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CHL Colorado Eagles

Miscues Lead to Eagles Loss in Opener

October 15, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


LOVELAND, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles lost their home opener to the Arizona Sundogs, 5-3, in front of their record 268th consecutive sellout crowd at the Budweiser Events Center. Several turnovers and blue line miscues, along with a fairly ineffective power play for Colorado helped lead the Sundogs to victory.

The Sundogs got out to a hot start in scoring the game's first two goals. Chase Watson opened the scoring at 8:22 by deflecting a left point from Clayton Barthel at 8:22. And just over two and a half minutes later, Arizona made it 2-0 with a shorthanded goal after a turnover by the Eagles at their own blue line.

On the play, Jason Williams poke-checked the puck off of Riley Nelson's stick as the Eagles captain was exiting his own zone. The puck made its way to Joey Sides who went in on a breakaway before rattling a backhander off the cage and past Andrew Penner. But at 15:28, Nelson atoned for his earlier mistake by cutting the 'Dogs lead in half with a power-play score from the point.

Colorado got two more in the second period -- one in the first and last minute -- to take a 3-2 lead into the third. Daymen Rycroft tied the game 55 seconds in with a rocket from the left circle into the top right corner of the net. Adam Hogg set up the score by forcing a turnover in the neutral zone and sending the Eagles' newest veteran in on a breakaway.

The Eagles out-shot the Sundogs 14-6 in the second period and their last shot is the one that gave them their only lead of the game. With under a second left, Scott May wound up in the right circle and beat Bobby Jarosz for the team's second power-play goal of the game.

The Sundogs returned the favor with a quick strike in the third period, tying the game at 3. Just 59 seconds into the frame, Watson picked up the puck along the right wing, just inside the offensive zone, skated toward the net and sent a backhand pass into the low slot for Steve Kaye to tip home. It was their first of three goals in the period, on just five total shots.

At 7:03, Kaye had a chance to put another puck past Penner, but the Eagles goalie stopped Kaye's penalty shot with his right foot. But less than a minute later, the 'Dogs re-took the lead that they wouldn't relinquish after Kyle Peto pinched at the blue line and missed the puck, sending Arizona on a 3-on-1 rush the other way. After a series of tic-tac-toe passes, Mark Kolanos converted the chance to make it 4-3.

Colorado had a chance to tie the game back up with a lengthy 4-on-3 power play a few minutes later, but came up empty as their power play went just 2-for-8 on the night. And with 1:53 left in the game, Brett Thurston couldn't catch a flying puck at the offensive blue line and Jason Williams sped past him down the left wing before depositing the final goal of the game.

The two teams will meet again Saturday night at the Budweiser Events Center.

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