty to Grosul to start the second period, a period that was dominated by special teams play. With 16:44 remaining, two Thunder players went to the penalty box giving the Eagles a full two minutes with a two-man advantage, but Ryan Tobler took a penalty 18 seconds into the five-on-three negating Colorado's two-man advantage. In the ensuing four-on-three power play, Greg Pankewicz gave the Eagles a 1-0 lead (4:15) on a blistering slap shot from the top of the point that beat Vandespyker stick side. Colorado's Chris Hartsburg took a four-minute double minor shortly after the goal to give Wichita a chance to tie the game. The Eagles penalty kill unit never let Wichita set up with the extra skater, and it was Mike Lephart that gave the Eagles a 2-0 lead with Colorado's fourth shorthanded goal of the playoffs. Lephart came away from a scrum and was one-on-one with Vandespyker, he lifted the puck over Vandespyker's glove to take the two-goal lead at the 8:11 mark of the second period. Play continued to open up for both teams, and at the 17:17 mark, Eagles' defenseman Jess Cook scored Colorado's second power play goal of the game. He was given some room at the right circle, skated in, and snapped a wrist shot top shelf for his first playoff goal in 13 career post-season games. After two periods, the Eagles were out shooting Wichita 22-15 and took a 3-0 lead going into the third period.

Nate Metcalf cut the Eagles lead to 3-1 at the 3:40 mark of the third period on a goal that went through traffic and beat Weiman stick side. Wichita kept battling and at the 11:30 mark, Metcalf made it a one-goal game on a power play. He tipped a pass from Paul Esdale past Weiman and Wichita converted a power play on their eighth chance of the game. Things started to seem eerily similar to last season when the Eagles gave up two leads to the Thunder in games one and two of the first round, but it wasn't to be this time as Greg Pankewicz capped the game with a wrist shot from the slot that gave the Eagles the 4-2 victory. It was Pankewicz's second goal of the game for his second consecutive two goal game.

The Eagles out shot Wichita 34-30, and finished 2-8 on the power play while Wichita was 1-8 with the man advantage. The Eagles and Thunder play again tomorrow night in game two of the Northern Conference Finals at the Budweiser Events Center at 7:05 pm.

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