Streaking Eagles Forge Ahead Against Condors

LOVELAND, Colo. – The Pacific Division has settled on its playoff teams. All that’s left to fight for now is postseason positioning.

The Bakersfield Condors, seeded fourth in the Pacific entering the weekend, came to Loveland to take on the Colorado Eagles this past Friday night. Colorado, riding a five-game win streak, sat just ahead of Bakersfield in third place. The start to the weekend series would certainly yield crucial points as both teams push for higher seeding in the 2022 Calder Cup Playoffs.

FIRST PERIOD

Colorado began the game with an aggressive, physical play that kept the puck in the Condors end early on. After a few scoring chances, Eagles forward Alex Beaucage found himself in the high slot, firing a shot on Bakersfield netminder Stuart Skinner. Skinner saved the initial chance, but Colorado forward Ryan Wagner was there on the doorstep to tap in the first goal of the game with a backhand at 3:18 of period one.

SECOND PERIOD

The Eagles carried the 1-0 lead into the second stanza of play. And, just like the previous period, Colorado was quick to put the puck in the back of the net. Eagles right winger Martin Kaut intercepted the puck in the Colorado zone on a Bakersfield turnover.  Kaut, starting at his own blue line, gained possession and made a bee line for enemy territory. Inching ahead past a Condors defender, Kaut fired the puck past the glove of Skinner to make it 2-0, Colorado, at 2:28 of the second.

Another goal didn’t come until the final minute of period number two. During some 4-on-4 hockey, Eagles defenseman Jordan Gross fired a shot on net from above the high slot. The rebound went to Mikhail Maltsev, who bounced the puck off of Skinner’s right leg pad. The second rebound went to a charging Kiefer Sherwood, who smacked the puck in for a goal at 19:10, towards the end of the middle regulation frame.

THIRD PERIOD

Colorado’s skaters didn’t make it three periods in a row with early goals, but the next goal did belong to the Eagles nonetheless. Kaut corralled the puck in the Eagles’ end and looked to make another push into the Condors’ zone. Speeding into Bako territory, Kaut went coast-to-coast, dodging not one but two defenders on his way to the net before wristing a shot top shelf to make it 4-0, Colorado, at 8:42 of period number three.

Just about 30 seconds of gameplay later, Bakersfield spoiled the impending shutout for Colorado netminder Hunter Miska. Off a faceoff to the right of Miska, Eagles defenseman Rob Hamilton tried to backhand the puck out of the circle. Condors d-man Yanni Kaldis then kicked the puck to his stick and snapped a shot on goal. Miska flicked his glove to make a save, but the shot hit the net behind him. Bakersfield cut the lead to three at 9:09 of the final regulation frame.

4-1 would be the final in this one, as Colorado earned two points to further solidify the team’s third place standing in the Pacific Division. 

COACH CRONIN’S CORNER

On the effort put forth in Colorado’s sixth straight victory:

“I thought we worked hard, but we were sloppy. We had poor execution; there was a lot of turnovers. When we play well, we’re really dictating the pace of play and possessions. And it happens: we were on a long road trip, and there was kind of a sloppiness to our play. But, we’re a good team; we figured out a way to win. So, I’m happy with the win, but I think that we can play better as a group.”

On both the Eagles and Condors going 0-for-5 on the power play tonight:

“I think there were three power plays that were cut short in like the first 20 seconds. It’s a little deceiving. But, we had our looks. We had a couple quality opportunities. I’m just really happy that our penalty kill did well, especially when they pulled the goalie when it was 4-1. It could have got tight at the end. They did a good job killing that.”

On the defensive pairing adjustments after the Avalanche traded Justin Barron at the deadline:

“Well, we’ve got seven (defensemen). Keaton Middleton has been out for a bit, and he’s a big part of our team. Robbie Hamilton sat out for a long time. JB is kind of a puck moving guy – he’s a good first pass guy – and Robbie kind of stepped in and took that position. Englund and Middleton are similar players. They’re physical, big guys, so we kind of taken Robbie and inserted him in there with Andreas.”

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The Eagles and Condors will conclude their regular season series on Saturday night in Loveland (7:05pm ET).