LOVELAND, Colo. For the fifth year in a row since joining the ECHL, the Colorado Eagles have failed in their attempt to move past the first round of the playoffs.
Granted, they have made the playoffs each season of their ECHL tenure and have for the most part improved over the course of the last five years and even won their division for the first time in the 2015 – 2016Â season. Yet, still no second round for the Eagles.
A 7-2Â loss Tuesday night leading to a 4-2 series defeat at the hands of the Utah Grizzlies in game six at home is a microcosm of the Eagles this season, with flashes of brilliance followed by bumbling ineptitude.
Saunders,Daavettila, and Veideman
Photo by TerrySanford
Goalie Clark Saunders, who showed courage, skill, and tenacity in an absolute must win game on Sunday, struggled to make even routine stops on Tuesday night. Most assuredly his team mates need to accept some of the blame for the defeat and two of the goals against were empty netters with Saunders on the bench for an extra attacker. However, even counting  five goals on sixteen shots  is not going to win you any games in this league.
Colorado has some really good scorers on this team – Captain Trent Daavettila matched his career best with 80 points this season and was second in the ECHL in scoring. Adrian Veideman also had strong year as an offensive-defenseman scoring 17 goals and totaling 44 points from the blueliner. Jesse Mychan tallied 32 goals tying him for the league lead in goals. To only generate two goals in a must win situation in a game six of the playoffs is inexcusable with the talent on this team.
Ryan Faragher
Photo by Terry Sanford
Any evaluation of a game or a series of games must take into consideration the opposition. Utah has had the Eagles’ number this season and is one of the few teams Colorado has a losing record against. They play like the Eagles should play with a lot of skill, determination, heart, and talent plus excellent goaltending in Ryan Faragher.
There is no shame in losing to the Grizzlies.
They are deserving of the win. But Colorado could just as easily have been that team, and that is what they must strive to work towards going forward into the future.
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