Photo Credit: Travis Heuser

LOVELAND, Colo. – The Colorado Eagles defeated the Bakersfield Condors, 3-0, at the Budweiser Events Center, stopping the Eagles’ four-game home losing streak — the longest in franchise history. Kyle Jones stopped 30 shots in the win, securing the 5th shutout of his career. The game also featured plenty of penalty minutes as the teams combined for 138.

The teams exchanged pre-holiday pleasantries in the first period, accumulating 21 penalty minutes apiece via several scuffles. With time winding down in the frame, Jack Combs picked up his seventh goal of the season by bursting down the right wing and making a power move toward the net before slipping a shot under Matt Keetley at 18:27.

The teams played nice in the second period, and the increased flow played into Colorado’s hands as they stretched their lead to 3-0. Things really picked up midway through the frame, but Keetley kept the Eagles at bay at first by stopping Chad Costello and Akim Aliu breakaways one minute apart.

Thirty seconds after Keetley stopped Aliu, however, Aaron Slattengren made it 2-0 by putting home an Adam Chorneyko rebound from the low slot. And just over two minutes later, that line struck a second time when Rhett Gordon found Slattengren in the slot again, where he was able to work the puck to Chorneyko for a 3-0 lead.

Things got physical again in the third period, with the teams combining for 84 penalty minutes in the final frame alone. Bakersfield played their best period of the game, putting 13 shots on net, but couldn’t beat Jones as he secured the 35th regular season shutout in franchise history.

The two teams will meet again Saturday night.