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Eagles Take 2-0 Series Lead in Nail-biter
Coloradoeagles.com
photo credit. Thomas Miller
LOVELAND, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles took a 2-0 series lead in their Northern Conference Semifinals matchup against the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs with another 4-3 victory. Colorado came back from a two-goal deficit midway through the game and scored the winning goal with under a minute to play in an exciting win fueled again by their potent power play.
The Mudbugs came out with a strong first period -- out-shooting the Eagles 10-4 -- but it was Colorado that got the only goal of the frame (on their fourth shot). The Eagles tallied on one of their two first period power plays to maintain their 50 percent conversion rate through the series' first four periods. Riley Nelson got the marker when his shot from the high slot slipped through Jon Horrell's pads at 14:44.
Bossier-Shreveport put up three goals in the first half of the second period to build a 3-1 lead, but momentum began to turn at the midway point. Brett Smith tied the game at 1 when he deflected a Joe Ori shot from atop the left circle at 2:09. Ori then got the second goal to put the 'Bugs in the lead at 6:03 after he picked up a loose puck in the low slot and beat Andrew Penner from the doorstep. Travis Clayton -- the playoffs' leading scorer -- made it 3-1 at 7:07 when his shot from low along the left wing boards bounced off of Nelson's shin pad at the side of the net and past Penner.
The Eagles had a great chance to turn the tide midway through when they were awarded 1:26 of 5-on-3 play, but Bossier-Shreveport killed the entire series of penalties to keep the score the same. But at 17:47, Ed McGrane scored the Eagles' second power-play goal of the night with a blast from the point to trim the Mudbugs' lead to one heading into the third period.
Colorado continued to carry the momentum in the third period, out-shooting the Mudbugs 14-8 and drawing both of the period's penalties. Ryan Tobler -- the league's leading power-play goal scorer in the regular season -- evened the score at 3 with a man-advantage marker at 4:30 of the third. Nelson started the play by skating through neutral ice, then entered the offensive zone along the left wing and fed Tobler between the circles for a 5-hole blast past the 'Bugs netminder.
As the period drew to a close and overtime seemed imminent, the Eagles struck to make it 4-3 with just 32 seconds left. Aaron Schneekloth got his second goal in as many nights by deflecting a Kevin Ulanski shot from in front for the game-winner. Nelson got the second assist to run his game-high point total to four (1-3-4).
Game 3 of the Northern Conference Semifinal series will be played in Bossier City, La. on Thursday, April 2.
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