CHL Colorado Eagles

Third Line Powers Eagles to Within Two Points of Rage

Published on February 19, 2008 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


TULSA, Okla. - The Colorado Eagles defeated the Tulsa Oilers 6-4 on the strength of their third line of Les Borsheim, Steve Haddon and Fraser Filipic who combined for seven points (2-5-7). The victory puts the Eagles just two points behind the Rocky Mountain Rage for the division lead and gives Colorado four of the possible six points from their three-game road trip.

The Oilers jumped out to a quick, but short-lasting lead when the puck took an odd bounce off the boards and was corralled by Jeff Christian who hit Brendon Hodge on a back-door pass just 3:20 in. Aaron Schneekloth answered for the Eagles however at 4:12 after pinching into the low slot and converting for his 18th goal of the year - tops among CHL defensemen. Colorado took the lead just 29 seconds later when Steve Haddon scored on a cycling goal by the third line. Schneekloth made it 3-1 with a power play tally at 10:06 when he curled off the boards and beat Jeff Van Nynatten top-shelf for his second goal of the period.

Tulsa out-scored the Eagles 2-1 in the second period, getting two goals off loose pucks in front of Sebastien Laplante. The first came just 1:31 in when Laplante couldn't freeze the puck and Mike Looby put it in on the Oilers' third whack. Dave Iannazzo put Colorado back up by two at 11:05 when he got the puck below the goal line and quickly back-handed it into the Oilers' net; Borsheim recorded the second assist on the play, giving him 17 points on the season - a career high. But Tulsa closed the gap to just one again at 18:07 when a Lucas Burnett shot hit traffic in front of the net and laid untouched until Paul Kelly swooped in and put the rebound past the Eagles netminder.

The Oilers out-shot the Eagles 10-5 in the final period, making it interesting with a valiant effort. Borsheim got his third point of the night at 7:54 when Filipic hit him with a pass as he crashed the net to make it 5-3. But with just 73 seconds left in the period, Warren McCutcheon made it interesting, slimming the Colorado lead to just one goal as be stuffed a shot behind Laplante from in low. Seth Leonard, however, put the game away with an empty-netter at 19:39 as the Eagles escaped with a much-needed win.

The Eagles now return home for a game February 22 against the Youngstown SteelHounds before a home-and-home series with the Rage for the Northwest Division lead this weekend.

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Central Hockey League Stories from February 19, 2008


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