CHL Colorado Eagles

Early Burst Sets Up Eagles Win vs. Rage

Published on December 6, 2008 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


LOVELAND, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles scored two goals in the first 2:03 of play on the way to a 4-2 win over the Rocky Mountain Rage. Greg Pankewicz led all scorers with a four-point night and Konrad Reeder, Ed McGrane and Riley Nelson each added a pair of points in the Eagles' win. Andrew Penner stopped 31 of 33 shots to backstop the victory.

After not playing in a week, the Eagles started out flying and carried play for the first half of the period. Goals by Scott Polaski just 1:23 in and Pankewicz at 2:03 put Colorado out to an early advantage, and they could have easily had two or three more scores with the way they were creating scoring chances. The Rage stabilized after that, but failed to create many scoring opportunities of their own.

Polaski's goal came on the power play when his drive from the top of the left circle deflected off a Rage defenseman at the left hash and beat Marty Magers low. Pankewicz and McGrane picked up the assists. Just forty seconds later, Pankewicz scored one for himself off assists from Reeder and McGrane again. After a big save by Penner, the play moved down the ice and Pankewicz and Reeder entered the zone at center ice before the Eagles' captain cut across the doorstep from left to right and put the puck past the Rage goaltender.

Rocky Mountain dominated play in the second period, out-shooting the Eagles 15-5; Colorado didn't register their first shot until the 10:23 mark. But the Rage still had difficulty beating Penner who even snuffed a 2-on-0 rush at 11:10. Colt King added to his team-leading point total with a rebound goal at 12:49 after the Eagles couldn't clear the puck from low in the right circle and the Rage finally put it in the net on their third crack. But despite the lopsided period of play, Nelson evened the second period scoring on the Eagles' fourth shot of the period at 19:40 when he burst into the offensive zone on the right wing, cut to the middle of the ice and beat Magers from the slot.

The Rage cut Colorado's lead to 3-2 at 3:43 of the third when Simon Watson banked a pass off the bench boards to send Nathan O'Nabigon on a successful short-handed breakaway. Magers kept the Rage in the game, coming up with several big stops throughout the third, with possibly his biggest save coming on a Reeder and McGrane rush. But with the clock ticking down, Magers was pulled from the net and Pankewicz added his second goal -- and fourth point -- of the night with 10 seconds left to seal the victory.

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Central Hockey League Stories from December 6, 2008


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