Thunder Hands Eagles First OT Loss 3-2
March 7, 2007 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release
WICHITA, Kansas- The Wichita Thunder gave the Colorado Eagles their first overtime loss this season when they beat Colorado 3-2 in a shootout Wednesday night at the Kansas Coliseum. Joe Blaznek had two goals including the game-winner in the shootout and Andrew Martin was superb in net saving 49 of the Eagles 51 shots. Riley Nelson scored his 37th goal of the season and Les Borsheim tied the game late for Colorado helping them earn the point for going into overtime. Paulo Colaiacovo saved 19 of 21 shots in net for the Eagles as their record fell to 40-14-1. There are now tied with the Laredo Bucks with 81 points for the overall lead in the Central Hockey League.
Scott Rozendal gave the Thunder a 1-0 lead at the 8:25 mark of the first period when he batted a rebound out of the air and into the back of the net. The Eagles tied the game on Riley Nelson's 37th goal of the season less than two minutes after the Rozendal goal. For Nelson, it tied his career-high in goals and he is just two points shy of his second 80-point season. The teams stayed tied for the remainder of the period with Colorado outshooting the Thunder 18-5 after the first.
Neither team was able to light the lamp in the second period, although the Eagles again put up more shots than the Thunder at 12-6.
The Thunder regained the lead at the 6:03 mark of the third period on their second power play goal of the game coming from leading goal-scorer Joe Blaznek. The Eagles continued to battle and finally got their second puck past goaltender Andrew Martin at the 16:25 mark on a goal by Les Borsheim. The Eagles once again more than doubled Wichita's shots in the period, but Martin was up to the test on all but one. Colorado out shot Wichita 18-7 in the period, but this one was headed for overtime.
The Eagles and Les Borsheim were whistled for a penalty in the overtime session giving the Thunder a four-in-three power play. Colorado was able to kill the penalty and forced the game into a shootout. In the first two rounds of the shootout, neither team was able to score. Travis Clayton was Wichita's third shooter and scored his first shootout goal since the 2002-03 season, he was 0-16 the last four seasons. Riley Nelson tied the shootout on the ensuing shot for Colorado, but it was Joe Blaznek and George Halkidis that gave the Thunder the win with consecutive goals. Blaznek earned the game-winner and it gave the Eagles their first overtime loss of the season.
The top two teams in the CHL meet up on Friday night at the Laredo Entertainment Center when the Eagles travel to take on the Bucks. The teams are currently tied in points for first overall in the CHL. Puck drop is set for 6:30 p.m. MST.
Central Hockey League Stories from March 7, 2007
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