Penalties Ruin The Day For Eagles

The Colorado Eagles hoped to hold off the Bakersfield Condors’ playoff dreams last night, or at least stall them. Had the Eagles gained a point in the game, they would get home ice advantage through the first round of the playoffs. A regulation win would stall the Condors’ hopes for the Calder Cup. Unfortunately, penalties would ruin the day for Colorado and they will have to wait for home ice. The long-awaited pro debut of Matt Stienburg would not turn out the way that he had hoped. 

First Period

The Eagles started off the first well, getting a couple of scoring chances on net. The real chances came for the Eagles starting about thirteen minutes into the period when Noah Philp got called for tripping. Colorado had some initial issues getting set up on the power play, but things came together with 45 seconds left. Sam Malinski got the puck down to Alex Galchenyuk to allow for him to dangle through two defenseman with no luck.

The tide would turn however with just five seconds left. With the face off to the left of goaltender Justus Annunen, the Eagles would lose the draw. Philp got it to his winger Dylan Holloway, who worked it back to the point with Alex Peters. He would take the shot through traffic and get the lead for Bakersfield, 1-0.

Second Period

The second segment of play became all Condors as the Eagles had to kill off three penalties in the frame. The first infraction came from Keaton Middleton just one minute into the period. Bakersfield got plenty of shots on net, but Annunen took it with ease. Roughly nine minutes later, Cedric Paré would go off for interference. Just as the penalty expired, Jean-Luc Foudy went for holding. Both chances were killed.

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Then, Peters would strike again with about four minutes left in the period. As the Eagles were trying to gather the puck in their own zone along the boards, Greg McKegg poke-checked it away from Foudy. Justin Bailey would then push it around to the right circle past Alex Beaucage and Peters finished the job with a slap shot. The Condors would out shoot the Eagles 15-4 in the second, all because of penalties and hold the lead at 2-0.

Third Period 

The last frame didn’t get off to a great start for Colorado. Only about two minutes into the frame, Ryan Merkley attempted to carry the puck out of the Eagles’ zone. Jason Demers had other thoughts as he stole the puck right off of Merkley’s stick and sent a saucer pass to James Hamblin. The centerman was already on way to the net and behind the Eagles when he caught the pass. All that was left to do was backhand the shot past Annunen to get the Condors up 3-0.

The Eagles tried to fight back, but it was too little too late. For about five minutes late in the period, Colorado dominated. But, goaltender Calvin Pickard could not be broken. The Eagles threw everything but the kitchen sink at Pickard, but he was even stopping pucks on his back. There was just no getting around him last night. 

Conclusion 

Colorado was playing as a team with a mission in the first period. Once the second started, the Eagles were whistled on three penalties to the Condors’ zero. That is what ended up killing Colorado. They could not find any momentum until late into the third when the writing was already on the wall. Penalties and a bad turnover (once again by Merkley) cost them dearly.

Colorado has to gain at least one point against the Barracuda — preferably on Friday — in order to get home ice. It will also be the first time that former Eagle Martin Kaut will play against his old team. The last time the Eagles played the Barracuda, they did struggle a bit. So, this will be interesting.