After a legendary finish in Game 7 against the Fort Wayne Komets scoring three goals in the final eight minutes for a 4-3 win in overtime, the Colorado Eagles are once again in the Kelly Cup Finals for another shot at the title.
Up against the Florida Everblades, the Eagles met an opponent they've never seen in the post season. They hadn't even faced in the regular season since November of 2015, which left an array of unanswered questions for both sides entering Game 1.
First period, Everblades penalties and a paralyzing amount of shots gave the Eagles early success.
The 2017 Kelly Cup MVP and ECHL Defenseman of the Year, Matt Register drew first blood for the Eagles following an Everblades penalty with less than five minutes into the first. Register's shot from the point slipped past Martin Ouellette five hole to make the building erupt for an early lead.
Eagles continued to lay on offense and with just 28 seconds in the first period, forward Drayson Bowman roofed an unassisted goal to end the period up two goals to none.
Majority of the momentum gained in the first however was short-lived in the second. It was a sloppier period for Colorado, the Eagles gave up a 4-on-4 goal to Everblades' winger Sam Warning with 11:58 in the period.
Cannata bailed out the Eagles multiple times, the team holding on to their 2-1 after a bigger offensive push by the Everblades. With a decrease in momentum, the Eagles concluded the first period looking to regroup.
The two sides shots evened out, but the Everblades could still not bury one to tie the game on a scrambling Cannata. Colorado would strike a little luck in the final period. Florida would miss an empty net, rebound chance in front with less than eight minutes to go, a big break for the Eagles to keep their lead.
Then the physicality picked up.
Eagles' Gabriel Verpaelst threw a big hit in the third period with little time on the clock to send Everblades forward Michael Kirkpatrick to the ice and out cold. Kirkpatrick would eventually reach his feet, but Florida was looking to reply.
The two lines took off the gloves in a big fight that awoke what already seemed like a lively crowd. Eagles' Shawn St-Amant and Joey Rantelle waved their hands in the air as if to say "give us some noise" and the crowd obliged.
All the fans needed now was some insurance, which was delivered by Shawn St-Amant soon after. The Eagles' forward buried an empty-netter with little time on the clock.
The Colorado Eagles won Game 1 of the Kelly Cup Finals, the two meet again on Sunday back in the Budweiser Event Center.
