LetsGoGulls Archives - The Rink https://www.the-rink.com/tag/letsgogulls/ Chicago Blackhawks and NHL Salary Cap Information Thu, 18 Apr 2024 06:07:49 +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 LetsGoGulls Archives - The Rink https://www.the-rink.com/tag/letsgogulls/ 32 32 136660061 Eagles one step closer to home ice in playoffs https://www.the-rink.com/eagles-one-step-closer-to-home-ice-in-playoffs/ https://www.the-rink.com/eagles-one-step-closer-to-home-ice-in-playoffs/#respond Thu, 18 Apr 2024 06:07:49 +0000 https://www.the-rink.com/?p=29320 LOVELAND, Colo. — The Colorado Eagles helped themselves a little more tonight against the San Diego Gulls. With a slow start, the Gulls would strike first and quiet the crowd... Read more »

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]]> LOVELAND, Colo. — The Colorado Eagles helped themselves a little more tonight against the San Diego Gulls. With a slow start, the Gulls would strike first and quiet the crowd in Blue Arena. Colorado could not counterpunch until the second period. As usual, the second game in the back-to-back is always a little more physical and gritty. Colorado would get the short end of the stick, incurring five penalties, one of which the Gulls converted to a goal. The scoring really opened up in the third period, with six goals between the two teams. In the end, the Eagles came out on top. The Eagles are one step closer to home ice now for the playoffs.  Here are my takeaways from the 5–3 victory over the San Diego Gulls.

Takeaways

— I am sure you all want to know about Nikolai Kovalenko. Tonight, he was not as much of a factor. He was playing on the tail end of back-to-back and at altitude. His positioning is solid, he just lacks some defense. He seems to float into the defensive zone a lot and fail to backcheck. It is understandable that he was tired tonight. He hasn’t played games since March 7th. His KHL team got knocked out of the playoffs when he got injured.

“I thought he created a little bit more last night,” said head coach Aaron Schneekloth. “Obviously a little bit tighter checking game tonight a little more physical on their part. They didn’t seem to have a lot of open space that they had, but I liked his tenacity. You know he had a real good, real good shot and follow up on his rebound that he almost connected on he has got a good stick. It was good for him to experience back-to-back and fight through one of these games.”

— The forechecking game for the Eagles was non-existent for the first part of the game. Last night, the Eagles were laying the forecheck on the Gulls nonstop. Tonight it did not start until later in the second. That is when the game turned around for Colorado and they could push the play more into the offensive zone. The forecheck would directly lead to a goal by defenseman Corey Schuenenman after Ryan Sandelin pushed the play hard into the boards. It made an enormous difference in the game for Colorado.

— Keaton Middleton has been a genuine leader on and off the ice this season. Several players, Sam Malinski included, have praised his leadership abilities. Tonight, Middleton scored his first career short-handed goal in the AHL and did not even know it. You can always see him directing traffic for the forwards and teaching the younger defenseman what to do. He wears the ”A” with pride on his chest.

“I don’t do anything different. I just kind of always been like that. I’m just who I am. I’m a vocal guy, and just how it’s always gonna be,” Middleton said.

Conclusion

The Colorado Eagles go into this weekend two points over the Abbotsford Canucks and with home ice. If Abbotsford loses just one game, and same with Bakersfield, Colorado clinches home ice for the first round. Abbotsford, against whom the Eagles have a 4-2-2 record this season, seems to be the likely first round opponent. The last two games against them got pretty rough, so it could be a long two or three games. The Eagles will look to take care of their side of things again on Saturday night against the Ontario Reign in Loveland.

Interviews

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]]> https://www.the-rink.com/eagles-one-step-closer-to-home-ice-in-playoffs/feed/ 0 29320 Kovalenko makes North American debut with Eagles https://www.the-rink.com/kovalenko-makes-north-american-debut-with-eagles/ https://www.the-rink.com/kovalenko-makes-north-american-debut-with-eagles/#respond Wed, 17 Apr 2024 06:01:16 +0000 https://www.the-rink.com/?p=29308 LOVELAND, Colo. — The Colorado Eagles looked more like themselves tonight against the San Diego Gulls. With a few fresh faces in the locker room, but one that really mattered.... Read more »

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]]> LOVELAND, Colo. — The Colorado Eagles looked more like themselves tonight against the San Diego Gulls. With a few fresh faces in the locker room, but one that really mattered. Nikolai Kovalenko made his North American debut for the Eagles tonight. This has been one of the most anticipated debuts in the organization in quite some time. With some injuries also returning to the lineup with Jason Polin, Colorado was looking to battle back into a home ice spot for the playoffs. The Eagles have been struggling on a few things lately, but tonight was a reset. Here are my takeaways from the 6–0 victory over the San Diego Gulls.

Takeaways

— Kovalenko is vicious around the net. Given the opportunity, he loves to go right for a screen around the net. The defense would, of course, beat him up, but Kovalenko was good at taking the punishment. His speed through the zone is getting there, since he looks like he is still adjusting to the altitude. Kovalenko’s hands are fast and deceptive. The Russian-American can slip a puck between his legs with ease. And last but not least, his vision is impeccable. He sees a play coming before it there.

“He was tenacious on the forecheck and he had a great stick,” said head coach Aaron Scneekloth. “I thought he worked in space really well and created a lot of offense. I kept his game pretty simple but took advantage of some opportunities when he saw them and made a lot of really nice plays offensively for us.”

— The Eagles snapped a zero for 26 slump on the power play. Tonight, they took advantage of the one opportunity they were given by moving the puck well. They had a few shots and finally converted as Cal Burke slammed his second of the night in. Tonight they looked as if they went back to the basics and it worked.

— Arvid Holm was stellar in only his third start in the AHL since January 20th. Holm unfortunately lost the goalie battle with Trent Miner when Justus Annunen went down to injury, but took advantage tonight. The Swedish goaltender earned his first shutout of the season to help the Eagles crawl back to fourth place in the Pacific Division.

Conclusion

With the win, the Eagles slid back into the fourth spot in the division and back into a home ice position. As of right now, they have designated Loveland as the location for all three games of a best of three. If Colorado can beat San Diego again tomorrow, that will only help their case. Maybe the Colorado Avalanche could recall Kovalenko, but I think giving him one more game would be the best option. Colorado holds their own fate in their hands as they play the Gulls tomorrow night at 7pm.

Interviews

 

 

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]]> https://www.the-rink.com/kovalenko-makes-north-american-debut-with-eagles/feed/ 0 29308 Eagles fall to Gulls, end winning streak https://www.the-rink.com/eagles-fall-to-gulls-end-winning-streak/ https://www.the-rink.com/eagles-fall-to-gulls-end-winning-streak/#respond Sun, 04 Feb 2024 05:56:19 +0000 https://www.the-rink.com/?p=28422 The Colorado Eagles were hoping to extend their six game win streak tonight against the San Diego Gulls. After playing last night in Ontario and securing a victory, Colorado headed... Read more »

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]]> The Colorado Eagles were hoping to extend their six game win streak tonight against the San Diego Gulls. After playing last night in Ontario and securing a victory, Colorado headed down the coast to last place San Diego. With injuries piling up for the Eagles, this game was anything but easy. Ben Meyers did not even travel on the trip as he was out with an upper-body injury. Jean-Luc Foudy will be out week-to-week with an upper-body injury and Oskar Olausson is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. So Colorado may see some lineup change once they get back home. Here are my takeaways from the 2–1 loss against the Gulls.

Takeaways

— Discipline became an issue in the first period. The Eagles had four penalties in the first period alone, making it difficult to gain any momentum until the second period. One penalty was a roughing penalty from Riley Tufte, but the other three put them on the kill.

— Fatigue became a factor later in the game. This was the fifth game on the road trip, with two in Henderson and two in Ontario. This game was also in the second half of a back-to-back, but that is typical for the AHL. The Eagles, who have suffered from several injuries on the trip, showed a little fatigue in the second and third periods.

— Trent Miner held the Eagles in the game. Now playing in his 12th AHL game of the season, he has doubled his career appearances in the league. He has also officially played more games in the AHL than in the ECHL for the first time in his career. Tonight, he showed his confidence has grown with the experience. His lateral movement was excellent, showing that his time with coach Peter Budaj is paying off. Miner had a 2.05 goals allowed average and .920 save percentage for the night.

— Dalton Smith scored the only goal. After only playing six games last season because of a shoulder injury, Smith has not had many chances to score. As head coach Aaron Schneekloth has said, “he knows his role on our team,” Smith is more of a grinder than a playmaker. But Smith sure looked like a playmaker with the help of Jack Ahcan, Spencer Smallman and Ondrej Pavel.

Conclusion

The “team is really clicking,” as Cal Burke said tonight before the game and this road trip showed that. The Eagles are coming home with eight out of possible 10 points. They jumped from seventh place to third, in a matter of five games. Miner can probably expect more work with Justus Annunen being recalled to the Colorado Avalanche. The Eagles will come home on Friday to play their division rival the Abbotsford Canucks, hoping to gain even more in the standings.

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