LOVELAND, Colo. — There is a fresh feeling in the air before Friday night’s Colorado Eagles game. One of excitement, a fresh start and lots of smiles in the corridors. The smell of hotdogs, beer and popcorn is back to the newly named Blue Arena in Loveland.
First period
The fans’ enthusiasm energized the Eagles on the ice. Their forechecking in the first frame was not seen in the previous season. New head coach Aaron Schneekloth has made some changes to the system. The hard forecheck led to the first goal of the period, as Henry Bowlby hit a man hard on the half boards to separate him from the puck and steal it away. Bowlby tossed it to the slot right to Peter Holland‘s tape, who then sent it to the twine for the opening goal. Ben Meyers took a shot on goal after the Eagles made some excellent passes around the zone with about eight minutes left in the first period. Riley Tufte tapped the rebound in, making it 2–0.
Second period
Scoring started when Brad Hunt made a poor pass to Jason Polin. William Walinder intercepted the pass and walked in to snap it past goaltender Justus Annunen to cut the lead in half. Seven minutes later, Caleb Jones picked off a pass at the point and sent it to Sam Malinski, who slammed a slap shot to extend the lead to 3–1. Jack Achan snapped a shot on the goal and scored his second goal of the night. And last but not least, during a 4-on-4, the Griffins cycled the puck and Marco Kasper nailed one past Annunen.
Sam Malinski rips one from the point for his second of the season with and assist by Caleb Jones on the other side! Eagles up 3-1 #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/kMoxq2MIHV
— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) October 21, 2023
Third period
The first half of the last frame was uneventful, except for a scuffle between Ahcan and Cross Hanas, resulting in misconducts and ending their night. A delayed call and extra attacker resulted in another goal for the Griffins with 8:59 left. They worked the zone, passing to Taro Hirose, who scored off Annunen’s back. The Eagles would help solidify their lead as Holland kept the puck in on an attempted a clear. He walked it up and passed to the slot right to Spencer Smallman to make it 5–3. The final score was 6–3 after Tufte’s empty net goal a minute later.
Spencer Smallman nails his first of the season with help from Holland and Jones, both now have multiple assists tonight #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/3IGHh0vjxG
— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) October 21, 2023
Analysis
Mobility has revitalized the Eagles’ defense.
“A lot of guys that have had success offensively,” Schneekloth said. “And I want to give them that opportunity to showcase their strengths out here without compromising what we want to do and how we want to defend.”
They have used the players just like their parent club, the Colorado Avalanche. The Eagles were also heavy on the forecheck throughout the entire night, Oskar Olausson.
“It’s how we need him to play,” Schneekloth said of Olausson. “If he continues to play like that, his game is gonna go to another level and that’s what we need him to do.”
These Eagles are gonna be something else.