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CHL Colorado Eagles

Nothing Special: 'Dogs Net 7 on Special Teams in Win

March 20, 2010 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - The Colorado Eagles fell, 7-6, to the Arizona Sundogs in a game that saw nine total special teams goals and 21 total power plays. Three players had multi-goal games in the back-and-forth affair that marked the second of three straight meetings between the inter-conference rivals.

The two teams combined for three power-play goals in an opening period that saw Arizona have a decided edge in man-advantage play. Joey Sides got the 'Dogs on the board at 8:47, during the third of three successive Arizona power plays, when he backhanded the puck into the net from the left side of the crease.

Just under four minutes after that, the Eagles were in the middle of killing a full two minutes of a 5-on-3 Arizona power play, when Steve Potvin poked home a Linus Fagemo rebound that had settled behind Mike Mole.

But under a minute later, Colorado converted on its first power play of the night -- after just 16 seconds -- when Ed McGrane continued his torrid pace and increased his league-leading goal total at 13:31. His seven-game goal streak is one off the franchise record.

Things continued in the second period as Potvin netted his second power-play goal of the night off of another rebound 4:14 in. But McGrane countered with his second score of the night -- the first even-strength goal of the game -- at 7:51, when he beat JF Perras from the right circle.

The teams traded goals the rest of the second stanza as Konrad Reeder made it 4-2 with Arizona's fourth power-play goal of the game, by tapping in a pass from Potvin, who sent the puck from between the circles to the former Eagle at the left side of the crease.

But Aaron Schneekloth made it a one-goal deficit for the Eagles once again just over a half minute later when he tapped in a Steve Haddon pass from the left point, while streaking down the slot and crashing the crease. Then, with Colorado on the power play, Fagemo made it 5-3 with a shorthanded breakaway goal past Mole at 17:10.

Fagemo got his second goal in a row 3:29 into the third period by backhanding a rebound from the left side of the crease in the first half of a Ryan McLeod double-minor. Nick Biondo then tallied in the second half to score Arizona's sixth power-play goal of the game (tying the record for most power-play goals allowed in a game in franchise history) with a tap-in from the doorstep.

But Colorado refused to back down, and Mario Joly made it 7-4 just 50 seconds later. And at 12:38, Felipe Larranaga ended the longest goal-drought on the team (his last score coming Nov. 25) with a blast from the point to make it 7-5.

Kevin Ulanski -- the league's leading scorer -- picked up his second point of the night, with just over four minutes left, when he was knocked down on a shorthanded breakaway and converted on the ensuing penalty shot by roofing a backhander past Perras.

With the game entering the final few minutes, 7-6, in favor of the home team, Colorado staged a strong attempt to tie as they nearly converted several times on a 6-on-4 advantage. But Perras and the Sundogs' defense stood strong to maintain the one-goal margin for the win.

The two teams will end their regular seasons Saturday night as they face-off for the third time in four days. After that, the Eagles' next game will come on Friday, March 26 when they host the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs in Game 1 of the Northern Conference Semifinals.

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Central Hockey League Stories from March 20, 2010


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