LOVELAND, Colo. — The Colorado Eagles start their 2024–25 season at home against the Tucson Roadrunners (Utah). Traditionally, the battle of the birds has been just that, a battle. The series between the two teams has to be the roughest all year. The start of the new season brings unfamiliar names and faces. Tonight we saw three players make their professional debuts and one made their North American debut. Tonight was the first chance to see what the Eagles could put together on the ice with no official preseason games. Here is what went right and wrong in the home opener for the Eagles tonight.
Penalty kill
The penalty kill was on point tonight. Despite a discipline problem, with seven penalties in the game for the Eagles, the kill unit did their job. There were several times that Eagles forwards caught the Roadrunners off guard and rushed up the puck. Ondrej Pavel, Jayson Megna and Matt Stienburg all had breakaway chances. Stienburg converted on the shorthanded rush. “He handled probably the bulk of the penalty kill for us,” said head coach Aaron Scheekloth. “He made a lot of strong reads, and just like on his goal at the end of his shift, he sees Megna create a lot of time and space in the slot, and he finds just enough legs to get there and get good poise on the collection, and finds open spot. I thought he was strong.” Tucson would only finish the night one for seven on a great night of killing.
They just had to break the ice! Matt Stienburg rips his first for the year and shorthanded!!!!! Assists come from captain Megna! #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/Pc4VCnuaZA
— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) October 12, 2024
Power play
The power play unit was strong even though it converted once in seven chances themselves. There was confidence in moving the puck and they did it with ease. Jacob MacDonald would score the first goal of the year on a power play for the Eagles. There was an unfortunate play in the third that Jean-Luc Foudy took a hard crosscheck during a power play. He did not return to the game. After the game, I saw Foudy walking around in the hall with no limp.
In triumphant return, Jacob MacDonald breaks the shutout and gets the 1st Eagles' goal of the year on the PP. Assists came from Phillips and Tynan. #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/ft55SlgA4m
— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) October 12, 2024
Conclusion
There were few things that went wrong for the Eagles’ home opener tonight. I could say that it went almost as planned. The Eagles won 3–1 and saw a fast team hit the ice with only a week and half of practice under their belt. Compared to last season, this team is much faster, going in line with what the Colorado Avalanche has built in the NHL. This team will be fun to watch this season. They play again on Saturday night against the Tucson Roadrunners in Loveland at 7 PM.
Matthew Phillips scores down low with the assist coming from Nikita Prishchepov, his first pro point! #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/ppwGOK7KDZ
— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) October 12, 2024