Eagles score 2 early, soar past Scorpions

By Eric Maddy
The SCORE

In hockey, it's not always how many shots you take. Rather, it's how many go in.

The Colorado Eagles were outshot 13-7 in the opening period, but scored on each of their first two shots and went over to post a 4-1 victory over the New Mexico Scorpions in a Central Hockey League game Tuesday night at the Santa Ana Star Center.

Riley Nelson had a goal and an assist on the two goals, scored almost 5 1/2 minutes apart, as the Eagles gained the momentum and never gave it up. Former New Mexico star Konrad Reeder added a second-period goal and Ryan Tobler converted a Colorado power play 2:38 seconds into the final period to give the Eagles a 4-0 lead.

Craig Macdonald broke the shutout with an unassisted shorthanded goal with 9:15 left in the game. But any chance New Mexico had to gain any momentum ended 15 seconds later when Seth Leonard was penalized two minutes for goalie interference. Chris Robertson (hooking) and Leonard again (hooking) were called for penalties, leaving New Mexico at least one man down for 4:44, including two stints of 5-on-3.

By keeping the advantage, Colorado doubled New Mexico's shots in the final period (26-13) and ended up with a 47-37 advantage for the game. But the contest was decided long before Colorado's dominantion of the final period.
  
"They're a possession team, and we know their a possession team," New Mexico coach Randy Murphy said. "The way to beat them is to knock them off the puck and keep it away from them, and we didn't do that."

The loss spoiled a stellar effort by Kyle McNulty, who made several stellar stops to keep the score as close as it was.