Eagles Drop Key Game In Shootout

The Colorado Eagles went into their game Saturday night tied in points (62) with the Ontario Reign. After a victory on Friday, the Eagles would have to get a regulation win over the Canucks in order to hold their lead in the division and at least have a chance going into the week ahead. If a shootout happened, that could spoil Colorado’s plans completely and blow the division standings for them. 

First Period 

Colorado decided to get going early by defending in their own end. Sampo Ranta managed to get a poke check out of the zone. Cedric Paré then picked up the puck and floated across the blue line backwards while looking for the pass. Callahan Burke sped through the slot and nailed a shot over the shoulder of goaltender Spencer Martin.

About nine minutes into the period, Burke took a tripping penalty, putting the Canucks on the power play. Abbotsford got in down low and worked it up to the point. They passed to Phil Di Giuseppe on the half boards and then got it to Linus Karlsson behind the net. Arshdeep Bains crashed the crease ready for the pass. From one knee, Bains hammered the tying goal past netminder Jonas Johansson.  

Second Period

The Eagles pushed the play for the entire period as they outshot Abbotsford 13-7. The Eagles were able to draw two penalties from the Canucks and get a few chances on net, but nothing came of it. Their best chance came as Burke once again rushed up the middle of the ice on the right side of the net with Paré coming up the left side. Unfortunately, Paré sent the pass too far behind Burke and blew the chance for the Eagles. The period ended the same way that it started, tied at one.

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Third Period 

Colorado came out in the third period to win the game. They dominated the period with sixteen shots to Abbotsford’s seven shots on goal. Most of the time was spent in the Canucks’ zone with the Eagles throwing everything they had at Martin with no success. The former Avalanche goalie was playing his heart out and was the only thing that kept the Canucks in the game late.

Late in the third period, with about 1:40 left in regulation, Spencer Smallman slashed Nils Höglander as he was coming into the Colorado zone. Höglander turned towards the boards and immediately laid a hard hit on Anton Blidh. In the end, Blidh would end up in the box being called for Smallman’s infraction. 

Overtime and Shootout

With Colorado in the box for a slashing penalty, Abbotsford started on the power play and gained momentum from the start of the overtime period. There were only a couple of chances that the Eagles got to take at the Canucks, but none resulted in any shots on goal. A unfruitful five-minute overtime would yield the deciding shootout round.

Hudon would lead off the shootout with a slow trot but got stuffed at the post by Martin. Di Giuseppe missed wide of the net while Smallman got stopped on the glove-side. Höglander would have the best shot of them all, he spun around at about the hash marks and then backhanded the puck past Johansson’s skate for the shootout goal. David Farrance would get the chance to get the Eagles even, but failed to hit the mark. The Eagles lost 2-1.

Conclusion

Colorado fought hard to try to win the game but could not pull through. Neither team’s offense was very productive, but they sure were trying to be. The Eagles now stand fourth place in the Pacific Division just behind the Abbotsford Canucks, both sitting at 63 points. Colorado’s toughest challenge still lies ahead, as they will be playing the Calgary Wranglers four times in the next eleven days.