Game two quick hits

• The Eagles struggled initially, constantly playing catch up. In the first period alone, the Henderson Silver Knights scored two out of three goals.

“I thought we had a slow start to the game, and it took us a bit to find our game and our legs, but I thought we had a nice stretch in the second period where we were skating pucks in behind them and creating some offense,” coach Aaron Schneekloth said. “And then the third period was more of a chess match, a little back and forth.”

• Alex Beaucage, whose season was cut short last year by a shoulder injury, has played four games this season. He has looked impressive with his skating, being forced to concentrate on that during the offseason rather than shooting. He got his first goal on Wednesday, with the assists coming from Ivan Ivan and Oskar Olausson.

“I don’t feel like I lost it (my shot),” Beaucage said. “Honestly, I feel like it’s one of my great attributes. I feel like it’s good. I have been working on my lower body most of the summer, so I feel like I am stronger and faster with my legs.”

Alex Beaucage gets his first goal of the year with a gorgeous feed from Ivan Ivan and Oskar Olausson #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/0ACpbLeyZB

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) November 9, 2023

• Turnovers by the Eagles from sloppy passes resulted in goals for the Silver Knights. Tanner Kero tossed a pass right into the slot onto Adam Cracknell’s stick and he snapped it into the net. In overtime, a missed drop pass in the Henderson zone gave possession to the Silver Knights that ultimately led to the game-winning goal.

A bad drop pass turns into the Henderson goal #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/NcI9DaE2Xb

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) November 9, 2023

The Eagles are trailing first place by only three points after 12 games this season. They currently sit in third place behind Henderson and the Abbotsford Canucks. With so many fresh faces on the club, not to mention quite a few injuries already, Schneekloth is not panicking after a 5–4 overtime loss at home.

“It’s early in the season,” Schneekloth said. “We’ve been learning on the fly. We’re still trying to figure out the true identity of our team. But we’re getting there. We’re taking steps every night. We’ve been rewarded here with some wins and we’ve got to keep building on it.”

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Game one quick hits

• Oskar Olausson has found his groove. He skates with confidence, constantly scanning for the play. Olausson is prioritizing getting to open ice to set up for a pass and shot. This is noticeable in the last two games with three goals. In the previous nine games before, Olausson had only one assist (in the season opener).

“That’s how we need him to play,” coach Aaron Schneekloth said. “That’s a strength of his game. He’s a big guy that can skate well and hold on to pucks, and obviously, his shot’s a big threat out there, so we need him to find open ice and create some space for himself, and he’s been doing that. Earlier on in the season he had kind of gotten away from that. And so at some we’ve been stressing with him and we want him to play the same way he did at Avs camp. He left a real good impression down there with the way he played and we need to get him back on track.”

Oskar Olausson is HOT!!!!! He scores for the second game in a row AND on the PP to put the Eagles ahead 2-0. Unassisted on the play. #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/jdtfvqCvPE

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) November 8, 2023

• Ivan Ivan has been improving his game overall and becoming more aggressive at the pro level. He has grown accustomed to being independent and away from a billet family. On Tuesday, he scored his first pro goal on the power play in the second period and managed an assist on the Brad Hunt goal in the first period. His speed has become an issue for the defending teams as he forechecks into the zone and beats them to the puck.

“Living alone (is the biggest difference from junior to pro),” Ivan said. “You get an apartment and I am cooking for myself. There’s no family that helps me. So I am always on the FaceTime with my mom, like, ‘What should I buy for groceries?’ and stuff. So it’s definitely one of the things that I got off my shoulders, like getting an apartment, living alone, now finally comfortable. Just everything is getting better slowly.”

Ivan Ivan snaps his 1st pro goal AND on the PP with an assist from a returning Cedric Pare! #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/TrIWgnOjXh

— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) November 8, 2023

• The Eagles’ power play has been struggling as of late, scoring in four of 37 chances before Tuesday. Colorado was able to convert on three of five chances that they had against the Silver Knights, who are an impressive 84.85% on the penalty kill. Players were moving the puck well and taking the shots when they needed to, putting pressure on the Henderson goaltender.
• Arvid Holm was the starting goaltender for the Eagles and stood his ground. He saved 19 of 20 shots on goal, with the only goal being on a stretch pass and sloppy change by Colorado. He navigated between posts with ease and stayed calm in the crease.

The Eagles aimed to extend their two-game win streak to three on Tuesday. They won dominantly, 5–1, and plan to repeat the performance on Wednesday. Henderson will want to maintain their place atop the division, so they will not give so easily and you can expect them to come out swinging on Wednesday.

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