Eagles Lose Game 5, Eliminated From Playoffs

It seems like deja vu for Colorado Avalanche fans. The AHL team for the Avalanche — the Colorado Eagles — were facing elimination in a Game 5 against the Coachella Valley Firebirds. The Firebirds happen to be the AHL team for the Seattle Kraken, who eliminated the Avalanche in Game 7 on Sunday.

It has been a hard fought series for both teams, but only one would get to move on and play in round three. The opponent? Either the Calgary Wranglers or Abbotsford Canucks. If the Eagles win, they move on. If they lose, their season is done. 

First Period 

As the first period started, Coachella Valley applied hard pressure on Colorado in their own zone. So much, as a matter of fact, that the Eagles were having issues getting it out of their zone. The Firebirds first goal would be a result of the hard forecheck from Jeremy McKenna about six minutes into the period. As Josh Jacobs tried to run behind the net, he passed it behind him, thinking it was clear for Keaton Middleton to pick up. McKenna picked the pass off and took the shot right away from behind the net. It nailed goaltender Jonas Johansson in the back of the mask and fell in net for the opening goal. 

If It Could Go Wrong, It Did 

Just 47 seconds after the opening goal, the Firebirds struck again. The Eagles were working on a power play and Brad Hunt was taking charge for the first unit. He dumped it in at the blue line, but nobody from the Eagles was able to get to it before Brogan Rafferty. He intercepted it and delivered it to Alexander True on the edge of the zone. True blew it over to Max McCormick at center ice for a clean breakaway and a five-hole finish to make it 2-0. It was the second shorthanded goal in as many games for the Firebirds.

As the period wrapped up, the Firebirds would get the worst lead in hockey. With less than a minute left, a five-on-three developed into the Eagles’ zone. McKenna carried it in and dropped it back for Jimmy Schuldt to whip it blocker side for the 3-0 lead. 

Second Period

Coachella Valley continued the second right where they left off in the first frame. Not too long into the period, Cedric Paré was hit with a hooking infraction that would send him to the box. Just under two minutes later, Kole Lind would send a quick pass down below the goal line to Cameron Hughes. He would then do a no-look, behind the back pass to McCormick as he was charging down the slot. It was McCormick’s second of the night and would put the Firebirds up, 4-0.

The Eagles tried to fight back, but they just were not moving fast enough to get the opportunities. Colorado didn’t manage to get a shot until after nine minutes into the period. Colorado surprisingly outshot the Firebirds 7-6 in the period, but with no goals to show for it.

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Third Period 

The Firebirds looked to take the Eagles out of the equation completely in the last period of regulatuon. Just 11 seconds into the period, Middleton would help seal that fate by getting a tripping penalty. Right after the penalty expired, Colorado tried to clear the puck without success. Shane Wright knocked it down at the blue line and spun to find McKenna already on his way to the net. Wright ripped it through the zone to McKenna and he finished the job over Johansson’s glove to make it 5-0.

As the rest of the game passed by, Coachella Valley continued to push their efforts into the Colorado zone and did not let up. It truly became a shutdown game for Coachella Valley as they assisted in the shutout for goaltender Joey Daccord. 

Conclusion 

To say that the game was heartbreaker is putting it nicely. The Eagles looked lost at times as they would not stay in position (the third goal, for example). They looked like they were overly tired most of the game, as well. The players were gliding a little too much instead of moving their feet.

There may be a good reason behind Colorado’s on-ice woes. During the broadcast, VP of Communications and Broadcasting Kevin McGlue said that Colorado had used 53 players during the season. This was due to the amount of injuries that the Colorado Avalanche saw this year as well as their own (Mikhail Maltsev and Jean-Luc Foudy). There were some departures from the team as well, as players left for the KHL mid-season (Daniil Zhuravlyov and Rob Hamilton).

Despite this, the Eagles went on to place third in the division and have a .625 winning percentage during the regular season.