CHL Colorado Eagles

McGrane's OT Winner Evens Finals Series at One

Published on May 1, 2009 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


LOVELAND, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles evened up the Ray Miron President's Cup Finals with the Texas Brahmas with a 5-4 overtime win in Game 2. Ed McGrane notched his team-leading eighth goal of the playoffs while on a 4-on-3 power play in overtime to send the series to Texas knotted up at one.

The festivities took on a somber moment prior to puck-drop as the Eagles honored two members of the organization's family with a moment of silence. Earlier this week the Eagles lost both backup play-by-play broadcaster Rich Bircumshaw and one of the team's original investors, Jim Ball.

Colorado got off to a quick start before spending the better part of the second half of the opening period in the penalty box (they were called for five penalties in a row, spending nearly eight consecutive minutes in the box). Riley Nelson extended his point streak to nine games with a goal 2:03 in after Jay Birnie freed up the puck in the left corner and sent it into the middle of the offensive zone for Nelson to put past Brett Jaeger.

But the Brahmas took advantage of two five-on-three goals from Scott Sheppard to take a 2-1 lead into the first intermission as the Texas forward beat Andrew Penner twice from the left circle. Sheppard also got the game-winner in Game 1 and led both teams in scoring in last year's playoff matchup.

Just like in Game 1, the Eagles controlled much of the second period, out-shooting the Brahmas 17-9 in this one. They were able to even the score at 2 with a power-play score of their own -- on their first power play chance since five minutes into the first period -- when Konrad Reeder got his first power-play goal of the playoffs.

The tying goal came at 7:16 -- with five seconds left in the power play -- when Adam Hogg sent a shot on Jaeger from the right midboards and Reeder was able to put home Colorado's second swipe at the rebound from the left side of the crease.

Then, at the exact moment their third power play was expiring, Scott Polaski's shot from above the left circle deflected off a defender's stick in front and went under the crossbar to make it 3-2. The assist for Hogg gave him the first three-point game of his pro career (all assists).

Colorado stretched their lead to 4-2 with a goal 3:19 into the third after Jaeger turned the puck over behind his own net. Brett Hammond picked off the puck and fed Hogg from below the goal line. Hogg's shot hit off the goal post, and landed in the crease where Birnie was able to poke it in. Hogg's fourth assist set a new franchise playoff record for assists in a game.

Brahmas Head Coach Dan Wildfong called a timeout to regroup and it paid huge dividends as Texas answered just 16 seconds later. Sheppard sent a backhand flip from below the goal line and Jason Deitsch, who was crashing the left side of the crease, where he knocked it out of mid-air and past Penner.

Then, at 8:58, with the Eagles on their fourth power play of the night, Brandon Benedict converted a turnover at the Colorado blueline into a 4-4 tie. It marked the first shorthanded goal scored against the Eagles in the playoffs, but came as no shock as the two teams tied for the regular season lead with 19 shorties apiece.

Despite a 5-4 disadvantage in overtime shots, Colorado controlled most of the play in the attacking zone but whiffed on several chances to get the puck on net. But at 8:28, McGrane scored a four-on-three power-play tally for his team-leading fourth man-advantage marker. The Eagles forward took a cross-ice pass from Nelson and blazed a shot past the Brahmas' netminder from the right circle to even the series.

Game 3 of the President's Cup Finals will be played at the NYTEX Sports Centre in North Richland Hills, Texas on Sunday; puck-drop is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. (MST).

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Central Hockey League Stories from May 1, 2009


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