LOVELAND, Colo — The Colorado Eagles finally broke their three game scoreless streak. And they did it in grand fashion with an overtime win over the Coachella Valley Firebirds. Ben Meyers scored his seventh of the year. It was a back-and-forth affair tonight as the Eagles and Firebirds exchanged goals. The team made adjustments from the loss last night, causing things to look a little different. Here are the quick hits from the 4–3 overtime victory against the Firebirds.
Quick Hits
— Chris Wagner made his Eagles’ debut after missing 32 games with a lower-body injury suffered in the offseason. He made his presence known with some hits along the boards and has been described as a “heavy hitter” by General Manager Kevin MacDonald.” Wagner brings over 720 games of professional experience to the team and even said of himself, “I guess I am the old man now.” Wagner is no stranger to Colorado as he has played 26 games for the Avalanche in 2015-16. This time around, though, he had the choice to sign here rather than get picked on waivers.
“Just first, like my relationship with C Mac from years ago, we had a couple of good discussions about opportunities up top and then playing here,” said Wagner. “And another thing was the distance between the AHL team and the NHL team being only an hour away, the city and people. Loveland, Windsor, and Fort Collins are really nice areas.”
— Meyers finished the game with a goal and an assist tonight. The goal was when it mattered, though. He has been playing on the top line and really been driving the offense when he is on the ice. Meyers will lead the drive out of the defensive zone with a pass and then speed up the ice for the pass. When Meyers is with the Eagles, he really stands out as the offensive force that the Colorado Avalanche expects him to be.
MEYERS WINS IT IN OT!!!!!!!!!! #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/iyW2UdSXTz
— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) January 14, 2024
— There was more visible communication among the defense. As the plays developed in the Eagles zone, you could see the defensemen making motions to cover a man. Sticks were going up and pointing in directions that the other player needed to cover. You could even hear them yelling at each other. Communication is key.
— Ryan Sandelin exploded offensively with a goal and an assist. Now with three goals and one assist on the season, tonight was his first professional multi-point night. This was all on Hockey Fights Cancer Night and his mother in the crowd, a cancer survivor herself.
Ryan Sandelin answers back to tie the game at one as he rushes into the zone and snaps it past the goalie. Keaton Middleton with the assist. #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @TheRinkColorado pic.twitter.com/aOgw9tCCET
— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) January 14, 2024
Conclusion
The Eagles played with a renewed vigor tonight after three consecutive shutouts. Tonight, they scored their first goal in nine periods and fought back to an overtime win. Not only did they score some goals, but they got one on the power play as well. Two things that they have been struggling with. The Eagles will not have long to celebrate, as they play again on Tuesday against the Bakersfield Condors in Loveland.