Rage Outplay Eagles but Lose, 4-2

Published on December 6, 2008 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Rocky Mountain Rage News Release


Loveland, Colo. - Down 2-0 just two minutes into the game, the Rocky Mountain Rage out-played the Colorado Eagles over the final 58 minutes of tonight's Front Range showdown at the Budweiser Events Center but still lost, 4-2.

Scott Polaski led off the scoring for the Eagles at 1:23 of the first with a power play goal. Then moments after Colorado netminder Andrew Penner stymied Rage d-man Nick Harloff on a golden chance, the Eagles went back up ice on the counter-attack. Konrad Reeder found Greg Pankewicz for the latter's first of two on the evening, and in a span of 40 seconds the Eagles led 2-0. The Rage quickly righted the ship after facing the early deficit and entered the second still down by a pair.

Rocky Mountain asserted its will in the middle period, out-shooting their hosts, 15-5. The club finally solved Penner at 12:49 when Colt King scored his sixth of the season off a scramble in the low slot. It looked as if the Rage would enter the third down by just a goal, but again on the counter-attack the Eagles restored their two-goal advantage. Riley Nelson cut into the slot off the rush and managed to beat Rocky Mountain netminder Marty Magers at 19:40 to answer the Rage's impressive 20 minutes of play.

Rocky Mountain's penalty kill pulled the team back within one early in the third. On the Rage's third great short-handed scoring chance on the same Colorado power play, Nathan O'Nabigon was sprung on a break-away by Simon Watson at 3:43 and proceeded to beat Penner to the blocker side. Still trailing by a single tally after the penalty kill thwarted two subsequent Eagles power plays, Rocky Mountain pulled Magers in favor of the extra attacker. After one promising flurry in front of Penner for the Rage, Colorado cleared the puck through center for Pankewicz, who scored on the empty net at 19:50 to seal the 4-2 win.

Despite the fine effort, Rocky Mountain still had its struggles with the extra man, going 0 for 7 on the power play in what might have been the difference in the game. With the loss, the Rage drop to 6-11-1 and into a third place tie with the Wichita Thunder with 13 points, two behind the second-place Rapid City.

Rocky Mountain now returns home for a two-game set against the Arizona Sundogs on Dec. 10 and 12 at Broomfield Event Center. Face-off is 7:05 p.m. for both tilts.

Individual tickets for the games against the Sundogs are available for as low as $5 for kids 12 and under (with the purchase of at least one adult ticket) and cost just $10 for students with a valid ID. Tickets may be purchased at the BEC Box Office, www.Ticketmaster.com, charge-by-phone at (303) 830-TIXS, and all Ticketmaster retail outlets.

Season tickets and mini-plans for the 2008-09 campaign are still available, as well, with packages beginning as low as $17 per seat. For more information, visit www.rockymountainrage.com, or contact the Rage Ticket Sales Staff at (303) 439-RAGE or tickets@broomfieldsports.com.

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Central Hockey League Stories from December 6, 2008


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