Trent Miner held firm to help Eagles claw back to a 3-2 shootout win in the desert.
The Colorado Eagles started a three game road trip with a stop in California, to play the Coachella Valley Firebirds (SEA). Colorado split the last two series that they played, with special teams playing a vital role in every game. The last time these two teams played each other earlier in the month, each team came home with a win. The Injury report for the Eagles has not improved with Jean-Luc Foudy going down again. This time it was a lower-body injury that has taken him out of the lineup.
Takeaways
Special teams became an issue in the second period and made the difference in the game. The Eagles missed three straight power play opportunities, resulting in a one-goal deficit by the end of the second. Colorado is connecting on the man advantage, with a success rate of 20.7 percent, which ranked them eighth in the AHL before the game. Colorado even had a chance in the overtime period to clinch the game with a power play, but once again could not convert.
The player development rule has been healthy scratching Colorado’s best players the last few games. Matthew Phillips, who is currently on a 10-game point streak, was chosen as the healthy scratch because of the rule. Jayson Megna, Jere Innala and Keaton Middleton have all been healthy scratches to keep the Eagles within the limits of the rule. The absence of Phillips tonight was clear with the lack of a forecheck and speed towards the net on offense. Luckily Oskar Olausson was able to tie the game to send it to overtime.
Trent Miner, coming off his NHL debut with the Colorado Avalanche, looked very comfortable in the net tonight. He had to stop multiple breakaways by the Firebirds and held the Eagles in the game. Miner shut down all three of the Firebirds’ power plays plus a penalty shot. To add to that, Miner blocked four out of six shots on the shootout to assist in the 3–2 victory.
Upcoming
The Eagles will head north to battle the Bakersfield Condors (EDM) on Friday, November 22nd at Mechanics Bank at 8 p.m.
