The Colorado Eagles scored five unanswered goals in a come-from-behind victory to defeat the Toledo Walleye, 6-3, on Saturday night and advance to the team’s first-ever Kelly Cup Finals. It is the first time since joining the ECHL in 20122-12 that Colorado has even won a playoff series; now they will play for the league title.
Colorado fell behind 3-1 midway through the second period when Dane Walters converted on a turnover, but, just as he has done all playoffs long, Alex Belzile sparked life for the Eagles. His redirect on a power play brought Colorado back within one. Cam Maclise knotted things at three heading into the game’s final period, where the levy finally broke on the Walleye.
Julien Nantel, the hero from game three, scored the eventual game-winner just 1:29 into the third, but Colorado would not rest on a one-goal lead. Maclise tallied his second of the night on a redirect from Ryan Harrison. Eagles goaltender Kent Simpson withstood a Toledo barrage over the game’s final minutes before Shawn St-Amant buried an empty-netter to put things out of reach.
Colorado will enter the Kelly Cup Finals with two of the top-scoring players in this year’s ECHL Playoffs skating for them. Belzile and Eagles defenseman Matt Register currently rank first and second in total points this postseason with 24 and 20, respectively. The Eagles will face the winner of the Eastern Conference Finals, Manchester or South Carolina. The Stingrays hold a 3-2 advantage in that series at present.
Featured Image Credit: Colorado Eagles, Standout Imagery