TUCSON, AZ. – Colorado forward Andrew Agozzino scored the game-winning goal with just three seconds remaining in overtime to lift the Eagles to a 5-4 victory over the Tucson Roadrunners on Saturday. Five different Colorado skaters found the back of the net, while Spencer Martin collected his second-consecutive win in goal, stopping 44 of the 48 shots he faced.
Colorado would open the scoring late in the first period when forward Logan O’Connor raced into the offensive zone and snapped a shot from the right-wing circle that would beat Tucson goalie Hunter Miska and give the Eagles a 1-0 edge at the 15:47 mark of the opening frame.
A power play in the waning minutes of the first period would set up Tucson to even up the score when forward Tyler Steenbergen deflected a shot into the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1 with 26 seconds remaining in the opening 20 minutes.
The second period would see things open up on the offensive end, as forward Igor Shvyrev would put Colorado on top, 2-1 with a wrister from the right-wing circle that would elude Miska just 3:35 into the middle frame.
The lead would grow when forward Michael Joly bulled his way past a Roadrunners defenseman before burying a shot from the slot to make it a 3-1 Eagles advantage at the 10:48 mark of the period.
Tucson would chip in to the deficit with a controversial goal that saw a puck battle in the crease lead to a Roadrunners tally from forward Brayden Burke. Martin argued that the puck was frozen under his glove, but it was ruled a good goal and cut Colorado’s lead to 3-2 with 8:16 left in the second period. The goal would also see a change in net on the other end, as Miska gave way to Adin Hill for the duration.
A Tucson power play just minutes later would generate the game-tying goal when forward Lane Pederson launched a wrister from the left circle that would hit the back of the net and tie the game at 3-3 at the 14:02 mark of the period.
The Eagles would reclaim the lead when forward Tim McGauley deflected a shot from the blue line into the back of the net with 2:47 remaining in the second stanza. The goal was McGauley’s first AHL tally and gave Colorado a 4-3 edge.
Another Roadrunners power play would lead to yet another goal, as defenseman Robbie Russo would weave a slapshot from the blue line through traffic and past Martin to square the score at 4-4 at the 19:35 mark.
Heading into the third period, both teams would generate a plethora of chances but neither goaltender would give an inch and the game would head to a sudden-death overtime tied at 4-4. In the extra session Martin Kaut would deliver an outlet pass onto the tape of Agozzino who would unfurl a wrister from the left-wing circle that would beat Hill and give Colorado a 5-4 win with only 3 seconds remaining in OT.
Tucson finished the night going 3-for-5 on the power play, while the Eagles were held 0-for-1 on the man-advantage. Tucson ended the evening with a heavy edge in shots on goal, 48-33.
You must be logged in to post a comment.