Eagles Return Home With Everything on the Line

The Colorado Eagles will have to use all of the magic that they can find at the Budweiser Events Center during game’s 3 through 5 scheduled for Wednesday, Friday and Sunday if they are going to get back into their Ray Miron President’s Cup Finals versus the Arizona Sundogs who lead two games to none.

Home ice has been quite an advantage for the Eagles during their five-year history going 124-5-9 in their 158 all-time regular season games at the BEC. In the post-season, the Eagles are 26-8 all-time at home and are 5-1 this season.

The advantage from the Eagles comes from what is considered the best atmosphere in minor league sports. Colorado fans are the true seventh person as every game in the history of the Eagles has been a complete sellout. Earlier this season, the Eagles set the minor pro record with their 145th consecutive sellout. Colorado’s string of sellouts currently sits at 193 if you count regular season and playoff games.

The Eagles and Head Coach Chris Stewart are well aware that the 2-0 hole they find them in is from solid play from Arizona and because of errors in their own end. Home ice could be the difference over the next three games.

“There were some tactical errors in our own zone where we have to be sharper,” head coach Chris Stewart said after Saturday’s game. “Our deal is, it’s really important that we win at home. We can’t lose at home and it’s important we take advantage of that.” (quote courtesy of the Loveland Herald, Adam Dunivan)

The Eagles will get a boost with Greg Pankewicz and Jay Birnie returning to the lineup after each served their three-game suspensions that covered game 7 versus Texas in the Northern Conference Finals and in game 1 and game 2 in the President’s Cup Finals. Pankewicz has 13 points in the post-season, tied for the Eagles team lead.