The Colorado Eagles, in sixth place entering Tuesday night, faced off with the fourth-place Abbotsford Canucks. The team from British Columbia was a thorn in the Eagles’ side last season. Seemingly every time the Eagles needed points, they were matched up against Abbotsford. They know each other well from playing six times last season.
First period
The Eagles began the game with a flurry of shots on goal. The defensemen were aggressively carrying the puck to create scoring opportunities. At 8:45 remaining in the period, Cedric Pare tried to carry the puck down the far side boards into the offensive zone. Jett Woo‘s hit would leave him doubled over in pain on the bench. Pare left for the locker room without hesitation. With 42 seconds left in the period, Colorado had a power play. They passed the puck into Caleb Jones‘ skates, and John Stevens immediately gained possession. He would snap it past the goaltender Justus Annunen for a 1–0 Abbotsford lead.
Here is the hit that knocked Cedric Pare out of the game. He has not returned to the game #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/UKuOgc6vBY
— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) October 25, 2023
Abbotsford opens up the scoring with a shorty. A pass sent into the feet of Caleb Jones that he can't corral leads to odd man rush on Sam Malinski. #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/mRYQjZnYr6
— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) October 25, 2023
Second period
The Canucks would come into the second period with increased intensity against the Eagles. Abbotsford would finish killing the remaining minute of the Colorado power play. The Eagles and Canucks exchanged penalties, but had no success. With 11:50 left in the period, Riley Tufte used his long reach to poke the puck off of a stick in the defensive zone and raced down ice for his own chance on goal. Tufte attacked, stole the puck and scored, tying the game at 1–1.
Riley Tufte, with not one but TWO, steals to get the puck in the back of the net for the third straight game. Tied at 1. #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/n12QvFyV5c
— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) October 25, 2023
Third period and overtime
The third period was a low-shooting affair. Colorado had four shots on the net, while the Canucks had three. The teams went back and forth, anticipating a mistake from each other. Fortunately for neither team, no one made any mistakes until the overtime period. With less than a second left in overtime, Vasily Podkolzin skillfully scored a backhand shot past Annunen to give Abbotsford the victory.
The best video I could get, Abbotsford wins it with .6 seconds left in OT by running right around Meyers and Ahcan. Eagles get the point but drop the game. #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/jCfHeDfNNb
— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) October 25, 2023
Analysis
The Eagles have been great at starting off the game with applying pressure in the offensive zone. But as the game wears on, they are not maintaining the pressure and finishing in the plays. Colorado has softened up in the offensive zone forecheck later in the game and gives the opposing team momentum to break out of the zone. If they can have consistent pressure from now on, they may have won this one in a shootout.