Tarantulas beat Eagles in shootout, 3-2
Published on November 21, 2004 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release
TOPEKA, KS â The Colorado Eagles riding a four-game winning streak and a four-game road winning streak came to Landon Arena in Topeka and lost the Tarantulas, 3-2 in a shootout. The game marked the third overtime loss of the season for Colorado in three overtime games. Tarantulas goaltender Dwayne Bateman made remarkable save after save to give the Tarantulas two points in the victory and ended a two-game losing skid. He saved 28 of 30 shots and sent the Eagles home with their first road loss of the season. Eagles right wing Greg Pankewicz scored two goals in the defeat and extended his scoring streak to five games, and goaltender Tyler Weiman played his heart out saving 33 of 35 shots.
The Tarantulas dominated the first period of play keeping the Eagles in their own zone for most of the period and out shot the Eagles 17-8. Topeka took an early lead on an unforced error by the Eagles defense. Mike Lukajic picked up a loose puck and ripped it past Eagles netminder Tyler Weiman for the first goal of the game. He was assisted by Lukas Dora and Max Bull. The Tarantulas weren't finished and Vincent Hellemeyer shoved a rebound past Weiman to take a two-goal lead. Cosmo Dupaul had ripped a rising shot that bounced off Weiman right on to the stick of Vincent Hellemeyer. Topeka took a 2-0 into the first intermission. It was the first period in nine periods that the Eagles did not score a goal going back to the first period against the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees on November 12.
The Eagles came out of the locker room for the second period determined to get more scoring chances. They were able to get one in the first period, but Topeka's goaltender Dwayne Bateman single-handedly kept the Eagles scoreless with two magnificent saves early in the period. Colorado kept the tilt with the first five shots of the period, but again Bateman was up to the task. The Eagles earned a man advantage and Greg Pankewicz took advantage scoring his fifth goal of the season. Brad Williamson set the up the play by bringing the puck in deep and dishing it to Riley Nelson at the top of the slot, instead of shooting Nelson gave it up to Pankewicz who shot the puck, he didn't get a lot of wood on the shot, but just enough to get the puck over Bateman's shoulder. A little over three minutes later Topeka found themselves on a power play and had a good chance to take a two-goal lead, but it was Pankewicz that foiled the plan. He blocked a shot from the point and pushed the puck up to center ice, once he caught up to the puck he was all alone on a breakaway versus Bateman. Pankewicz got Bateman to commit and then slipped the puck behind him for a short-handed goal and tied the game up at two. The period ended with the Tarantulas out shooting the Eagles 25-21.
Early in the third period Lucas Dora took a penalty on a cheap shot on Chris Hartsburg but the Eagles could not convert on the power play. The pace of play quickened as both teams had quality scoring chances. It was evident that both goaltenders desperately wanted to win the game as they made save after save. Topeka gained the tilt in the final eight minutes of the third period, but couldn't get the puck in the net.
The game would not be decided in regulation marking the third overtime game of the season for the Eagles and the second overtime game for Topeka. The Eagles dominated the overtime period out shooting the Tarantulas 3-1, but could not light the lamp forcing a shootout.
Former University of Denver player Lukas Dora scored on the Tarantulas first attempt, and that would be all they would need as Dwayne Bateman made four remarkable stops on four of the Eagles most lethal offensive weapons. He stopped Kevin Marsh, Greg Pankewicz, Mike Lephart, and Riley Nelson to give the Tarantulas their sixth victory of the season, and earned himself the number one star of the game.
The game was the first road loss of the season for the Eagles, although they still earned one point in the overtime loss and earned three points out of a possible four on the weekend. The Eagles did not play all that well over the weekend, but have to be happy with the three points as they begin a six-game home stand on Wednesday night against the Odessa Jackalopes. The game on Wednesday will be televised on Altitude and will start at 7:05. Then Northwest Division rivals, the Wichita Thunder come to Loveland for two games on Friday and Saturday nights. Starting Wednesday, Colorado will have six home games in eleven days.
Central Hockey League Stories from November 21, 2004
- Barnes & Bats Blank Bucks, 2-0 - Laredo Bucks
- Rayz complete perfect week - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Rayz swat Bees in OT - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Tarantulas drop Eagles in shootout - Topeka Tarantulas
- Brahmas make it six in a row with win over Gorillas - Fort Worth Brahmas
- Tarantulas beat Eagles in shootout, 3-2 - Colorado Eagles
- Bucks Hammer RiverKings 5-1 - Laredo Bucks
- RiverKings struggle on power play, wrap up road trip with loss - Mississippi RiverKings
- Bees Comeback Bid Falls Short in OT to Corpus Christi - Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
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