LOVELAND, Colo. – One thing the Colorado Eagles had not had in the Western Conference Finals against the Fort Wayne Komets is a big comeback, leading to a win. In a game seven everything changes as desperation and desire mark the game plan. Making that game-winning shot is all there is. Ryan Olsen was the player who buried that shot 10:43 into the first overtime period to seal the deal and give Colorado a shot to compete for the Kelly Cup for the second year in a row.
Colorado Eagles with the Western Conference Bruce Taylor Trophy
On this night all the stats and history of the last six games between these two teams went out the window as the Komets got that all important first goal off the stick of a former Eagle, Cody Sol, who sunk a slapper from the blue line deep into the net behind Joe Cannata for the 1-0 lead at 2:07 of the first period.
Colorado’s Drayson Bowman was able to answer back quickly with a slick put back past Michael Houser for the 1-1 tie at the 4:50 mark.
But true to form, Fort Wayne scored a late period goal from Jamie Shaafsma on the rush after the Eagles committed a turnover near their blue line to take the 2-1 lead.
Each team had a power play in the second frame, but both penalty kills were successful and the score after 40-minutes of play remained at 2-1 heading into the second intermission.
A beautifully executed breakaway play from Komets forward Shawn Szydlowski culminated in a 3-1 lead for the visitors at 8:01 into the third period as the loud and proud crowd at the BEC took a deep breath and started another round of “Let’s Go Eagles!”
Eagles captain Matt Garbowsky scored with exactly eight minutes left in regulation on a Collin Bowman pass that he deflected into the Komets net to cut their lead to one.
#7 Matt Garbowsky #2 Star of the Game
A feature player who had been missing from the Eagles roster for the last three games due to league suspension from a dust-up at the red line during warm-ups in Game two, was feisty forward, Joey Ratelle. The speedy and determined Ratelle wristed a shot past Houser for the 3-3 tie with 3:09 left to play in the third.
#11 Joey Ratelle #3 Star of the Game
Known for their deflating late period heroics against the Eagles in this series, the Komets had no answer to that game tying goal. After a third intermission, the rivals were back on the Ice for the (first?) overtime period and the third overtime game in these Western Conference Finals.
At 10:43 of the overtime period Olsen, on the power play, got the best of a puck battle down low and forced the puck past Houser for the game and series-winning goal.
#14 Ryan Olsen #1 Star of the Game
With a very quick turn around for the Eagles, they will begin their defense of the Kelly Cup with the finals series against the Florida Everblades on Friday, May, 25th at the Budweiser Events Center at 7:05 P.M. M.T.
Article and photos courtesy of terry.sanford@prohockeynews.com
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