CHL Colorado Eagles

Scorpions Snap 10-Game Losing Streak to Eagles

Published on November 30, 2007 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


RIO RANCHO, N.M. - The New Mexico Scorpions defeated the Colorado Eagles 4-3 to break a 10-game losing streak against the President's Cup champs. Craig Macdonald had two goals for the Scorpions -- one the game-winner -- and New Mexico used its power play to score all four goals in the win. The Eagles remain seven points behind the Rocky Mountain Rage in the Northwest Division as the Rage fell by the same score to the Arizona Sundogs.

Mitch Stephens put New Mexico on top early when he backhanded a Michael Kolarz rebound past Marco Emond for a power play goal at 5:15 of the first period. Colorado answered at 13:28 after a hard hit by Jason Beatty along the boards helped keep the puck in the zone and Riley Nelson's shot from the point was deflected past Andrew Martin by Seth Leonard in front of the net. Greg Pankewicz earned the second assist on the play, adding to his team-leading 25 points. The Eagles went down two men when at 15:18, Leonard was called for roughing (only his second penalty of the season), and 31 seconds later, Emond was called for delay of game as he played the puck at the edge of the trapezoid behind the goal line. The Scorpions converted with just 11 seconds left on Leonard's penalty to make it 2-1 when Macdonald put the puck past the Eagles' goalie from in close for their second power play goal of the period; New Mexico entered the game with the sixth-best home power play in the league at 23.2 percent.

The Eagles tied the game at two with their own power play goal just 1:05 into the second period. A Paul Esdale point shot was deflected down low by Aaron Schneekloth, with Pankewicz getting his second assist of the night. Later in the period, Emond made a save after a spectacular 360-degree spinning move by the Scorpions' leading scorer (and former Eagle), Konrad Reeder. Emond made another good save just over six and a half minutes in, with the Eagles again on the penalty kill. After making the initial stop and scrambling to cover the puck with a slew of Scorpions banging at it in the crease, Ray Ortiz was able to push it past the goal line for a 3-2 lead and New Mexico's third power play goal of the game. Colorado went into the second intermission with a record of 1-5-1 when trailing after two periods this season, but knowing that they had won the last 10 meetings against the Scorpions.

New Mexico expanded their lead 5:30 into the third with their fourth power play goal of the night. A Reeder shot from the point deflected off of Aaron MacInnis' skate and right to a wide open Macdonald at the side of the net. Fraser Filipic got the Eagles back within a goal less than a minute and a half later when he followed a Scott Polaski shot from the right circle and tossed the rebound in from the low slot. Ed McGrane got the second assist, extending his seven-game point streak. But that's as close as Colorado would come as they lost another one-goal game; 10 of their 16 games this season have been decided by a single score (5-3-2). The Eagles road record fell to 1-4-2 and they play two games in the next two days in Amarillo where they have an all-time record of 3-5-1. Colorado also fell to 1-5-0 when failing to score at least four goals.

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Central Hockey League Stories from November 30, 2007


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