Eagles Fall Short in First-Ever Meeting with San Diego
Nov 9, 2018
SAN DIEGO, CA. – The Colorado Eagles would notch a power-play goal, a shorthanded tally and an even-strength goal, but it would not be enough as the San Diego Gulls scored the game-winning goal late in the third period to secure a 4-3 victory over Colorado on Friday. Mason Geertsen, Josh Dickinson and Michael Joly all netted goals in the contest, while goaltender Pavel Francouz suffered just his second loss of the season, allowing four goals on 38 shots.
Colorado would lay claim to the game’s first goal when a failed clearing attempt by San Diego allowed Geertsen to snag the puck in the high-slot before stepping into a slapshot that would light the lamp and give the Eagles the 1-0 edge with 4:36 left to play in the first period.
Heading into the second period it would be the Gulls who would take advantage of a failed clearing attempt, as forward Ben Thomson would tip a shot from the blue line past Francouz to tie the game at 1-1 just 5:07 into the middle frame.
Less than four minutes later, San Diego forward Sam Carrick would snag a turnover in the low-slot and feed the puck into the back of the net to give the Gulls a 2-1 advantage at the 8:26 mark of the second period.
Colorado would even things up on the penalty kill when Dickinson wrapped behind the net of Gulls goalie Kevin Boyle before backhanding a shot over Boyle’s shoulder for his first professional goal. The tally was the Eagles first shorthanded goal of the season and squared the score at 2-2 with only 4:12 left to play in the period.
San Diego would hop back on top just 6:37 into the third period when forward Troy Terry fired a wrister from the right circle that would beat Francouz and give the Gulls a 3-2 lead.
Later in the period, the Eagles would earn their third power play of the night and they would make it count, as forward Michael Joly collected a rebound at the side of the net and tucked it home to tie the game at 3-3 with 9:39 left to play in the contest.
A collision in the Colorado zone would send the puck onto the tape of Carrick, who would bump a pass into the slot where forward Chase De Leo would bury a wrist shot to put San Diego back in the driver’s seat, 4-3 at the 14:22 mark of the third period.
Trailing by a goal late in the contest the Eagles would pull Francouz in favor of the extra attacker, but they would not draw any closer, falling by a final score of 4-3.
Colorado finished the night going 1-for-3 on the power play and a perfect 3-for-3 on the penalty kill. The Gulls would outshoot the Eagles in the contest, 38-29.
The Eagles return to action on Saturday, November 10th when they take on the San Diego Gulls at the Valley View Casino Center in at 8:00pm MT.
Single-game tickets for the 2018-19 season are on-sale now and start at just $18 per seat. Purchase your seats today by visiting the Budweiser Events Center box office, online at ColoradoEagles.com or by calling the Eagles ticketing department at 970-686-SHOT (7468).
