Pare Nets Two Goals in Colorado’s 4-3 OT Win over Coachella Valley
Jan 13, 2024
LOVELAND, CO. – Colorado forward Cedric Pare netted a pair of goals, while fellow forward Ben Meyers buried the game-winner in overtime, as the Eagles defeated the Coachella Valley Firebirds in overtime 4-3 on Saturday. Colorado goaltender Trent Miner earned his third win of the season, turning aside 32 of the 35 shots he faced. Meyers and forward Ryan Sandelin also generated multi-point performances, with each notching a goal and an assist in the victory.
The Firebirds would net the game’s first goal when forward Ryan Winterton fed a pass from behind the net that would deflect off a set of skates and hopped past Miner. The goal was Winterton’s seventh of the season and put Coachella Valley on top 1-0 at the 4:00 mark of the first period.
Colorado would strike back just 1:05 later when forward Ryan Sandelin raced through the right-wing circle before burying a wrister to tie the game at 1-1.
The Eagles would claim their first lead of the night when Pare fielded a pass in the slot and snapped a wrist shot past Firebirds goalie Cale Morris, giving Colorado a 2-1 edge with 4:30 remining in the opening 20 minutes.
A late power play would set up Coachella Valley defenseman Cale Fleury to take advantage of a screen in front of the net when he lit the lamp with a shot from the blue line, tying the contest at 2-2 at the 17:35 mark of the first stanza.
Still deadlocked at 2-2 as the puck dropped on the second period, Colorado would make good on a power play when Pare snagged a cross slot pass and snapped the puck into the back of the net to give the Eagles a 3-2 lead at the 4:34 mark of the middle frame.
Later in the period, forward Ivan Ivan would earn a penalty shot after Firebirds defenseman Ville Ottavainen closed his hand on the puck in the crease. On the ensuing opportunity, Ivan flipped a backhander that would ring off the post, keeping it a 3-2 Colorado advantage.
The Eagles would go on to outshoot Coachella Valley 14-9 in the second stanza and carried their 3-2 lead into the second intermission.
The Firebirds would once again find an equalizer when defenseman Ville Ottavainen buried a shot from the top of the left-wing circle, squaring the score at 3-3 just 6:39 into the third period. Coachella Valley would continue to heap on the pressure, outshooting Colorado14-9 in the final frame. However, Miner and company would keep the Firebirds at bay, forcing a sudden-death overtime with the game tied 3-3 after 60 minutes of play.
In the extra session, Meyers would skate through the right-wing circle before firing a wrister that would beat Morris and secure the 4-3 victory for the Eagles at the 2:24 mark of OT.
Colorado was outshot in the contest by a final count of 35-31, as the Eagles finished the night going 1-for-3 on the power play and 1-for-2 on the penalty kill. Morris suffered the overtime loss in net, allowing four goals on 31 shots.
The Eagles will be back in action when they take on the Bakersfield Condors on Tuesday, January 16th at 7:05pm MT at Blue Arena. Tickets for all regular season games are on sale now and start at just $23. You can find more information on ticket packages, theme nights, and promotional offers, by visiting ColoradoEagles.com or by calling the ticket department at (970) 686-7468.
