Rush Kill Eagles' Winning Streak
Published on December 27, 2009 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release
LOVELAND, Colo. - The Rapid City Rush defeated the Colorado Eagles, 5-2, to stop Colorado's eight-game winning streak. The Rush, who entered the game with the CHL's top penalty-killing unit, successfully killed all seven of the Eagles' man-advantage chances in the second showdown in a row between the top two clubs in the Northern Conference.
Rapid City added a shorthanded goal and two power-play scores of their own as special teams led them to their second win in a row at the Budweiser Events Center; previously, the Rush had never won at the BEC.
The Rush showed why their penalty kill is ranked No. 1 in the league by keeping the Eagles off the board despite a 4-0 advantage in power plays during the first period. They were so effective that, despite often being down a man, they held a 13-11 edge in shots as well.
Colorado had several quality chances just miss in the opening stanza, and the Rush took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission by taking advantage of two Eagles miscues. Brendon Hodge opened the scoring at 5:02 when he was left alone in the slot and Derek LeBlanc found him at the right hashes with a pass from the right corner.
Jamie VanderVeeken then picked up the Rush's second score at 18:46 of the first with an odd goal that resulted from Andrew Penner misplaying a Rapid City shorthanded clearing dump. The defenseman sent the puck up the right wing wall and out of his own zone, and the puck bounced toward the net where it snuck between the legs the Eagles' goalie and just over the goal line.
Colorado got on the scoreboard 2:25 into the second period when Steve Haddon sent a nifty pass to Fraser Filipic, who cut across the doorstep and put the puck behind Miguel Beaudry. But the Rush added two power-play goals before the second intermission to take a 4-1 lead into the third period.
Rapid City's first second period goal came at 4:54 when LeBlanc and Rich Hansen played pass behind the Eagles' net before LeBlanc made his way in front and snapped a shot past Penner on the stick side. Jon Pelle got the next goal on a power-play late in the frame when he wound up and fired a shot from the right circle just inside the left post.
Ryan Tobler cut the Rush's lead in half at the 12 minute mark of the final frame when Aaron Schneekloth carried the puck down the left wing, entered the offensive zone and found the Eagles' forward in the high slot. But that was as much as Colorado could muster, and Blaine Jarvis added an empty-net goal from center ice with 1:13 left to play to account for the final score.
The Eagles will now head to Missouri for a New Year's Eve game as they begin a five-game road trip. Their next home game will be Friday, Jan. 15 against the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs.
Central Hockey League Stories from December 27, 2009
- Rush Kill Eagles' Winning Streak - Colorado Eagles
- Americans Come Back, Squeak By 'Bugs In Shootout - Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
- Americans Win In Shootout 4-3 Over Bossier-Shreveport - Allen Americans
- Palmer And Brahmas Stone Wichita In 2-0 Shutout - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Bucks Let One Slip Against Tulsa - Laredo Bucks
- 'Dogs Drop Second Straight One-Goal Game. Fall To Jackalopes, 4-3 - Arizona Sundogs
- Ramsay's Game-Winner Gives Odessa A 4-3 Win - Odessa Jackalopes
- Brown's Shutout Leads Amarillo To Victory - Amarillo Gorillas
- Thunder Blanked By Brahmas - Wichita Thunder
- Bucks Host Tulsa Today, Look To Snap Skid - Laredo Bucks
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