BOSSIER CITY, La. – Despite being down 3 goals to 0 after the first 20 minutes in game 4 of the Northern Conference semi-finals the Colorado Eagles rallied back to win the game at 2:01 of the first overtime
period.
The Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs came out fast and hard in the first period. Aided by an unassisted goal from Brett Smith the home crowd was into the game early. Although it was not a huge crowd they were vocal and gave the team inspiration and encouragement.
The second Mudbugs goal came off the stick of Travis Clayton with helpers from Brett Smith and Dale Lupul at 15:27 of the opening frame. The crowd had barely sat down from that celebration when the Mudbugs
scored goal number 3 on the night a mere 31 seconds later. Chris Brassard’s goal assisted by Neil Clark and Simon Mangos ignited the Mudbugs and their fans. It looked like another poor playoff game 4 showing for the Colorado Eagles.
Anytime you speak to members of this Eagles team or the coaching staff about the seasons success you hear the same words, veteran leadership. That is what has made this team a team of winners, a “band of brothers” as Eagle retread and veteran defenseman, Aaron Grosul, explained the other night. This cohesiveness and desire to play for each other and be lead by the experienced veterans is what sets the 2008 -2009 Colorado Eagles team apart from previous teams.
Asked what he said to the team between the first and second period of game 4 in Bossier City, Coach McClelland said, ” I didn’t have to say much, the leaders on this team knew what to do, what had to be done, to get back into the game.”
Before the second period was even 90 seconds old one of the most veteran of the “veteran leaders”, Captain Greg Pankewicz, put the Eagles on the scoreboard with an assist from Konrad Reeder. Ed Mcgrane
extended his points streak to 24 straight games with a goal at the 6:43 mark of the second period to bring the Eagles within one of the Mudbugs and quiet the home crowd. Assisting on the goal were Riley Nelson and Aaron Schneekloth.
The rest of the middle frame was scoreless due to the excellence of the goaltenders at either end of the ice. Andrew Penner and Ken Carroll both kept their respective nets empty. The score was 3 to 2 after 40
minutes of play but more importantly for the Eagles the momentum had shifted in their favor and the quiet crowd was evidence of this.
At 2:09 of the third period, Ed Mcgrane netted his second goal of the night. The game tying goal was scored on the Power Play with help from Jay Birnie and Konrad Reeder. The remainder of the third was a
defensive battle as neither team wanted to make a mistake and give up the go ahead goal. Once again Penner and Carroll went save for save to keep the score knotted until the end of regulation time.
Overtime or “sudden death overtime” as it is sometimes called can be a matter of sheer luck as happens when a game is won on a fluke goal or a truly unusual circumstance or bad bounce. This Game 4 was won by hard work down low and great shot from the Eagle’s, Pankewicz. His game winner came a mere 2 minutes and 1 second into the first overtime period with assistance on the goal from Erik Adams and Scott Polaski.
Penner, who has been the Eagles “go to” goalie in this series had another excellent game. After allowing three goals in the the first period he buckled down and did not allow another goal the rest of the night.
According to Coach McClelland,”He was unbelievable, we did not give him a lot of help in the first but he closed the door the rest of the game and saved us down the stretch”.
For the first time in team history the Colorado Eagles completed a 4 game sweep in the playoffs. In this game they did it while giving up the game’s first goal, by overcoming a three goal deficit, and scoring the only two goals in the second period as well as 4 straight goals.
The next opponent for the Eagles is Coach McClelland’s former team, The Mississippi River Kings, who defeated the Oklahoma City Blazers to move on to the Northern Conference Finals.
Contact the author at terry.sanford@prohockeynews.com
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