COLvsBAK Archives - The Rink https://www.the-rink.com/tag/colvsbak/ Chicago Blackhawks and NHL Salary Cap Information Sun, 10 Mar 2024 05:56:59 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://i0.wp.com/www.the-rink.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/cropped-FavIcon_v3.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 COLvsBAK Archives - The Rink https://www.the-rink.com/tag/colvsbak/ 32 32 136660061 Eagles shortcomings highlighted in 6–1 loss https://www.the-rink.com/eagles-shortcomings-highlighted-in-6-1-loss/ https://www.the-rink.com/eagles-shortcomings-highlighted-in-6-1-loss/#respond Sun, 10 Mar 2024 05:56:59 +0000 https://www.the-rink.com/?p=28868 The Colorado Eagles had much to gain in the matchup with the Bakersfield Condors (EDM). But the team faced several shortcomings, and they were all brutally highlighted in their 6–1... Read more »

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]]> The Colorado Eagles had much to gain in the matchup with the Bakersfield Condors (EDM). But the team faced several shortcomings, and they were all brutally highlighted in their 6–1 loss.

After being traded to Anaheim earlier this week, the team missed key player Ben Meyers on the ice. The Eagles are also on the tail end of a six-game road trip, all while fighting to keep their second place standing.

A win would mean everything, especially at this point in the season. A victory situates the team comfortably at 71 points and trailing the Coachella Valley Firebirds (SEA) by seven points. Third place team Tucson Roadrunners (ARI) trail the Eagles by a mere four points.

The good

It goes without saying the Eagles struggled in their loss. After only trailing by one after the first frame, a second goal only 18 seconds into the period wasn’t encouraging.

However, Colorado never slowed down and became complacent, a very positive trait with playoffs just around the corner. The team appeared to be on the cusp of a goal for the first 40 minutes, but simply could not get through Condor Olivier Rodrigue to light the lamp.

Though it took 50 minutes of play, Riley Tufte and Peter Holland prevented a shutout. A dish from Tufte off the bobble of the Condors allowed Holland the room to find the back of the net and cut the margin down to five.

The bad

Unfortunately for Colorado, there was more to correct than to celebrate. The matchups between the Eagles and Condors have never been easy, frequently splitting the series.

Goaltender Ivan Prosvetov has been an enormous asset to the Eagles, sporting an 8–2–0–2 record with a save percentage of 0.935. Despite such a positive impact on the team, he allowed three goals on 16 shots, two of which were in the second period.

The Eagles excelled in drawing penalties but couldn’t convert on any of them. Heading into post season, power plays can make or break a game. Colorado was rewarded with a four-minute advantage in the second frame, but Tanner Kero‘s double minor cut it short.

His time in the box was a direct cause of the third goal against the Eagles.

The Condors opened up the third period with another goal, increasing the margin to four. Lighting the lamp for the fourth time was the beginning of the end for the team, and the spiral was a collective effort.

In a minute and a half, Bakersfield netted goals five and six, all while keeping the Eagles off of the scoreboard.

What now?

The team still has 16 games to solidify their standing in the rankings. After working out some of their issues and readjusting to the absence of Meyers, the future is bright for the team.

The Eagles will have time to reset and return to their home arena to face the Calgary Wranglers (CGY) on Friday, March 15 at 7:05 p.m.

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]]> https://www.the-rink.com/eagles-shortcomings-highlighted-in-6-1-loss/feed/ 0 28868 Hunt stays hot while Eagles sweep road trip https://www.the-rink.com/hunt-stays-hot-while-eagles-sweep-road-trip/ https://www.the-rink.com/hunt-stays-hot-while-eagles-sweep-road-trip/#respond Mon, 19 Feb 2024 04:48:09 +0000 https://www.the-rink.com/?p=28573 The Colorado Eagles continued their insane pace as they climbed up the standings tonight. As they battled the Bakersfield Condors for the sixth time this season, Colorado made it look... Read more »

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]]> The Colorado Eagles continued their insane pace as they climbed up the standings tonight. As they battled the Bakersfield Condors for the sixth time this season, Colorado made it look easy. The Eagles killed three penalties in the first period and scored three goals as well. The Eagles won last night with some ease over the Coachella Valley Firebirds 5–2 and wanted to carry the momentum up the road. With the injury list shrinking, Ben Meyers returned to the lineup after missing 10 games with an upper-body injury. Here are the takeaways from the 5–2 victory over the Condors.

Takeaways

— Brad Hunt has been a genuine leader on the team as of late. In just the last four games, he has had six points, three of which were in tonight’s victory. Hunt led all skaters with one goal and two assists. He never takes credit for any of the plays that he makes, saying that “it is a team sport and we are all having fun out there.” Hunt is one defenseman that can play in all situations in the AHL, using his powerful slap shot to clear the shooting lane. After tonight, Hunt leads the team in points 14 goals and 24 assists.

— After missing 10 games because of an injury, Ben Meyers had an immediate impact with his return. Just 49 seconds into the game Meyers helped assist on Cedric Pare’s opening goal. Meyers set up the lead pass for Pare to take off into the zone and set the tone for the entire game. Later, he assisted on another goal by forechecking into the zone and throwing the puck into the center for Peter Holland to score.

— The only thing that was a problem tonight was the Eagles’ discipline. They gave the Condors six power play opportunities throughout the game. A lot of the penalties were because tempers were getting heated. It was the sixth meeting of the season after all. But the players need to keep that under control. They killed off all the penalties, putting themselves at third in the league at 84.5 percent.

Conclusion

As of tonight, the Eagles are in third place in the Pacific Division and only two points out of second place. They have gone on a wild run lately, going 13–3 in the last 16 games. Head coach Aaron Schneekloth has credited their special teams to all of their recent success and the health of the players. As long as the Eagles can get a trickle of healthy players coming into the team, they will only get better. Colorado has a few days off to rest; they don’t play again until Friday at home against the Henderson Silver Knights. By that point, the Eagles could have one or two more players back in the lineup.

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]]> https://www.the-rink.com/hunt-stays-hot-while-eagles-sweep-road-trip/feed/ 0 28573 Ivan scores to help secure Eagles’ win over Condors https://www.the-rink.com/ivan-scores-to-help-secure-eagles-win-over-condors/ https://www.the-rink.com/ivan-scores-to-help-secure-eagles-win-over-condors/#respond Thu, 15 Feb 2024 06:56:22 +0000 https://www.the-rink.com/?p=28543 LOVELAND, Colo. — The Colorado Eagles were in a battle to maintain their fourth place spot in the Pacific Division tonight. Entering the game tonight, they held a three point lead... Read more »

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]]> LOVELAND, Colo. — The Colorado Eagles were in a battle to maintain their fourth place spot in the Pacific Division tonight. Entering the game tonight, they held a three point lead in the standings on the Bakersfield Condors. So far this season the series has been evenly split at two wins apiece, so it was anyone’s game. It was even more of a battle with the recently reassigned Ivan Prosvetov in net for the Eagles and Jack Campbell for the Condors. After managing only one goal last night, it was the hope that the Eagles could pull the win off. After the 2-1 win over Bakersfield, these are the takeaways.

Takeaways

— Ivan Ivan has been on a roll lately. Currently sitting in fifth place on the team in points is the rookie, with 23. Tonight, after taking a nasty elbow to the head in the first period, he came back to score his ninth goal of the year. Ivan’ skills have noticeably improved as he has grown more comfortable with the pro game.

“I’m always staying after practice,” Ivan said. “I spend 20-30 minutes working on my skills. But, I’m trying to work on stuff like skating. It was always my main thing. So I still gotta get better at that and stick with it. It’s kind of my fear. So I’m just trying to work on everything. Basically trying to get a drill with everything. That’s [what I] gotta keep doing.”

“Yeah, he’s coming into his own,” head coach Aaron Schneekloth said. “He’s getting real comfortable in the hard areas. You see him go after retrievals in the offensive zone and protect the puck and he’s powerful when he escapes and so you know, he’s trending in the right direction. His growth has been exponential this season. And he’s been a really good player for us.”

— Ivan Prosvetov, once again, secured a win for the Eagles. Prosvetov’s three games with the Eagles resulted in three wins. The team won all three games when they desperately needed the points. While Justus Annunen has been in Denver, Prosvetov has been holding down the fort in Loveland. He has 1.54 GAA and .957 save percentage so far while in the AHL this season.

— The Eagles persevered, despite not scoring in the first half. They have been pushing the play forward the entire game without stopping. Colorado, even when down a goal or two, keeps the same pressure up on their opponents.

Conclusion

There is a long list of injuries that Colorado has at the moment. Normally, you would think that it slows them down. It has done quite the opposite. The Eagles are 8–2 in their last 10 games. They are holding pace with the top teams in the league, like the Hershey Bears and the Milwaukee Admirals. Every player is taking hold of the opportunity to step up and help the team win. They are currently in fourth place and will head out west on Saturday to take on the Coachella Valley Firebirds, who are first in the division. On Sunday, Colorado plays Bakersfield once again and then heads home.

Ivan Ivan interview

Coach Schneekloth interview

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]]> https://www.the-rink.com/ivan-scores-to-help-secure-eagles-win-over-condors/feed/ 0 28543 Colorado Eagles fall short during home stand https://www.the-rink.com/colorado-eagles-fall-short-during-home-stand/ https://www.the-rink.com/colorado-eagles-fall-short-during-home-stand/#respond Wed, 14 Feb 2024 06:24:15 +0000 https://www.the-rink.com/?p=28526 LOVELAND, Colo. — Colorado Eagles have stepped up their game in the last few weeks. The team had been hovering around the sixth place slot and needed to push for more.... Read more »

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]]> LOVELAND, Colo. — Colorado Eagles have stepped up their game in the last few weeks. The team had been hovering around the sixth place slot and needed to push for more. In the last seven games, the Eagles have risen three places in the standings. To begin their home stand, they recently swept the Abbotsford Canucks on Feb. 9 and 10.

Trent Miner returned to the lineup in place of Ivan Prosvetov, who was recently reassigned to the Eagles. Against the Canucks, he stood undefeated at 2–0–0–0.

“I was expecting myself to be good,” Prosvetov said. “I have big expectations of myself, and I am a good goalie. I can make a difference in the game and it’s worth trying to do.”

Rolling into the Bakersfield Condors series, the Eagles lead 2–1–0–0 overall. Both teams are evenly matched, making it a battle by nature.

First period

Colorado started the period strong. The defense locked in, but the offense struggled to get started. Until they were rewarded with a power play, the Eagles had not recorded a shot on goal.

With half of the period already gone, both the Condors and Colorado struggle to get anything going. The first period concluded scoreless, and the home team outshot Bakersfield by one.

Second period

Bakersfield visited the penalty box only two minutes into the period. The Eagles had a power play percentage of 16.9 percent.

Only thirty seconds into the man advantage, Peter Holland lights the lamp and gives Colorado a one goal lead.

For ten minutes, it would hold. Bakersfield finds a top shelf opportunity and takes it, tying it up at one. Less than two minutes later, Miner makes a costly mistake. To poke the puck away from his goal, he left the crease. He missed giving Bakersfield the lead without earning it.

Again, Colorado outshot their opponent by one, yet were trailing after 40 minutes of play.

Third period

The Eagles continued to battle for a goal to neutralize the score, yet fell short every time. They were close on several occasions, but couldn’t find a way past Condor goaltender Olivier Rodrigue.

Just under halfway through the period, Bakersfield found an opportunity for a breakaway. Brad Hunt chased him down but took an interference penalty in exchange. The Eagles penalty kill units successfully contained their opponent.

The Eagles are seventh in the league when defending their net at a disadvantage. But their offense still struggled to find their groove.

Despite putting a tremendous effort forward, Colorado came up short 2–1 and outshot their opponent 12–7 in the last frame.

Tomorrow, they will face off again against the Condors at 7:05 p.m.

Takeaways

—At the beginning of the season, the Eagles struggled to get their offense going at all. Now, it seems the team can only find success on a power play. Without being able to fire on all cylinders, it is difficult to win games without some struggle during play.

Head coach Aaron Schneekloth had commented on this trend, stating it was a work in progress.

“You know, we’ve talked about it all year,” he said. “It’s a work in progress. You’re trying to create some chemistry and some feel out there and the addition of some certain players in certain situations. You got some urgency and some opportunities where we’re burned out earlier in the season. They weren’t finding the net and some opportunities in some situations and now they are. The guys are working hard in practice, and they’re prepared for what they’re going to face from the opponent and our execution level has been extremely high in the last month and a half.”

—There has been a lot of rotation in the top scorers for the Eagles. Riley Tufte used to dominate the category, but he hasn’t found the back of the net since Jan. 21 against the San Jose Barracuda. Right behind him is Hunt, who has tied Tufte at 12 goals. Quickly rising in the top three scorers is Cedric Paré, who has eight goals and last scored on Feb. 2 against the Ontario Reign.

—With both teams exercising their goalie tandem, it is possible there will be a faceoff between Prosvetov and Jack Campbell. Campbell has 18 games with the Condors, sporting a 10–8–0–1 record. Prosvetov would suit up for his third game in a Colorado uniform. With both of their playing levels in mind, it is expected that tomorrow’s game will be a goalie battle.

Interview with Coach Aaron Schneekloth

Interview with goalie Ivan Prosvetov

 

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]]> https://www.the-rink.com/colorado-eagles-fall-short-during-home-stand/feed/ 0 28526 Condors triumph as Eagles struggle to find the net in third period https://www.the-rink.com/condors-triumph-as-eagles-struggle-to-find-the-net-in-third-period/ https://www.the-rink.com/condors-triumph-as-eagles-struggle-to-find-the-net-in-third-period/#respond Thu, 18 Jan 2024 06:43:39 +0000 https://www.the-rink.com/?p=28294 LOVELAND, Colo. — Last night’s appearance against the Condors set the stage for the team to celebrate more successes in the last game of the series. While still difficult to... Read more »

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]]> LOVELAND, Colo. — Last night’s appearance against the Condors set the stage for the team to celebrate more successes in the last game of the series. While still difficult to find the net in excess, confidence from the victory could certainly play a role.

Brad Hunt and Riley Tufte both scored their first goals in 2024, and it seemed to open up a world of opportunity for the rest of the team. Though ultimately dropping the game 4–2 and splitting the series, several Eagles players revived their goal production.

First period

The game was expected to be intense, and the obvious emotion was seen only two minutes into the game.

Dalton Smith and Condors player Ben Gleason were both given five minutes for fighting after Smith sent him into the boards, giving the Condors an early power play. Last night, Bakersfield failed to convert on any of the extra man opportunities, and that problem continued.

After being sent to the box for tripping, Cedric Paré assisted the Eagles’ first goal upon his release. Tanner Kero scored his fourth goal of the season with Paré’s help, and Ondrej Pavel was credited with the secondary assist. Kero’s goal is his first since Dec. 16 against the Ontario Reign.

The lead was short-lived as the Condors flew down the rink and scored their own goal only nineteen seconds after Colorado.

The Eagles didn’t need to worry for long. At the seventeen-minute mark, Spencer Smallman caught a rebound from Chris Wagner and scored while sliding on his back. His last goal was netted on Dec. 30 against the Iowa Wild.

Second period

When leading after the first period, the Eagles were undefeated.

Colorado had only found itself in the box one time for interference, which was a tremendous improvement from the first period. Over halfway through the second frame, the lead appeared to hold. The Eagles set the stage to dominate the game, but the Condors were determined not to let that happen.

At the 13 minute mark, the Condors took the lead for the first time. The Eagles needed to bounce back if they were going to stay in the game. Once trailing after the second frame, the team was 0-11-0-0.

Even when gifted a late power play in the second period, the lineup could not convert and ended the period trailing by one.

Third period

Once Bakersfield took the lead, there was no looking back. Though the Eagles tried to push through to the end and generate a goal, they couldn’t find a way to get there.

While the game was still close, Miner was called off the ice in favor of an extra attacker. With only 48 seconds remaining on the clock, the Condors took advantage of an open net and brought the final score to 4–2.

Colorado could only take eight shots in the final frame but outshot its opponent 34–23.

Takeaways

Colorado frequently seems to have trouble staying out of the box. On several occasions, the team has held the lead until they are repeatedly spending time on the penalty kill. It’s hard to score goals when shorthanded!

In this series, the team struggled to find the back of the net late in the game. How vital it is to offensively attack an opponent goes without saying, but when coupled with the penalties, it is a recipe for disaster.

A contributor to some struggles the team is experiencing is the roster changes because of call-ups, reassignments, and injuries. Sam Malinski and Jason Polin have both spent significant time with the Colorado Avalanche, leaving holes in the lineup and forcing lines to be adjusted. Wyatt Aamodt suffered an upper-body injury last night, forcing Josh Wesley to be recalled from the Utah Grizzlies.

The Eagles will continue their home stand on Saturday, Jan. 20 against the San Jose Barracuda.

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]]> https://www.the-rink.com/condors-triumph-as-eagles-struggle-to-find-the-net-in-third-period/feed/ 0 28294 Tufte and Hunt end their scoring drought against Condors https://www.the-rink.com/tufte-and-hunt-end-their-scoring-drought-against-condors/ https://www.the-rink.com/tufte-and-hunt-end-their-scoring-drought-against-condors/#respond Wed, 17 Jan 2024 06:33:23 +0000 https://www.the-rink.com/?p=28282 LOVELAND, Colo. — For the Colorado Eagles, it has been tough to find the back of the net. Since Dec. 28 against the Iowa Wild, Riley Tufte has been shut... Read more »

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]]> LOVELAND, Colo. — For the Colorado Eagles, it has been tough to find the back of the net. Since Dec. 28 against the Iowa Wild, Riley Tufte has been shut out.

The Eagles snapped a three-game losing streak with an overtime winner on Jan. 13, but the slump the team was in was at risk of picking back up against the Bakersfield Condors on Tuesday, especially with so many of the regular roster playing with the Colorado Avalanche.

First period

The Eagles started the game hot by throwing shots on the net and were rewarded with an early goal from defenseman Brad Hunt. The goal came as no surprise since he had been spending a lot of time in the offensive zone and putting the puck near the net, and the power play was the perfect opportunity to score.

Hunt said his goal was not only a result of his own efforts on the net, but he could score because of Tufte’s position in the slot.

Just a few minutes later, Tufte added to the lead and scored his first goal of 2024. The two goals were scored before the Condors had even had an opportunity on the net.

Though, 14 minutes has a lot of potential for either team to take advantage of mistakes. Just past the 18-minute mark, the Condors narrowed the margin to one goal.

Second period

Colorado maintained its lead through the middle frame. The team outshot Bakersfield 10 to nine, though neither team could net a goal.

At the end of the period, Spencer Smallman and Bakersfield’s Dino Kambeitz were both issued five minutes for fighting, leaving both teams shorthanded to begin the last frame.

Third period

After a scoreless second frame, the Eagles were sitting in a good spot. But the team would need to keep up the tight defense if they wanted to secure the first win of the two-game series and goaltender Trent Miner would need to stay strong in the net.

The team ultimately walked away with a 2–1 victory despite only outshooting their opponent in one out of the three frames.

In the end, it is no surprise. Colorado had a 7–0–0 record when leading after the first period, and they have now added one more victory to that statistic.

With the playoffs on the horizon, there is still time to adjust and get into the mindset of a possible post-season appearance. Even in the face of adversity, Hunt knows where the team needs to be at the end of the season.

“I think we can learn from the past, but not focus on it,” he said. “We need to look to the future and take it game by game.”

Takeaways

The Colorado Avalanche recalled goalie Justus Annunen for their road trip, giving space for Miner between the pipes against the Condors. He successfully fended off 30 out of 31 shots and has proved himself to be a reliable goaltender.

Colorado converted on their only power play, contributing to their season power play percentage of 15.5%. Taking advantage of the power play early into the game set the team up for a successful showing.

Top scorers Hunt and Tufte broke their scoring drought, but Jack Ahcan hasn’t seen success since Nov. 25 against the Texas Stars, where he collected two goals. Without three of the top five scorers producing goals, it is easy to see why the lineup had a hard time finding a victory.

The Eagles will face off against the Condors again Wednesday, Jan. 17 at 7:05 p.m.

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]]> https://www.the-rink.com/tufte-and-hunt-end-their-scoring-drought-against-condors/feed/ 0 28282 Eagles start California trip on high note https://www.the-rink.com/eagles-start-california-trip-on-high-note/ https://www.the-rink.com/eagles-start-california-trip-on-high-note/#respond Tue, 12 Dec 2023 22:46:11 +0000 https://www.the-rink.com/?p=27911 The Colorado Eagles traveled to Bakersfield, California, for their only weekday day game of the year as they battled the Bakersfield Condors. Three out of the last five games ended... Read more »

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]]> The Colorado Eagles traveled to Bakersfield, California, for their only weekday day game of the year as they battled the Bakersfield Condors. Three out of the last five games ended in losses for the Eagles. All of them were at home. In the latest game against Tucson, they allowed three unanswered goals in the third during the Teddy Bear Toss. Justus Annunen and Peter Holland both remain out of the lineup with lower-body injuries. Annunen has seen no action since Nov. 18. Cal Burke remains away from the team as he deals with some personal family matters. Burke’s last game was on Nov. 25. Let’s do some quick hits from the Eagles’ 2–1 victory today. 

Quick hits

— Out of the three times I have seen Trent Miner play (twice on TV and once live), this was his best performance. In 32 shots on goal, Miner had a save percentage of .969. He was pushing post-to-post quickly and seeing the puck. He is getting comfortable at the AHL level, allowing only 2.41 goals per game and managing a .915 save percentage.

— The penalty kill for the Eagles continues to be stellar by not allowing any goals in five chances today. It has been the highlight of the season so far, performing at 84.8% success rate. The club’s lack of discipline leads to numerous visits to the penalty box, but they have the ability to fend off threats.

— On the flip side, the power play is a major concern for Colorado. Tanner Kero buried a power play goal with only 47 seconds left in the game, but they had a long dry spell before that. The Eagles are now 2 for 25 in the last eight games, or an 8% success rate. Winning more games requires boosting this number and scoring beyond even strength goals.

— Since Oskar Olausson has returned from the Colorado Avalanche, he is now on a two-game point streak. He has one goal and one assist to his credit. After they shifted the lines around, he returned and immediately made an impact to open the scoring for Colorado.

Conclusion

The power play chances are there. New associate head coach Steve Konowachuk has taken over the power play duties of head coach Aaron Schneekloth’s promotion. Despite his coaching experience in the NHL and WHL, he has struggled to find success in the AHL. Up next, the Eagles will have the division’s second place, Ontario Reign, on Saturday. Colorado holds a 2–1–0 record against Ontario this season. But the Eagles are lacking Burke, Annunen, and Holland for multiple reasons. Ben Meyers, Sam Malinski, Joel Kiviranta and Caleb Jones are all in Denver with the Avalanche, so this will be a very different team playing the Reign.

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