LOVELAND, Colo. – With Goalie Joe Cannata’s struggles continuing for the second game in a row the Colorado Eagles fought hard to overcome each goal deficit they were presented with until the sudden death Overtime goal that they could not respond to.
Evan Polei started the scoring for Wichita with a breakaway goal that slipped past Cannata at 7:03 of the first stanza to put the visitors up 1 – 0. Colorado answered with Ryan Harrison speeding down the ice and surprising Shane Starrett with a well placed shot tying the game at 1 – 1 less than 90 seconds later.
Ryan Harrison beats Shane Starrett
Wichita regained the lead when Brayden Low batted the puck out of midair depositing it behind Cannata at 12:58 for a 2 – 1 lead heading into the second frame.
Once again the Eagles created a tying goal early in the second period when Julien Nantel took a pass from Travis Barron and created time and space for himself on a breakaway that resulted in a 2 -2 game at 3:02.
A Colorado power play mishandle lead to the next Wichita score allowing a 2 on 1 down ice rush with Mark Macmillan the happy recipient of a short-handed goal for the 3 – 2 Thunder lead at 12:38 of the middle frame. Four minutes later Ryan Van Stralen would push the Thunder lead to 4 -2 with an undefended close-in shot against Cannata.
#20 Van Stralen 2nd period goal
Still battling hard the Colorado Eagles now had a two-goal deficit to overcome and J.C. Beaudin managed to cut that deficit in half with a tip-in from the point that lit the lamp leaving a 4-3 Thunder advantage.
Beaudin #8 and Ratelle #11 celebrate Beaudin’s goal against #30 Starrett
With the shot totals for Colorado getting into the high 30’s the effort to get at least a tying goal became the only focus for the team. With Cannata pulled for the extra attacker Drayson Bowman redirected Jake Marto’s pass into Starrett’s net for the equalizer at 1:27 of the third period for the 4 – 4 tie and earning an opportunity to get the win in Overtime.
It was not to be for the Eagles on this night as Von Stralen converted a turnover in the Eagles zone into the game-winning goal on a backhand shot over Cannata’s shoulder for the 9th goal he has allowed in the last two games.
Van Stralen #20 OT game-winner against Cannata #31
Wichita scored 5 goals on a total of 17 shots while Colorado took 41 shots to score 4 goals. Wichita went 0 for 2 on the power play while scoring once shorthanded. Colorado went 0 for 4 with the man advantage.
Game 6 will be played in Wichita, Kansas at Intrust Bank Arena on Monday, April 23rd at 6:05 MT
Article and photos Courtesy of Terry.Sanford@Prohockeynews.com
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