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Colorado Eagles

Slow Start Stings Scorpions Again

January 31, 2009 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


LOVELAND, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles defeated the New Mexico Scorpions 5-2 as the familiar storyline of slow starts continued for the Scorpions, who have now been out-scored in the opening period by a margin of 71-41 on the year. Morgan Cey stopped 38 of 40 shots in a solid performance in net for the Eagles and Ed McGrane added two goals, including the game-winner.

For the second game in a row, the Eagles used an early outburst to build a 3-0 lead against the Scorpions. The red-hot Adam Hogg registered the game's first goal at 3:21 when he received a fantastic pass from Erik Adams coming out of the penalty box before beating Ryan Gibb on a breakaway. The goal gave Hogg a career high in points (12-7-19) and marked the first time in his career that he's scored a goal in three consecutive games.

Colorado made it 2-0 just 57 seconds later when Riley Nelson picked up a turnover at the center red line and took it the other way before finding Ryan Tobler in the right circle for a scoring blast. And at 12:25, McGrane notched his second goal in as many games -- after not scoring since January 2 -- when his shot from the high slot beat Gibb high on the blocker side.

Also for the second game in a row, goaltender Kyle McNulty replaced Gibb in the second period -- only this time it was at the start and not in the middle. And just 80 seconds into the period, Greg Pankewicz renewed acquaintances with another former Eagle when he and Adam Knight dropped the gloves deep in the Scorpions' zone.

Thirteen and a half minutes into the frame, Colorado was forced to kill a minute and a half's worth of a two-man disadvantage. Cey made a big save early in the kill, denying Michael Beynon from below the left circle, but the Scorpions defenseman would get his team on the board at 14:31 with a shot from between the hashes.

Pankewicz countered with a power-play goal for Colorado at 16:17 when he took the puck hard to the net and put it between the legs of a New Mexico defender to make it 4-1. The Scorps answered just half a minute later when Neil Trimm undressed Scott Polaski at the top of the right circle before feeding Torren Delforte for a backhanded tap-in at the left side of the crease.

Three minutes into the third period Knight and Tobler squared off at center ice as the former teammates continued to tussle. Cey stiffened as the period wound down -- making several big saves past the midway point -- on the way to blanking the Scorps the rest of the game, and McGrane added a late goal (his second of the game) to seal the deal.

The Eagles now head to the road for a three-game road trip, beginning on Tuesday night in Tulsa, Okla.

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Central Hockey League Stories from January 31, 2009


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