Eagles Win 11-6 in Record-Setting Game

LOVELAND, Colo. - Several team records were broken or tied as the Colorado Eagles defeated the Tulsa Oilers, 11-6, in the first of back-to-back games between the two teams. Kevin Ulanski became the first Eagle to reach 100 points and Aaron Schneekloth tied a franchise record with a six-point night (1-5-6) as two of the league's shining stars proved their worth yet again.

Colorado continued its recent offensive barrage by out-shooting Tulsa 23-8 in the opening period as the two teams combined for eight goals in a back-and-forth offensive explosion. The eight combined goals matched a franchise record set earlier this season in Rapid City.

The Eagles came out with a jump in their stride and crisp passes, but were turned away early and often by former Eagle Marco Emond who was strong in net for the Oilers, stopping several solid chances. But at 5:02, the floodgates opened as Colorado scored its first of three power-play goals in the frame (going a perfect 3-for-3).

Ulanski got the opening goal after Riley Nelson entered the zone and dished the puck to Schneekloth, who sent a pass from behind the net to the league's leading scorer for a quick flip over Emond's left shoulder.

But the Oilers countered just 15 seconds later when David Beauregard poked in the rebound from Sean Erickson's point shot as it sat on the doorstep in front of Andrew Penner. Then, 65 seconds after that, the Eagles went back on top with the first of three straight goals when Schneekloth's shot from the point was deftly deflected by Ryan Tobler in the low slot on the power play.

And just 66 seconds later, Ulanski became the first Eagles player to reach 100 points in a season when his shot from the right circle deflected off of Nelson in front of the Oilers' net. Colorado then made it 4-1 with a shorthanded goal as Ed McGrane made a slick, behind-the-back pass inside the blue line to Ulanski, who worked a give-and-go with Jim Jackson down the slot at 10:51.

At 12:23, Tulsa cut that lead in half again when Adam Bartholomay threw the puck on net from low in the right circle that Marty Standish deflected in. And just over four minutes later, the Oilers made it a one-goal game with a shorthanded marker of their own as Jake Riddle skated unimpeded toward Penner and snapped a shot 5-hole from in close.

But just 32 seconds after that, McGrane scored the Eagles' third power-play marker of the game when he picked up a loose puck in front of Emond and put it past the netminder. The goal not only ended the period's scoring at 5-3, but marked the second game in a row that Colorado put up five goals in a period.

Marty Magers replaced Emond in net to start the second period and didn't fair much better, allowing four goals in the frame. In fact, Schneekloth beat him with the Eagles' first shot of the period -- just 20 seconds in -- on a shot from the left hashes.

And at 5:12, Colorado made it 7-3 when Adam Hogg sent a backhand pass from the top of the right circle to Steve Haddon, who scored from the left dot. Then, just under five minutes later, Mario Joly added another when his shot from the point made its way into the back of the net. At 12:32, Ulanski continued to increase his league-leading point total with Colorado's ninth goal of the night -- and fourth of the period --
from between the circles.

The Oilers out-scored the Eagles 3-2 in the third period, but it was not enough in the offensive affair. Ryan McLeod scored Colorado's 10th goal 2:49 into the frame when he one-timed a loose puck from the left circle for the team's fourth power-play goal of the game.

Tulsa then scored the next three, starting with Troy Riddle sweeping in a loose puck from the left side of the crease for the Oilers' only man-advantage goal on the night. Luke Stauffacher made it 10-5 at 8:30 after he kicked a Beauregard rebound to his tape at the side of the net. That goal set a new Colorado franchise record for combined goals in a game at 15.

But the scoring wasn't over as Sean Erickson put home the Oilers' final goal of the night at 15:50. McGrane capped it all off by scoring on a breakaway at 17:31, after a tic-tac-toe play vertically through the neutral zone sent him in on Magers. The goal was his 39th of the season, tying him for the CHL lead in goals. The score also set a new franchise record for most goals in a game with 11.

The Eagles ended the night just one point behind the Rapid City Rush in the Northern Conference as their rival lost in overtime. The win also guaranteed that Colorado will finish no lower than second place in the North.