INDEDEPDENCE, Mo. – The Colorado Eagles fell, 2-3, to the Missouri Mavericks and the league’s reigning Goaltender of the Week, Robby Nolan. A two-goal third period was not enough to complete Colorado’s comeback as Nolan stopped 28 of 30 shots on the night. Simon Watson led the Mavs’ offense with a goal and an assist in a strong first period.

Missouri opened the scoring at 13:07 of the first after Blake Forsyth sent a shot on net from the left point that was kicked aside by Andrew Penner. Derek Pallardy picked up the puck below the goal line and banked a pass of the side of the net to a wide open Watson streaking down the low slot.

Watson’s tally marked the third time in the eight-game season series that he scored the first goal in a game. And with just three seconds left in the period, he continued to torment the Eagles when he set up Ryan Jardine on a back-door play for a 5-on-3 power-play goal to make it 2-0 heading into the first intermission.

The Mavs went up 3-0 at 5:48 of the second stanza when Todd Griffith sealed off a Colorado clearing attempt and dropped a pass to Mike Berry, who found Carlyle Lewis on another back-door play. Colorado had chances to score in the second, but couldn’t take advantage of a partial 5-on-3 midway through and another power play as the period came to a close.

The Eagles came out strong in the third period (out-shooting Missouri 11-3), netting rewards just 30 seconds in when Matt Glasser got them on the board with a backhander from the doorstep. And at 13:53, Colorado climbed to within one when Kyle Peto’s shot from the point on a power-play was deflected by Dan Sullivan in front of Nolan. The Eagles, however, couldn’t get any closer despite a continued late push.

Colorado now heads home for a pair of games this weekend. The Fort Wayne Komets make their first trip to the Budweiser Events Center on Friday, and the Tulsa Oilers come to town on Saturday for the team’s annual “Fan Appreciation Night.”

Alex Penner Called-Up to AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. – The Colorado Eagles announced today that forward Alex Penner has been called-up to the American Hockey League’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the minor league affiliate of the New York Islanders.Since joining the Eagles halfway through the 2010-11 season, Penner has played in 13 games. In that time, the 6-foot-4-inch, 240-pound enforcer has tallied four points (1-3-4) and 86 penalty minutes — including five fights.”As has always been our stance, we will not stand in the way of a player advancing his career,” said Eagles General Manager & Head Coach Chris Stewart. “We want Alex to do well, and wish him the best of luck in the AHL.”