Colorado’s J.C. Beaudin’s OT goal propelled the Eagles past the Thunder / Photo by Terry Sanford (PHN)
WICHITA, Kan. – Colorado’s J.C. Beaudin netted a shorthanded break-away goal 5:23 into overtime, capping a Colorado Eagles come-from-behind win in game one of their Western Division Semifinal series with the Wichita Thunder at Intrust Bank Arena on Sunday evening.
With Ryan Olsen in the box serving a minor penalty for slashing, Matt Register pounced on a Thunder turnover and sent the puck ahead for Beaudin, who closed in on net and beat Wichita goalie Shane Starrett for a 2-1 win. Register finished the night with two assists, while Starrett was named the first star of the game with 37 saves on the night.
Despite the Eagles dominating the shots on goal at 39-14, the Thunder managed to hold a 1-0 lead for the majority of the game.
The Eagles out-shot the Thunder 9-4 in an opening period that saw both teams playing solid defense as they fought for control of the puck.
Colorado had a golden opportunity just over six minutes in when a rebounded shot fell at the feet of Brady Shaw in front of the net, but Starrett jumped to his right to make the stop.
Beaudin scores the GWG / Photo by Ed Bailey (PHN)
The Thunder struck first at 7:12 of the first period when Lane Bauer launched a shot off a rebound from inside the right circle and put it into the net, top shelf past Colorado netminder Joe Cannata. Etienne Boutet and Steven Iacobellis assisted on the goal.
Wichita survived a scare at the end of the period when they turned the puck over in front of the net while trying to clear, but Starrett made a quick save as the horn sounded to give the Thunder a 1-0 lead entering the first intermission.
The ice tilted towards Wichita’s defensive zone in the second period, as the Eagles out-shot the Thunder 14-2 in the period. Starrett held strong though, making several key saves to keep Wichita in the lead entering the second intermission.
The Colorado Eagles celebrate their playoff win over the Wichita Thunder / Photo by Ed Bailey (PHN)
Colorado evened the score 11:14 into the third period on a power play goal from Drayson Bowman. With Wichita’s Marc-Olivier Crevier-Morin serving a minor for interference, Bowman lifted the puck into the net from the left of Starrett to tie the game 1-1. Michael Joly and Register assisted on the game-tying goal for the Eagles.
Game two of the series is set for a 7:05pm CDT face-off in Wichita on Monday evening.
Colorado Eagles 2 (OT) at Wichita Thunder 1 – Status: Unofficial Final
Sunday, April 15, 2018 – INTRUST Bank Arena
Colorado 0 0 1 1 – 2
Wichita 1 0 0 0 – 1
1st Period-1, Wichita, Bauer 1 (Boutet, Iacobellis), 7:12. Penalties-Bowman Col (tripping), 2:54; Brown Wic (slashing), 8:24; Brown Wic (cross-checking), 16:09.
2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Brown Wic (holding), 5:49; Joly Col (hooking), 9:54.
3rd Period-2, Colorado, Bowman 1 (Joly, Register), 11:14 (PP). Penalties-Olsen Col (slashing), 6:19; Crevier-Morin Wic (interference), 9:46.
OT Period-3, Colorado, Beaudin 1 (Register), 5:23 (SH). Penalties-Olsen Col (slashing), 4:26.
Shots on Goal-Colorado 9-14-11-5-39. Wichita 4-2-6-2-14.
Power Play Opportunities-Colorado 1 / 4; Wichita 0 / 4.
Goalies-Colorado, Cannata (14 shots-13 saves). Wichita, Starrett (39 shots-37 saves).
A-2,623
Referees-Andy Howard (2), Mike Sheehan (11).
Linesmen-Addison Brush (80), Michael Houle (49).
Contact the writer: John.Hall@prohockeynews.com
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