Aarif Deen
The Colorado Eagles dropped Game 7 of the Western Conference Final at home to the Chicago Wolves on Monday, falling 4-3 to lose the series by the same score. The Eagles, who are the Avalanche’s AHL affiliate, also lost Game 6 on home ice despite leading 2-0 in that contest.
They were one goal away from a trip to the Calder Cup Final against the Toronto Marlies.
The Eagles trailed 2-0 early in the second period after Carolina Hurricanes prospect Bradley Nadeau scored his fifth of the postseason at the 1:07 mark. Just 40 seconds later, Wyatt Aamodt scored for Colorado, collecting his first of the playoffs off a set up from T.J. Hughes.
The 24-year-old Hughes finished with four goals and 14 points in 17 playoff games. He was hot in the Western Conference Final and finished his run with two goals and 10 points in his last nine games.
The rest of the second period was scoreless, but the Eagles eventually tied it up. It took just 14 seconds in the third for Jason Polin to even the score with his third of the postseason. Unfortunately, Colorado could not keep momentum on its side.
Ryan Suzuki put the Wolves back ahead at 3:46, and Ivan Ryabkin added an insurance marker at 12:50. Six minutes later, Jayson Megna got one back for the Eagles, but that was it.
Tristen Nielsen ended the year atop the points leaderboard for the Eagles. Heading into the Final, Nielsen also leads the entire AHL in both goals (10) and points (17). Ivan Ivan (15 points) and T.J. Tynan (14 points) are the only other Eagles skaters with as many, or more points than the newcomer Hughes.
Trent Miner made 23 saves in goal. The Eagles outshot Chicago 42-27, including a whopping 19-4 in the third period. Miner let in two goals on four shots in the final 20 minutes of play.