Rage drop 4-2 decision to Eagles
March 12, 2008 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rocky Mountain Rage News Release
Loveland, Colo. - In the final game of their 12-game regular season series, the Rocky Mountain Rage were defeated by the Colorado Eagles, 4-2, at the Budweiser Events Center. Winning the season series with a record of 7-4-1 was of little consolation to the Rage as they fell behind the Eagles by a season-high three points in the Northwest Division with just five games to play in the regular season.
One evening after besting Colorado, 4-3 in a shootout at Broomfield Event Center, Rocky Mountain jumped out to a 1-0 lead off a power play goal by Daymen Rycroft at 14:15 of the first. Rycroft now leads the CHL with 47 goals overall and 23 power play markers.
The Eagles' Ed McGrane tied the game at one 5:16 into the middle frame as he knifed to the doorstep and beat Terry Dunbar off the forehand. Back out front went the Rage when Rob Chappell scored his second goal of the year in as many nights at 14:56, sending the puck through Sebastien Laplante off a feed from Colt King.
For the second consecutive evening, Rocky Mountain carried a one-goal lead into the third only to see Colorado tie the game. Ryan Tobler fired home a wrist shot from the left circle at 7:22 to square the game at two. Unlike last night when the teams eventually went to overtime, though, tonight the Eagles continued into the lead. Jason Beatty walked from the neutral zone all the way to the doorstep before beating Dunbar five-hole at 14:39 for the unassisted game-winner. Greg Pankewicz then added an empty-netter for the final difference at 18:26.
The Rage are second in the Northwest Division with a record of 35-19-5 and 75 points and still sit in third position overall in the Northern Conference. But the Texas Brahmas (74 pts.), Youngstown SteelHounds (73 pts.), and Mississippi RiverKings (72 pts.) are all well within striking distance with one game in hand. Five teams in the North are vying for the four remaining playoff spots out of the conference. Only the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs have secured a berth in the post-season.
Rocky Mountain now returns to Broomfield Event Center to play its final two home games of the regular season. On Saturday at 7:05 p.m., the team will wear St. Patrick's Day-themed jerseys while hosting the New Mexico Scorpions. Following the game, the jerseys will be auctioned off to benefit the Broomfield Event Center Foundation.
The home slate concludes on Sunday at 3:05 p.m. when the Tulsa Oilers visit Broomfield. Fans are then invited to attend a post-game party with the entire team at the new LoDo's Bar & Grill in Westminster at 104th Ave. and Federal Blvd.
Single-game tickets for Saturday and Sunday's games are still available with prices ranging from $18 - $43 per seat (parking included). Fans can purchase tickets at Broomfield Event Center's box office or through Ticketmaster by logging-on to www.Ticketmaster.com, calling (303) 830-TIXS, or visiting any Ticketmaster retail outlet.
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Central Hockey League Stories from March 12, 2008
- Rage drop 4-2 decision to Eagles - Rocky Mountain Rage
- Beatty's Game-Winner Improves Eagles' Lead to Three - Colorado Eagles
- Rays hit speedbump, fall to Bats 4-1 - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Bats Top Corpus 4-1, Take Over Final Playoff Spot - Austin Ice Bats
- Rio's O'Leary earns callup to AHL - Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
- Two Mudbugs Nominated For CHL Awards - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Greg Pankewicz's Hat Trick Voted Performance Of The Week - CHL
- Arizona Sundogs Notes - Arizona Sundogs
- Pivotal Playoff Implications This Week for Bats - Austin Ice Bats
- Pivotal Playoff Implications This Week for Bats - Austin Ice Bats
- Sundogs Top Scorpions 5-4 in Overtime, Increase Lead in Division to Four Points - Arizona Sundogs
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