The Colorado Eagles have never missed the playoffs in the franchise’s 14 seasons. On Saturday night in Boise they picked up their first-ever ECHL playoff series win (4-1), skating past the Idaho Steelheads 6-3. Eagles forward Cam Maclise scored a pair of goals in the series-clinching win.
Now in their sixth season in the ECHL, Colorado had yet to escape their first playoff series since joining the league. The Eagles played in five and won two CHL Ray Miron President’s Cups during their first eight years of existence, but couldn’t break through in the higher division until this year.
Julien Nantel opened the scoring for Colorado on Saturday night, just 1:42 into the game. Forward Luke Salazar notched his first playoff goal six minutes in. Maclise stretched the Eagles lead to three with his first of the night, but Idaho got one back with only 59 seconds remaining in the first. Maclise scored the eventual game winner off a redirect at the 7:36 mark in the second. Idaho would pull within in a single goal in the second period, but a 5-on-3 goal from Alex Belzile and an empty netter by Ryan Harrison booked a historic trip to the next round.
Colorado will face the Allen Americans, who finished first in the Mountain Division just ahead of the Eagles, in the next round. Allen dispatched of the Utah Grizzlies four games to one in their series. The schedule for the division finals will be released shortly.
Featured Image Credit: Colorado Eagles