Eagles Score Three Unanswered in 3-2 Shootout Win Over Grizzlies Jones Picks Up 30th Win of Season, Tying League Lead
WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah – The Colorado Eagles came back from an early 2-0 deficit to defeat the Utah Grizzlies, 3-2, in a shootout. Kyle Jones stopped 39 of 41 shots before turning aside all five Utah shooters in the shootout, picking up his 30th win of the season, which ties Las Vegas’ Joe Fallon for most in the ECHL.
In a fiery first frame, Utah struck first just nine seconds after killing off a five minute Colorado power play when Evan Stephens deposited the puck from the top of the crease at 8:06. And two and a half minutes later, Colin Vock doubled that lead with a power-play goal following a feed from Kory Falite.
Unfortunately for the Grizzlies, that was the last time they’d beat Jones on the night, and with a minute and a half left in the first frame, Jake Marto picked up his first goal of the season — his first as a pro — to cut Utah’s lead in half heading into the first intermission.
The Eagles nearly tied the game just over five minutes into the second frame when Steve Haddon had a goal waived off because the puck was ruled to have not completely crossed the goal line. Unfazed, Colorado found the tying tally at 12:16 when Joey Sides tipped a power-play goal past Andrew Engelage. Jones stopped 15 shots in the second stanza.
Both goalies helped push their teams to a point by shutting out the opposition in the third period, as Jones stopped nine shots and Engelage stopped 11. And their solid work continued in the five minute overtime session with Jones stopping six shots and Engelage stopping one.
In the shootout, Sides was the only one of the nine shooters to find the back of the net, tallying the winner with a nifty backhand shot, top-shelf. Jones continued his outstanding play on the night, stopping all five Utah shooters to help secure the second point for Colorado.
The Eagles have won their past two games and will wrap-up this week’s four-game road trip with another meeting against the Grizzlies Saturday night. They’ll then return home for their final two games of the regular season at the Budweiser Events Center next Tuesday & Wednesday against the Ontario Reign.