ECHL Colorado Eagles

Forney Plays Hero in Eagles' Comeback, OT Win in Utah

March 8, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah - The Colorado Eagles defeated the Utah Grizzlies, 4-3, in overtime in the first of three straight meetings between the rivals this weekend. Michael Forney moved within four goals and seven points of the ECHL lead in both categories with a three-point night (2-1-3) that included the game-tying goal in the third period & the game-winning goal just 15 seconds into the extra session.

The Grizzlies controlled most of the play in the first period, out-shooting the Eagles, 13-7, and netting the frame's only goal. The tally came following a failed odd-man rush for Colorado; as the action moved the opposite direction, former Eagle Tommy Maxwell converted Utah's odd-man rush 3:32 in.

Despite Colorado's top-ranked power play having five and a half minutes of man-advantage time to start the second stanza against the worst penalty-kill unit in the league, the Eagles trailed 2-0 when things got back to even strength. That's because the Grizzlies tallied a short-handed goal when a partial 5-on-3 expired right as David Eddy was coming out of the penalty box and he was able to beat Adam Brown on a breakaway three and a half minutes into the period.

After Colorado failed to convert on another power play chance five minutes later, they benefitted from a similar sequence as in the first frame when Kevin Ulanski converted an odd-man rush after the Grizzlies failed on their own at the opposite end of the ice. But Utah re-took a two-goal lead at 15:13 when Cody Carlson threw the puck on net from the point during a power play and it deflected into the Eagles' cage.

Colorado completed its comeback in the third period, starting just over three minutes in when Jarrett Rush sent a cross-ice pass from the left midboards to Matt Strueby, who one-timed it home to extend his point streak to six games.

Utah continued to get into penalty trouble, and midway through the frame, the Eagles were awarded over a minute's worth of 5-on-3 play, which they turned into the tying goal, when Trent Daavettila send a back-door pass through the crease to Forney for an easy tap-in.

With neither team scoring the rest of the way, the game went to overtime -- as it so often does between the Eagles and Grizzlies (especially in Utah). And just moments into the extra time, Forney intercepted a pass along the left wing at the offensive blue line, skated in on Adam Morrison and ended the game.

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