Kinkaid Holds Reign Off For Eagles Win

As the Eagles near the end of the regular season, they are starting to get some reinforcements. Not in the form of healthy players from the Avalanche, but from unsigned college players. Sam Malinski scored a goal in his pro debut against Coachella Valley, with an assist coming from Jason Polin. Last night, Ryan Sandelin would make his pro debut against Ontario. This showcased some young talent that Eagles and Avalanche fans will have to look forward to next year.

But, as the Eagles came off of an overtime loss against the Firebirds, they were looking for redemption. Goaltender Keith Kinkaid held off the Reign in the final minutes of the game to win it in regulation and help Colorado’s home ice chances. 

First Period

In a period that went back and forth for both Colorado and Ontario, the Reign came out on top. The Eagles would get the first chance as Jordan Spence would go to the box for tripping. Colorado would get several good looks at goaltender Cal Petersen, but would not be able to break through. Later in the period, newcomer Jason Polin would have a gorgeous wraparound chance, but no success on the attempt. With about four minutes left in the period, Ryan Merkley would go to the box, later joined by Michael Underwood. The Reign would step up while on the five against three advantage, hardly letting it out of the Eagles’ zone. Former Eagles forward T.J. Tynan played a little catch with Lias Andersson. Tynan would add to his league leading assists when Andersson wrapped around and muscled it past Kinkaid to make it 1-0.

Second Period

The penalty problems would continue for the Eagles as they would have to kill two off right away in the second. Merkley would revisit the box and Jean-Luc Foudy would go to the box for the first time in the night. Only a couple of minutes after the Foudy penalty, Spence would get his second infraction of the night. This one would hurt the Reign as the Eagles took advantage of it. Colorado was set up in the Ontario zone right as the penalty was set to expire. Alex Galchenyuk tossed the puck from the left circle up to Malinski and then back to Galchenyuk. The veteran center sent the puck across the ice to Foudy in the right circle. Fouldy took a stride forward and threaded the needle back to Galchenyuk and he finished it with it in the back of the net to tie it at one. 

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Third Period

The third period became Kinkaid’s period to shine. He had several key saves to keep the Eagles in the game. The biggest save came while Colorado was on the power play with about seven minutes left in the game. Cameron Gaunce shot the puck from the point and it hit the post. Kinkaid had to make a diving effort to make the save on a rebound effort by Ontario. Galchenyuk would then pick the puck up and sprint out of the zone, handing it off to Foudy as he entered Ontario’s zone. Foudy dropped a pass in the right circle to Sampo Ranta who would then walk right in and chip in the game-winning goal and make it 2-1. 

Conclusion

The Eagles wrapped up the season series with the Ontario Reign last night by winning the final two games. By doing so, they would even up the series at 4-4, but those last two wins are important for the playoffs. The magic number now stands at three after last night’s victory for home ice advantage in the playoffs.

Colorado has four somewhat easy games left — two against the Barracuda and two against the Gulls. If the Eagles continue to play like they did last night (minus the penalties), those four games should be no problem for them. The only one they may need to worry about would be the game on Wednesday against the Bakersfield Condors and that is it.