CHL Colorado Eagles

Penner Wins 10th Straight

January 21, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


BROOMFIELD, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles defeated the Rocky Mountain Rage, 3-2, earning Andrew Penner's tenth win in a row -- the second-longest winning streak in franchise history -- and the team's sixth straight. The victory improved the Eagles lead in the Northwest Division to 17 points over the Rage.

The Eagles jumped out to a 2-1 lead after the first period on two goals by defenseman. The first score came at 3:48 after Greg Pankewicz took a shot from low in the left circle that Scott Polaski poked home from the crease; four of Polaski's eight goals this season have come against Rocky Mountain.

Jason Beatty was the next Eagles defensemen to tally, netting his first goal of the season at 16:11 on a shot from the same place as Pankewicz's earlier attempt. The defensive defenseman reacted late to the goal as it somehow snuck through Scott Reid's pads; it was his first goal since March 12, 2008 -- also against the Rage. Rocky Mountain made it 2-1 a minute later by taking advantage of their third power play in the period when Tyler Butler scored on a shot from the point, through a screen in front of Penner.

Konrad Reeder made it 3-1 after two periods when he scored just 1:45 into the second frame from low in the right circle. Rocky Mountain then failed to score on an Aaron Schneekloth penalty five minutes in, and had a golden opportunity midway through when Nathan O'Nabigon rung a shot off the left post on a breakaway coming out of the penalty box. The Rage were able to keep the game close by killing a four minute high-sticking, double-minor to Mark Smith as the period came to an end.

Daymen Rycroft cut Colorado's lead to 3-2 with Rocky Mountain's second power-play goal of the game less than a minute and a half into the final frame when he swooped in to chip a loose puck over Penner from the goal line just right of the net. Reid and the Rage stayed strong the rest of the way to keep the Eagles from expanding the lead -- his best stop coming with just three minutes left when he moved right to left to rob Schneekloth from the doorstep -- but Rocky Mountain couldn't beat Penner on his way to 10 wins in a row.

The Eagles will travel to Prescott Valley, Ariz. for a weekend set with the defending champion Sundogs on Friday and Saturday.

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Central Hockey League Stories from January 21, 2009


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