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CHL Colorado Eagles

Laplante Leads Eagles to 2-0 Series Lead

March 30, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


LOVELAND, Colo. - Sebastien Laplante pitched a shutout and the Colorado Eagles specialty teams continued their hot streak against the Youngstown SteelHounds in a 5-0 victory of Game Two of the Northern Conference Semi-Finals. The Eagles will now head to Youngstown with a 2-0 series lead and games on April 1, 3 and possibly the 4th (if necessary).

The night got off to a good start before the puck was even dropped as Head Coach Chris Stewart was presented with the Rick Kozuback Award by Duane Lewis, Vice President of Operations for the Central Hockey League. The annual award is handed out to the "owner, front office staff member, coach or player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, determination and commitment to the game, sport and business of hockey."

As is typical between these two physical teams, the first period had plenty of chippiness, culminating in David Simoes and Brett Thurston dropping the gloves at 18:34. Neither team was able to score in the first 20 minutes, but both carried momentum for stretches. The Eagles came out strong, generating multiple scoring opportunities, but never totally clicking, while Youngstown controlled the middle part of the period before power-plays took hold for one team or the other as the period wound down. All-in-all, Youngstown went 0-2 on the man-advantage and Colorado was 0-1.

Colorado took control of the game with a superb second period. Laplante and the Eagles' penalty-killers shrugged off multiple close calls in the period's first few minutes, with shots being 18-4 in favor of the SteelHounds at the 17 minute mark. The Eagles' offense made that defensive effort all the more important by taking control of the middle part of the period and scoring three goals (two on the power play). The game's opening goal came at 6:35 when Ryan Tobler controlled the puck just inside the offensive zone before hitting the breaks and sending a pass to Erik Adams who unleashed a rocket past Andy Franck from high in the left circle on the power play; it was Colorado's first shot of the period and just their 5th of the game. The power-play struck again at 9:04 when Brad Williamson's shot from between the circles hit the post to the left of Franck and the rebound dropped into the crease where Seth Leonard tapped it home. The goal was Leonard's second in as many nights after registering the game-winner in Game One. Greg Pankewicz made it 3-0 less than two minutes later when he knocked in a Steve Haddon rebound that was sliding through the crease. The Eagles were so dominant during the period's middle 10 minutes that Youngstown registered just a single shot on goal.

Both teams exchanged unsuccessful 5-on-3 opportunities before the Eagles added two more tallies for the final margin in the third. Colorado added their 3rd power-play goal of the game at 13:34 when Les Borsheim threw a shot at Franck from the left faceoff dot. The SteelHounds goaltender kicked the rebound out between the circles where Borsheim put his own rebound into the net for his second goal in as many nights. Laplante wasn't done either, making his most spectacular save with 1:31 left to keep his shutout in tact. Laplante stacked the pads and slid to his left as he snared a shot from close in with his glove. Ed McGrane added the final goal with 46.9 seconds left by pitch-forking the puck from center on his backhand into an empty net.

Colorado converted three of seven power plays on the night and killed all nine Youngstown man-advantage chances as well. In the first two games of the series, the Eagles are 5-14 (35.7%) on the power play and 19-21(90.5%) on the penalty kill. If necessary, Games Six and Seven will be back at the Budweiser Events Center on Tuesday, April 8 and Wednesday, April 9.

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Central Hockey League Stories from March 30, 2008


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