[1]- Photo credit: Ross Prohaska
Eagles Sweep Weekend Set Against Condors
Combs nets second hat trick of season in 6-3 win
LOVELAND, Colo. – The Colorado Eagles defeated the Bakersfield Condors for the second night in a row, claiming their third consecutive victory overall. Jack Combs led the way offensively in the 6-3 win, netting his second hat trick of the young season, and Colorado’s power play — which entered the game tied for last place in the league — chipped in three goals.
The Condors played a strong first frame, out-shooting the Eagles, 13-7, and taking a rare 1-0 lead at 11:27 when Casey Pierro-Zabotel put a wraparound attempt past Kyle Jones. It marked just the fifth time this season Bakersfield scored the game’s first goal, and the first time they did so in their past nine games.
Colorado was able to counter at 17:35 with a power-play goal that was initially waved off. Combs threw the puck on net from the right post and it hit off Bryan Pitton’s left toe, banked into the netting behind the post and fell to the goal line. Referee Nick Leduc waived the goal off before having a conversation with the goal judge and reversing his ruling.
Rhett Gordon gave the Eagles a 2-1 lead just 1:28 into the second period, scoring his first goal as an Eagle from the low slot. But Bakersfield would counter at 8:48 with a shorthanded marker when Peter Boyd took a harmless-looking shot from the left midboards that beat Jones top-shelf.
But shortly after that, Colorado was awarded a full 5-on-3 — in the midst of a four minute power play — and the Eagles’ captain took full advantage, making sure Colorado would capitalize on its chance. At 10:54, Riley Nelson skated in from the point and blew a slap-shot into the top left corner of the net to make it 3-2.
Colorado spent four of the first six and a half minutes of the final frame on the penalty kill, but they were able to kill each Bakersfield man-advantage. And at 13:07, Chad Costello sped down the left wing and lofted a beautiful saucer pass over a sliding defenseman to find Combs crashing the net for his second goal of the game and a 4-2 lead.
Combs then got his third goal of the night just 11 seconds into an Eagles power play, beating Pitton from the left circle. The Condors countered at 18:07 when Boyd got his second goal of the game with a shot from the left circle that beat Jones’ glove. Adam Chorneyko then made it 6-3 with a spinning shot into an empty net just 34 seconds later, accounting for the final margin.
The Eagles will end the month with three more games at home, all coming this week (Wed, Fri., & Sat.) when they host the Idaho Steelheads in the first meetings between the clubs.