RAPID CITY, S.D. – Leading the Turner Conference final series three games to one with three opportunities to win one game to advance to the league finals – the Colorado Eagles saw their first chance snatched away in Rapid City Saturday night.
Each team appeared to have scored three goals in regulation but all five of the officials missed the call on the Eagles first goal. In addition to the referee, and the two linesmen on the ice for this game the two extra on-ice officials worked as goal judges (positions usually held by local CHL office officials).
An intense back and forth battle between two well-matched and well-coached teams lead to a scoreless first 17:47 of the first period before Scott Wray managed to find the puck in a melee in front of the net and poke it home behind Kyle Jones for a 1-0 lead for the Rush.
Derek Leblanc scored from outside the right circle while Kevin Harvey screened Jones from inside the blue paint to give the Rush a two goal lead at the two minute mark of the middle frame.
Adam Hogg and Steve Haddon
It was later in the second period that the goal scored by Adam Hogg went un-noticed by both Dan Dreger and the goal judge.
At 18:25 the Colorado Eagles “officially” got on the board when Hogg scored off a rebound of a Matt Glasser shot for a 3-1 Rush lead after two periods of play.
In the final period, Scott May scored on an odd man rush with some pinpoint passing between he, Matt Glasser, Rycroft, and Aaron Schneekloth but try as they might the Eagles could come no closer. The final score was Rapid City 3 and Colorado 2.
Daymen Rycroft and Tim Boron
The third star was Matt Glasser from the Eagles with two assists. The second star was Tim Boron from the Rush with 32 saves. The first star was Derek Leblanc from the Rush with a goal and an assist.
Game 6 will be Monday May 9th at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland, Colorado beginning at 7:05 P.M.
Contact the writer/photographer at terry.sanford@prohockeynews.com
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