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CHL Colorado Eagles

Eagles Win Heart-Pounder, 7-6, In Shootout

February 14, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


LOVELAND, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles defeated the Rapid City Rush, 7-6, in a shootout to inch closer to the top spot in the Northern Conference; Rapid City now owns a three-point lead (70-67). The top two teams in the North met before a lively Valentine's Day crowd at the Budweiser Events Center for the first of four meetings this month and put on a barn-burner of a show that saw 11 different goal-scorers and four goaltenders.

A whirlwind first period saw a total of six goals and three goaltenders with the home team on top 4-2 at the intermission. Riley Nelson got the scoring spree started 5:38 in with a power-play goal. On the play, the Eagles held the zone with a series of passes along the blue line before Aaron Schneekloth pinched to the top of the left circle and fed Nelson atop the opposite circle for a one-timer.

Brendon Hodge countered 59 seconds later with a power-play tally of his own when he threw the puck on net from the point and it hit the back of the twine. And just 27 seconds later, Rich Hansen grabbed a turnover in the Rush's offensive zone and sent a pass to a wide open Derek LeBlanc in the right slot to put the Rapid City up 2-1.

Then, under a minute and a half later, Ed McGrane backhanded a loose puck from the slot past Danny Battochio for another power-play goal to tie the score at 2. Battochio followed that up with three stellar saves, but at 9:46, Kevin Ulanski took a pass from Ryan Tobler, stickhandled through the low slot and beat the Rush netminder with another backhander, chasing him from the game.

Miguel Beaudry took over between the Rapid City pipes and, coupled with some solid penalty-killing from his teammates, stifled the Eagles' offense for the next nine minutes. Ryan McLeod capped the frame's scoring -- in highlight fashion -- with 55 seconds left when he took a pass cruising through the neutral zone, stickhandled between the legs of Rod Aldoff and then deked Beaudry before beating him from in close.

The second period saw much the same as Colt King scored a power-play goal just 18 seconds in on a backdoor pass through the crease from Hansen. Scott Wray then tied the game at 4 at 2:47 after the Eagles had trouble clearing the puck and the former Rage player converted on Rapid City's fourth crack at the puck from the slot.

Five minutes in, Les Reaney had the chance to put the Rush on top with a penalty shot, but missed the net. But at 8:18, Brendan Cook made it 5-4 for the road team after a miscommunication by the Colorado defense led to a turnover that he sent past Mike Mole. At that point, it was Colorado's turn to switch netminders and Andrew Penner entered the game in relief.

The swap seemed to swing momentum when Tobler tied the game back up under a minute later with a goal from the crease. Ulanski picked up the first assist on the goal, setting a new franchise record by registering an assist in his 11th straight game. Beaudry then stiffened, stoning Tobler a few minutes later in the first of several strong saves the rest of the stanza.

Each team tallied in the third to send the game into overtime. McGrane got his second goal of the game 1:31 in when Felipe Larranaga found him between the hashes with a pass from the left point. But the Rush knotted it up again, taking advantage of another Colorado turnover at 8:14. A giveaway in the left circle of the defensive zone left two Rush players behind the Eagles' defense and Blaine Jarvis backhanded the puck 5-hole on Penner from the low slot.

After a spirited five-minute overtime couldn't decide the game, the two clubs took part in a shootout that saw Beaudry beaten by all three Eagles shooters. Penner stopped three of four to claim the game's second point and close the gap for first place in the Northern Conference.

The two teams will meet again on Tuesday night in Rapid City.

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Central Hockey League Stories from February 14, 2010


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