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CHL Colorado Eagles

Iannazzo Scores Game-Winner, Sets up Insurance Goal

December 29, 2007 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


LOVELAND, Colo. - Bryan Bridges saved 30 of 31 shots in his second CHL start to help the Eagles past the Blazers, 3-1, in an important divisional match-up. Both Colorado and Oklahoma City played a tight defensive game and shut down the other's power play opportunities in an always-entertaining game between the two teams.

It took only 30 seconds for Fraser Filipic and Graham Dearle to renew acquaintances as the two pugilists squared off at center ice; the fight went decidedly in Filipic's favor as Dearle failed to land a solid punch. It was the first time the two have been on the ice together since Filipic knocked Dearle out in last year's playoffs. The Eagles got the only goal of the period at 10:19 -- just five seconds after their first power play opportunity expired -- when Jason Beatty beat Jason Wolfe from high in the left circle. Colorado dominated play in the period, out-shooting the Blazers 14-7, but struggled to get the puck past Wolfe's large frame (6-5, 235) despite several quality chances.

The Blazers evened the game's momentum in the second, out-shooting the Eagles 14-8, but their deficit would remain the same at one goal. Colorado climbed to a brief two-goal lead at 17:50 when Ed McGrane passed the puck from the red line along the benches, to Dave Iannazzo on the opposite side of the ice entering the offensive zone. Iannazzo skated to the top of the right circle and threw a rocket of a shot past Wolfe, beating the goaltender 5-hole. But just 17 seconds later, Dallas Flaman countered for Oklahoma City when he tried a centering pass from below the goal line, but the puck hit McGrane's skate and went into the Eagles' net.

The first seven and a half minutes of the third were consumed by one or both teams taking penalties, but no goals were registered as each team failed to score on the power play all night; the Blazers went 0-8 and the Eagles went 0-6. The game remained tight until the final minute when Iannazzo fought to free a puck in the right corner and poked it free into the slot. Seth Leonard picked it up and was able to shuffle it across the goal line on his second chance to put the game away with 58 seconds remaining.

Colorado now heads off on a four-game road trip, starting December 31 in Wichita and ending January 6 in Laredo. Their first game back at the Budweiser Events Center will be January 9 when they host the Thunder.

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