Nelson, Laplante Lead Eagles Over Scorpions 6-0
Published on February 17, 2008 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release
RIO RANCHO, N.M. - The Colorado Eagles snapped the longest road-losing streak in their history in emphatic fashion with a 6-0 win over the New Mexico Scorpions. Riley Nelson's four points and Sebastien Laplante's 26-save shutout - the first of the season for Colorado and 30th in franchise history - helped set the tone as the Eagles closed to within four points of Rocky Mountain atop the division.
Colorado played a solid first period, coming away with a 2-0 lead after the first 20 minutes. Seth Leonard extended his point streak to eight games at 2:47 when he put an Erik Adams rebound past Andrew Martin from the left side of the crease for the game's first goal. Then, after Laplante turned aside a few quality short-handed chances near the five-minute mark, Nelson made it 2-0 with his seventh power play goal of the year. Nelson and Brad Williamson played catch at the top of the power-play umbrella before the Eagles forward one-timed a shot past Martin from high in the right circle; the goal gave Nelson the league's longest current scoring streak at 10 games.
The Eagles doubled their lead to 4-0 in the middle frame, out-shooting the Scorpions 16-8. At 12:19, Colorado's All-Star defenseman made his presence felt on the power play. Aaron Schneekloth, returning to the lineup after five games, skated the puck into the middle of the offensive zone and got off a shot that Nelson converted for his second power play goal of the game. At 16:50, Steve Haddon stole the puck in the New Mexico zone and quickly wristed a shot off the crossbar and in for the Eagles fourth goal of the game.
Colorado's penalty killers helped close out the victory with a goal and some key kills as time wound down. Around the 16 minute mark, Martin stoned Nelson's bid for a hat trick when the Scorpions' goalie flashed his left pad on an Eagles odd-man rush. And just a minute and a half later, Nelson came close again as Leonard threw a short-handed shot on net where Nelson was crashing and the puck deflected past Martin (it appeared that Nelson might have touched it last, the goal will be reviewed). Schneekloth struck again at 13:40 when he tipped the game's final goal into the New Mexico net. Colorado's penalty killers finished the period and the game strong with a 5-on-3 kill as time ran down and a separate penalty kill in the game's final two minutes to help preserve the shutout.
Central Hockey League Stories from February 17, 2008
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