Foudy Flaunts Three Points In Victory

The Colorado Eagles came into last night’s game just two points out of third place in the Pacific Division. Players are starting to return to the team as the Colorado Avalanche return to health. Forward Charles Hudon spent almost the whole month of December in Denver and made an immediate impact back with the Eagles.

Colorado rolled over Tucson two nights ago with a 2-1 victory. They took on the Roadrunners on their home ice for the last time this season in what became a scene from a Looney Tunes cartoon.

First Period 

The Eagles started the game strong just as the previous evening. They outshot the Tucson Roadrunners 16-5 in the first period and did not let up the whole time. Just one minute and twenty-six seconds into the game, forward Jean-Luc Foudy received a pass from Hudon as he came into the zone. Foudy would then hammer the opening goal past Tucson goaltender Jon Gillies.

With 15:25 left in the first, Colorado forward Shane Bowers attempted to carry the puck out of the zone and started to mishandle the puck. As he turned to gain control, Eagles forward Sampo Ranta screamed up the middle of the ice and Bowers did a no-look pass right onto his tape. Ranta split the two defensemen and threw the puck in with ease for his fifth of the year.

The dagger to the Roadrunners’ heart came with 1:46 left in the first when defenseman Wyatt Aamodt was on the nearside point and saw Foudy down low. The puck was on its way out of the zone and Aamodt rushed in to hold the play. When he did that, he passed right down to Foudy. He then slammed a one-timer to give the Eagles a 3-0 lead.

Wrister from Fouds puts us in the lead EARLY EARLY#EaglesCountry pic.twitter.com/c4DeKzqks0

— Colorado Eagles (@ColoradoEagles) January 8, 2023

Shaneo found an open Sampo 😮‍💨#EaglesCountry pic.twitter.com/t3nFgXu7qU

— Colorado Eagles (@ColoradoEagles) January 8, 2023

Fouds is having himself a NIGHT#EaglesCountry pic.twitter.com/XprfcyJcZP

— Colorado Eagles (@ColoradoEagles) January 8, 2023

Second Period 

Let us just say things started to get a little chippy in the second period. There were a total of ten infractions called in the period, eight alone just for Tucson. The period started out great for the Roadrunners as they got the first five shots on net, and then things just fell apart. Former Eagle Travis Barron got an unsportsmanlike conduct and it just snowballed from there.

After the Eagles did not convert on the chance that Barron gave them, Bokondji Imama had some unkind words for the official when his teammate cross checked Foudy in the corner. The Eagles got a huge opportunity with a two-minute, five-on-three power play, but did not convert. A few seconds after the five-on-three ended, Foudy got tripped up by Laurent Dauphin, causing a four-on-four situation. 

Later in the period, as the Eagles attempted to enter the offensive zone, Milos Kelemen slashed a stick out of a Colorado skater’s hands. Tucson forward Jean-Sebastien Dea once again said some bad things to the official and was kicked out for 10 minutes. While the Eagles were attacking down low, Roadrunners forward Hudson Elynuik got the final penalty of the period for hooking. This gave the Eagles a short five-on-three chance, but they were unable to convert.

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Third Period 

The rivalry continued into the third as the penalties just racked up on the board. Colorado was unable to make good on any chances in the period, but still put pucks in the back of the net while on even strength. Right as the Tucson power play ended, Eagles forward Spencer Smallman was able to intercept a pass on the far side point and skate for a breakaway. He snapped a shot in from the slot with ease for his third goal of the year. Travis Barron must have been angry from his penalty still because he carried the puck right through four Eagles to backhand the only Roadrunners goal of the night.

Colorado’s fifth goal came when Foudy was caught in a board battle along the goal line. He fished the puck out to Alex Galchenyuk, who did a spin no-look pass to Luke Martin. The defenseman lasered the shot right past Gillies for his first ever AHL goal.

The last goal of the night came as the Roadrunners were trying to get an extra man on the ice with an empty net. Eagles forward Anton Blidh rushed out of the zone to form a two on one to pass to Galcheyuk, who then put the nail in the coffin. 

"I'm breakin' freeee" -Smally probably#EaglesCountry pic.twitter.com/E0nNsZr9H9

— Colorado Eagles (@ColoradoEagles) January 8, 2023

Blidher giving Gally the empty netter 🥺 pic.twitter.com/jKgm17Wd7o

— Colorado Eagles (@ColoradoEagles) January 8, 2023

Conclusion

Colorado, despite only one special teams goal on numerous power play chances, looked like an offensive juggernaut last night. They dominated play in the offensive zone and then they managed to hold their own while on the penalty kill. Coach Greg Cronin has a lot to work with — as so many players have been shuffled back and forth between Loveland and Denver — but he is making do.

Player Of The Game

Jean-Luc Foudy – Foudy was everywhere on the ice last night, in a good way. He has been put in every situation by the organization this season that you can be. He played nine games in the NHL and came back a more confident and better player for it. Last night, he had two goals and one assist from all of the hard work. This kid will be a star one day.

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