Eagles Win Ninth Straight at Home, 5-4 Over Gorillas
Published on December 8, 2006 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release
LOVELAND, CO- Ryan Tobler scored two goals including the game winner with 1:36 remaining in the third period to lift the Colorado Eagles over the Amarillo Gorillas 5-4 at the Budweiser Events Center. The Eagles won their ninth straight game at home, they haven't lost at the BEC since opening night on October 20th. Rich Hansen had four assists for the Gorillas as they almost came back to beat Colorado in the third period. Amarillo entered the third period down two goals, tied the game on goals by Chris Lipsett, but Tobler's marker proved the difference. Marco Emond won his league-leading 12th game of the season saving 23 of 27 shots and the Eagles extended their lead in the Northwest Division to four points over the Oklahoma City Blazers. The Eagles and Gorillas will square off again tomorrow night at the Budweiser Events Center at 7:05 p.m. MST.
Scott Polaski scored his sixth goal of the season to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead at the 7:50 mark of the first period. A power play goal on assists from Craig Strain and Ed McGrane. Amarillo tied the game at one on a goal from Bill Vandermeer only 37 seconds later. The Eagles took the lead again doing what they have done all season, scoring while on the penalty kill. Les Borsheim got behind the Amarillo net, tried a wrap around and Sean Robertson was there to pick up the rebound and scored the Eagles 14 shorthanded goal of the season. No other team in the Central Hockey League has more than five shorthanded goals this year. Vandermeer answered the call and tied the game yet again on a power play goal at the 16:51 mark of the period. Colorado out shot the Gorillas 13-10 in the period but the game was tied at two.
The Eagles took a 3-2 lead 4:22 into the second period on a great individual effort by Ryan Tobler. He carried the puck into the zone, skated to the top of the slot and beat Gorillas' goaltender Shawn Conschafter stick side. The Eagles added their fourth goal at the 8:12 mark when Craig Strain tipped an Aaron Schneekloth shot past Conschafter. The Eagles held on to the 4-2 lead for the remainder of the period.
Midway through the third period, Chris Lipsett made it a one goal game when he beat Eagles goaltender Marco Emond to the puck on a breakaway and easily tapped it into the net. It was a shorthanded goal, Amarillo's fifth shorty of the season. Less than two minutes later, Lipsett took a backdoor feed from Brent Hughes and tied the game at four. Colorado continued to battle and earned a power play for the final two minutes of the third period. The Eagles took a timeout with 1:41 remaining and had the game-winning goal with 1:36 remaining when Ryan Tobler jammed in a rebound for his second goal of the game. Colorado remains the only team in the CHL that has not gone to overtime although this was the closest they have come this season.
Central Hockey League Stories from December 8, 2006
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