Two number 12%27s%2C Riley Nelson and Gabriel Levesque shake hands at center ice
LOVELAND, COlo – The Colorado Eagles, down two games to none, returned to the friendly confines of the Budweiser Events Center for the third game in the best of five Western Conference Quarterfinals of the ECHL Kelly Cup playoffs. Despite pulling out all the stops and playing a very strong game the Eagles went down in defeat to the Stockton Thunder in a close game with the outcome not decided until Jordan Fulton’s empty net/shorthanded goal with less than 30 seconds left in the contest earned Stockton the irrefutable 4 to 2 victory.
Thunder players celebrate Matt Foy%27s goal
Michael Forney’s return from a loan to the AHL Texas Stars helped spark a a strong offensive effort for the Colorado Eagles as they outshot the the Thunder 10 to 6 in the first period despite killing off two early power plays. However it was Stockton who scored first when Matt Foy, with helpers from Chris D’Alvise and Nathan Deck, slid the puck past Eagles goalie Kyle Jones at 13:59 of the first period. Less than two minutes later Colorado evened the contest with a power play goal generated by great passing down low as Jake Marto found Steve Haddon all alone on the right side of Stockton net minder, Olivier Roy, for the chip in goal.
Eagles celebrate Haddoins first period goal
Continuing their strong play into the second period, the Eagles outshot Stockton 12 to 6, yet it was the Thunder who made the most of their shots with the Eagle killer, Max Campbell, connecting twice in the frame. His first goal on a 5 on 3 power play at 2:06 assisted by Gabriel Levesque and Foy and again at even strength with help from D’Alvise and Tony Dehart.
Kyle Jones directs traffic
Down 3 to 1 entering possibly the final period of their first ECHL season the speedy Colorado Eagles attempted to turn up the heat on the Thunder and to their credit created three tripping penalties against Stockton in the final frame. Unfortunately for the home team they were only able to convert on the first part of a 5 on 3 power play to get within a goal of Stockton. At 3:31 Eagles Captain, Riley Nelson, asisted by Forney and Haddon, scored from down low on a well set up chance.
Although the Eagles outshot the Thunder, 8 to 6, the shorthanded empty net goal was the only other scoring in the period as Colorado went down 3 games to 0 in the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs.
Thunder celebrate the victory
Contact the author/photographer at terry.sanford@prohockeynews.com
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