There’s another Colorado hockey team in a quest to hoist the Cup. The Colorado Eagles have advanced to the third round (of five) of the AHL’s Calder Cup playoffs and will take on the Coachella Valley Firebirds in hopes of winning the pacific division crown.
First up way back in April, the Eagles began the postseason with a play-in first round series. Colorado made quick work of the San Diego Gulls in that best-of-three match winning 2-0. Only two home games were needed to advance the Eagles, highlighted by an opening 3-0 win and 16 save shutout for Trent Miner and then a 6-1 offensive explosion to earn the right to enter the full playoff tournament.
Defenseman Sean Behrens provided a goal (seen below) as well as newly signed prospect forward Matthew DeMarsico. Both Ivan Ivan and Taylor Makar added empty net goals in the series. Ivan was named by the Eagles as their player of the week with three points.
For the second round it was a tougher task against the Henderson Silver Knights in a best-of-five match. Out in Nevada the Eagles earned a split with a very stout 1-0 victory in game one in which Miner crafted the shutout on 18 saves and then a tough 4-3 overtime loss.
Upon their return home to Colorado, Miner pitched his third shutout of the postseason with a 5-0 victory on 20 saves. In another explosion of offense, the Eagles wrapped up the series with a 6-2 win over Henderson advancing out of the second round.
In the four games with Henderson there were a lot of contributions all over the lineup including goals from TJ Hughes and Gavin Brindley on a hardworking effort seen below.
The third round will be another best-of-five series against a familiar foe in the Coachella Valley Firebirds, which are the Seattle Kraken’s AHL affiliate. They were the fourth seed in the pacific division, therefore the second seeded Colorado gets home ice advantage. Once again the series begins on the road for two games on Wednesday and then the final three (if necessary) are back in Colorado. Best of luck, Eagles!
