Eagles Secure Third Seed In Playoffs

LOVELAND, Colo. – Colorado wrapped up the regular season last night with a game against the San Diego Gulls. If they won, the Eagles would secure the third seed in the Pacific Division for the Calder Cup Playoffs and confirm their opponent in the next round. The season was one with many hurdles to overcome with a few players leaving for the KHL, injuries (to the Avalanche and Eagles) and other teams. Despite the odds, Colorado clawed back and still finished third in the division. 

First Period 

The period started out a lot slower and less physical than Friday night’s game. Things didn’t really start to heat up until after the halfway point of the frame. Drew Helleson got a high sticking penalty, but then it was offset with a tripping call a minute later on Alex Galchenyuk.

Forty seconds later, Callahan Burke led the exit up to Nate Clurman, who then passed it up to Mitchell Vande Sompel. Clurman split the defense and took the pass back and shoved it into the net past goaltender Calle Clang. Six minutes later, Vande Sompel helped out again. Starting at the top of the slot, he sauced it down to Mikhail Maltsev in the left circle. Maltsev gave it to Ryan Sandelin down low for a shot and his own rebound. Sandelin would get his first pro goal to put the Eagles up 2-0. 

Second Period

The second was another slow period for the Eagles until late in the frame. It did get a little chippy with seven penalties, four of which came from Colorado alone. The Eagles penalty kill was excellent, as it knocked off every single one that came their way.

The real action did not happen until three and half minutes left. Matt Stienburg would wrap the puck down to Galchenyuk behind the San Diego net. Galchenyuk waited for the seam to open and snapped it to Charles Hudon in the slot. Hudon rocketed the shot from one knee to put the Eagles up 3-0. The assist by Stienburg would be his first pro point, as well.

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Third Period 

Colorado fought in the last frame to keep the lead and finish the game to wrap up the regular season. The two teams would exchange penalties with two apiece. Some minor disagreements would occur as well, leaving a bitter taste in the Gulls’ mouth, I am sure.

Eagles’ goaltender Justus Annunen was looking sharp throughout the whole game. At some points, he was making saves that would bring it back to the old days of hockey. During one of the penalty kills, Annunen was caught on his side, so he was forced to stack the pads and bat the puck away… three times. The Gulls did manage to throw a puck in the back of the net, though. Jacob Perreault would go behind the net and whip a backhand shot past Annunen with only just under three minutes left.

The Eagles would take this one with ease and win 3-1. 

Conclusion

It was not as physical of a game as Friday night’s match-up, but it did have some moments. In the first, Burke tried to go around the net and was laid out hard. He was very slow to get up, but Hudon came to his defense, fighting Michael Del Zotto immediately. Burke would leave the game, but return for the start of the second period.

By winning last night’s game, Colorado secured themselves the third seed in the Pacific Division. They maintained a lead in the standings over Abbotsford and will now take on the Ontario Reign for the first round of the playoffs. Unfortunately, Colorado is 2-4 against the Reign this season, but coach Greg Cronin has a lot of faith in the team. They will begin the best-of-three series in Loveland on Wednesday, April 19.