Last-Second Heroics Complete Iowa, Colorado Weekend

LOVELAND, Colo. – The Colorado Eagles hosted their fourth-straight Central Division game on Saturday night, playing the Iowa Wild after a 2-1 victory the previous evening. With the Eagles compiling a six-game win streak, could Colorado push it to seven consecutive victories over an Iowa team hungry to split the weekend? The buzzing crowd on #HockeyFightsCancer night would soon find out if their hometown Eagles would emerge with the W.

FIRST PERIOD

Both Iowa and Colorado had offensive zone time early on in the game. The first big chance on net was around the four-minute mark by Eagles forward Alex Beaucage. Beaucage had a wide-open net, but couldn’t corral the puck for a solid shot on goal. After killing off an Andreas Englund cross checking penalty, Colorado’s Andreas Wingerli netted a wrist shot from the left wing circle. The goal gave the Eagles a 1-0 lead at 10:33 of period number one.

After Iowa forward Mason Shaw was called for a major misconduct penalty, the Wild took the opportunity to make a push offensively. An initial shot by Iowa forward Alexander Khovanov was blocked by Eagles defenseman Dennis Gilbert. The puck deflected behind the net, where Khovanov regained possession of the puck before sending it backhand to Nate Sucese. Sucese snapped a shot by Colorado netminder Justus Annunen to tie that game, 1-1, at 14:26 of the opening stanza.

SECOND PERIOD

Iowa began the second segment of play with a concerted effort in Colorado’s zone. The Wild’s physical play was taken a step too far, however, as Iowa centerman Kris Bennett was whistled for tripping at 5:50 of the second. The resulting power play yielded some scoring fruit for Colorado. Eagles right winger Dylan Sikura threaded a pass across royal road to fellow forward Kiefer Sherwood for a one-timer. The resulting power play goal gave Colorado 2-1 lead at 7:19 of the middle regulation frame.

Sherwood spoke to Full Press Hockey after the game, detailing how the goal on the man advantage came about.

“It was a really good pass by Sikky (Sikura) from the goal line. We tried giving (Iowa) a different look and use the goal line. We’ve got five guys out there that can all make plays, so it’s good to switch it up & keep PK’s on their feet guessing. I think we were just trying to get into a rhythm, just trying to keep the momentum & trying to make plays.”

After the Eagles score, the Wild set up shop once again in Colorado’s defensive zone. Iowa rattled off eleven shots on goal in a row after the Sherwood goal, with the fifth shot causing an impact on the score sheet. Iowa left winger Mason Shaw zipped a pass to a wide open Marco Rossi on the doorstep of Colorado goaltender Justus Annunen. Rossi backhanded the puck five-hole before running into Annunen’s left pad/skate. The Wild tied the game, 2-2, at 15:27 of the second.

Annunen’s skate needed some maintenance after Rossi’s collision, so he headed to the bench at 17:05 of period two. Peyton Jones came in to back-up Annunen, making three saves to finish out the second segment of play.

THIRD PERIOD

After a dominant second frame from Iowa, Colorado regrouped in the third, catching up both with body checks and shots on net. The Eagles bombarded Iowa netminder Hunter Jones with 17 shots on goal in the third period, limiting the Wild to just six SOG after Iowa posted 12 each in both the first and second periods.

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As time was winding down in the final regulation frame, it appeared the game was heading to overtime. That was, until Colorado pushed into the Iowa zone with under a minute to play. With less than 30 seconds left, Dennis Gilbert showcased some impressive defensive awareness, stripping the puck from an Iowa defender and keeping it in the Wild zone. Gilbert shot a pass over to centerman Jayson Megna in the slot, who then found Dylan Sikura on the left side for a tap-in, game-winning goal at 19:35 of period number three.

The Eagles easily carried that 3-2 lead to the end of regulation, winning their seventh straight game and sweeping the weekend against the Wild.

COACH CRONIN’S CORNER

Eagles Head Coach Greg Cronin spoke to Full Press Hockey post-game.

On Colorado’s increased physicality in the third period and what he told the team during the second intermission:

“I didn’t, because I was tired of yelling on the bench in the second period. We looked like we were sniffing glue – turning pucks over, no physicality. And I felt bad for (Iowa); I felt like they at least deserved a point. There’s not a team this year that has put that much pressure on us.”

“(Colorado Assistant Coach) Aaron (Schneekloth) told them after the second period to get the puck deep, keep it simple; it’s going to be a grind game, there’s not a lot of free ice out there. In the third, we just kept getting it deep and forechecking them. And we have the high altitude going for us here – we train in it – and a lot of teams come in & tend to leak a little bit in the third period. It was a great win; it contributed to our maturity and personality.”

Regarding the special teams success and leaving the first power play unit out before Kiefer Sherwood’s goal:

“We do that in-game. Aaron runs the power play and makes the changes; (assistant coach) Tim (Branham) runs the PK. I let them make the changes. We usually judge them by their body language, if we’ve got energy. Our first unit is really talented, so we want to give them as much power play time as we can.”

UP NEXT…

Colorado begins a six-game road trip on Wednesday, Jan. 26 against San Diego. The Eagles will then head to Henderson for a two-game set (Friday, Jan. 28 and Saturday, Jan. 29) before heading back to San Diego once again (Wednesday, Feb. 2). Colorado will conclude their road trip against Bakersfield (Friday, Feb. 4 and Saturday, Feb. 5) before coming back home to host Tucson (Friday, Feb. 11 and Saturday, Feb. 12).