LeBlanc Nets Another OT Winner Against Eagles
February 27, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release
RAPID CITY, S.D. - The Colorado Eagles fell 3-2 in overtime to the Rapid City Rush as the top two teams in the Northern Conference squared off in the first game of a home-and-home set on back-to-back nights. It marked the second consecutive game between the clubs in which LeBlanc scored in the first minute of overtime. The overtime win increased Rapid City's lead in the conference to two points (77-75).
The Eagles' third line tallied the game's first goal midway through the opening period as Steve Haddon and Fraser Filipic worked a series of tape-to-tape passes out of their own zone to Jay Birnie cruising through neutral ice. Birnie then made a slick move at the offensive blue line and snapped a shot past Danny Battochio from the high slot.
Just as Derek LeBlanc ruined Andrew Penner's shutout bid 42 seconds into overtime the last time the teams met in Rapid City, LeBlanc ended the Eagles' shutout streak at 164 minutes and seven seconds when he tallied midway through the second period. The Rush took advantage of a 3-on-2 break as LeBlanc stepped out of the penalty box, pulled up in the right circle and put the puck past Penner.
Rapid City came out flying in the third period, out-shooting the Eagles 13-5, and taking a 2-1 lead 2:44 in when Les Reaney split the Colorado defense and backhanded the puck past Penner from the low slot.
But Kevin Ulanski tied it back up with a great individual effort three and a half minutes later -- during the second of two successive penalty kills -- when he picked up a turnover just outside his defensive blue line, sped down the ice and beat Battochio with a backhander of his own.
The score would remain deadlocked at 2 despite the Eagles getting three power play chances in the second half of the period, and for the third straight time, the Eagles and Rush would go past regulation to decide a winner.
Just as he had done in the previous meeting -- also in Rapid City -- LeBlanc scored early in overtime (this time 57 seconds in) to terrorize Penner with another tally after he picked up a loose puck along the benches, skated down the left wing, cut toward the crease and scored.
The teams will travel overnight to Loveland where they will face-off again Sunday night. The game is a make-up for a postponed contest on Dec. 26.
Central Hockey League Stories from February 27, 2010
- Corpus Christi Ice Rays and the Knoxville Ice Bears on this week's Puska on Pucks - OSC Original by Denis Puska
- IceRays come back to stun Bees in shootout - Corpus Christi IceRays
- LeBlanc's Overtime Goal Clinches Rapid City's First Playoff Berth With 3-2 Victory Over Eagles - Rapid City Rush
- Aikins Gets 2nd Straight Game-Winner - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Brahmas host hockey double header Sunday at NYTEX - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Brahmas "no shows" in southern showdown, lose 5-1 - Fort Worth Brahmas
- LeBlanc Nets Another OT Winner Against Eagles - Colorado Eagles
- Mavs Beat Thunder in OT, 4-3 - Kansas City Mavericks
- Bucks Move Back To Third With Huge Win - Laredo Bucks
- RiverKings earn weekend sweep - Mississippi RiverKings
- Amarillo stymied in Odessa - Amarillo Gorillas
- Mississippi power play outdoes shorthanded Americans 5-3 - Allen Americans
- Jackalopes win over Gorillas - Odessa Jackalopes
- Klempa Klutch, But Mavs' Win in OT - Wichita Thunder
- Americans Invade Mid-South Tonight - Mississippi RiverKings
- Bucks Host Showdown With Brahmas Tonight - Laredo Bucks
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