High Eagles Effort Stymied by Wallstedt

LOVELAND, Colo. – The Colorado Eagles were gobsmacked by the Iowa Wild on Friday night, losing by a score of 5-1. Looking to split the weekend series on Saturday, the Eagles hosted the Wild again at Blue Arena in Loveland. Could Colorado overcome its special teams woes from Friday (two power play goals against and no power play goals for) to rebound on Saturday?

FIRST PERIOD

Period one brought some special teams firepower with two power play goals. However, Colorado was first to strike with an even-strength goal, as Ben Meyers deflected a pass from Oskar Olausson off his skates and in at 9:39 of the first. Iowa responded on its first power play opportunity, as defenseman Andy Welinski potted a goal five-hole past Eagles netminder Trent Miner at 12:12 of the period. The Wild’s next man advantage also yielded a power play goal. This time, Joël Teasdale went top shelf on Miner to give Iowa a 2-1 lead at 14:19 of period one. The Wild carried this one-goal lead into the first intermission.

SECOND PERIOD

After three goals in the first, the middle frame of regulation yielded no additional scoring. However, the penalty sheet filled up in the second, especially on Colorado’s end. A dust up almost halfway through the period landed Iowa’s Mike O’Leary (roughing minor) and Colorado’s D.J. Busdeker (roughing minor), Spencer Smallman (slashing minor), and Dalton Smith (unsportsmanlike conduct major) in the penalty box at 9:32. Add Wyatt Aamodt for slashing (10:24) and Riley Tufte for an interference minor and a misconduct for abuse of officials (18:51), and the Eagles were fortunate to leave the second without any goals against.

The 5-on-3 disadvantage faced in the second – and overcoming it – turned the tide for Colorado heading into the third, Head Coach Aaron Schneekloth said as he praised the penalty kill.

“I thought the PK was outstanding tonight,” proclaimed Schneekloth. “Regardless of the goals, I thought our structure was there. I thought our commitment was there. The 5-on-3, I felt, really gave us some life and some momentum. They did a great job killing it.”

THIRD PERIOD

After a fruitless second, the Wild were quick to change the third from following suit. On a faceoff in the Eagles zone, Iowa’s O’Leary swiped the puck backwards. A shifting Adam Raska collected the win and lobbed a shot at Miner. The initial save went straight back to Raska, who proceeded to snap it into the back of the net. Raska’s first of the season boosted the Wild to a 3-1 lead at 2:50 of period three.

Colorado wouldn’t lay down. A few minutes of game time later, Meyers took a shot from the blue line into traffic. Forward Ivan Ivan got a piece of it before the puck landed at the feet of defenseman Keaton Middleton. Middleton took a whack with his backhand, and the puck lifted behind Iowa goaltender Jesper Wallstedt, top shelf. Middleton’s tally brought the Eagles’ deficit back to one, making it 3-2 with Iowa leading at 4:56.

After Middleton’s second goal of the season, Colorado outshot Iowa 11-3 for the rest of regulation. The increased pressure – as well as pulling Miner for an extra attacker with 2:10 left – did not end in an Eagles goal, however. Wallstedt stood tall, making 43 saves on 45 shots as the Wild downed the Eagles, 3-2.

Iowa’s weekend sweep came after a five-game losing streak, dating back to November 18. The Wild now sit fourth in the Central Division with 18 points.

Colorado has now lost three of its last four games after splitting the weekend after US Thanksgiving with Texas. The Eagles dip to seventh out of 10 teams in the Pacific, tied with Coachella Valley (sixth place) with 21 points.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

Colorado will host the Tucson Roadrunners in Loveland on Friday, December 8 and Saturday, December 9 (both games with 7:05pm MT start times). Tucson currently sits fourth in the Pacific Division with 26 points and wins in four of their last five games. Saturday’s match-up will also be Colorado’s annual Teddy Bear Toss, where the first Eagles goal results in bears flying on the ice being donated to charity.