Ray Miron Presidents' Cup Finals Game 3 Recap
Published on May 17, 2011 under Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release
Turning on the afterburners in the third period, the Colorado Eagles came-from-behind with four unanswered goals to top the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs 4-2 in Game 3 of the Ray Miron Presidents' Cup Finals on Tuesday night in Bossier City, LA.
The win gives the Eagles a 2-1 series lead with Game 4 set for Thursday night at the CenturyTel Center.
Kevin Ulanski's third period charge of two goals and an assist led the comeback effort for the Eagles who trailed 2-0 entering the final period.
There was a great early pace to the game with each team flying around creating chances. John DeCaro was tested a bit earlier than Andrew Penner having to be sharp off a ricochet off the end boards that rolled out in front of the net.
Through 11 minutes of the game, the Mudbugs did not have a shot on net but at the 11:03 mark did get the game's first power play and made it count scoring the game's first goal at the 11:35 mark of the opening period with their first shot of the game. Justin Aikins scored the goal, his seventh of the playoffs, assisted by David Rutherford (has points in six of his last seven games) and Jim Jorgensen.
The Eagles got their first power play just minutes after Aikins goal but the Mudbugs defense thwarted that man advantage and even had a breakaway as the minor expired with the guilty party, Andy Contois, getting the chance but getting himself too deep without a great scoring chance against Penner.
The ¬ËBugs would carry their lead into the first intermission despite being outshot 14-4 by the Eagles. DeCaro was perfect in the first 20 minutes stopping all 14 shots he faced.
In the second period, the best early chance came from the Mudbugs with Brett Smith and Steven Crampton creating a two-man game that led to Crampton, in close quarters, getting a good scoring chance away on Penner.
After the teams exchanged power play chances in the middle frame, the Mudbugs struck again. A turnover in the neutral zone by the Eagles, just outside their own blue line, led to a 2-on-1 with Nick Layton and Rutherford with the amateur Layton using his teammate on the right wing as a decoy eventually beating Penner. Shawn Limpright and Rutherford earned the assist giving the ¬ËBugs a 2-0 lead.
The Mudbugs outshot the Eagles 8-6 in the second period but trailed 20-12 for the game through 40 minutes.
The Mudbugs were awarded an early power play chance in the third period and had a few looks including one from right in front of the net by Limpright but the Eagles and Penner bent but did not break keeping the game at a two-goal deficit.
Throughout most of the first half of the third period, the Eagles had sustained pressure and were all over Bossier-Shreveport. Finally they broke through with a slap shot from Jason Beatty, his second of the playoffs, assisted by Ulanski and Adam Chorneyko at the 7:54 mark pulling Colorado to within a goal.
The Eagles got back to even on the power play with less than 10 minutes remaining in the period as a rebound found Ulanski on the doorstep and he buried a one-timer past DeCaro for his seventh goal of the playoffs. Scott May and Kyle Peto earned the assists making the score 2-2.
Ulanski then solidified his spot as the game's hero with just 2:34 remaining in the game with a one-timer from the right circle that beat DeCaro just above the left shoulder and just under the cross bar. Ulanski had not scored a goal since Game 4 in the conference finals but came through with two scores on Tuesday.
Dan Sullivan added an empty-net goal putting the icing on the cake and completing the comeback for Colorado who finished with four unanswered goals in the Game 3 win.
Colorado finished with a +12 shot advantage (31-19) in the game as DeCaro finished with 27 saves taking the loss and Penner earned the win making 17 stops, he is now 8-2 in the post-season.
Central Hockey League Stories from May 17, 2011
- Colorado Rallies to Snatch Game 3 - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Ray Miron Presidents' Cup Finals Game 3 Recap - CHL
- Eagles Score Four Unanswered in Come-From-Behind Win - Colorado Eagles
- RiverKings Tee off on Autism - Mississippi RiverKings
- Leading Scorer Kyle Hood Back for 2011-12 Season - Arizona Sundogs
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