In Game 1 of the 2017 Kelly Cup Finals, it was Matt Garbowsky who scored in the final minute of regulation to force overtime and Matt Register who notched the game-winner to give the Colorado Eagles a 1-0 series lead. On Sunday night, they flipped the script. Now, the Eagles are just one win away from claiming their first-ever Kelly Cup.
Register scored the game-tying goal against the South Carolina Stingrays with just 25 seconds remaining in regulation of Game 3. The ECHL Defenseman of the Year knocked home his own rebound to tie things at four and set the stage for Colorado’s sixth overtime victory of the playoffs. Garbowsky fired home a slap shot at the 6:04 mark of overtime, Colorado’s first lead of the night, to give Colorado a commanding 3-0 lead in the series.
The Eagles matched South Carolina goal for goal throughout regulation, getting scores from Julien Nantel in the first period, Sergei Boikov in the second, and Jake Marto in the third before the dramatic late heroics from Register and Garbowsky. Nantel and Register each had two assists to go along with their goals. Goaltender Lukas Hafner made 26 saves on 30 shots to earn the victory for Colorado.
Colorado can clinch their first-ever Kelly Cup with a win on Monday in Charleston. Puck drop is 5:05 PM MDT.
Featured Image Credit: Colorado Eagles, John Babitz