Game No. 27 - Bucks at Eagles

First Period: Coach Ruskowski told me special teams would be huge this weekend, and the Eagles proved him right, scoring on their first power play of the game. Steve Haddon netted it at 7:43 in the opening period on assists from Konrad Reeder and Aaron Schneekloth. Bobby Russell was in the box for hooking. The Bucks had a power play a bit earlier on a tripping call against Jay Birnie but couldn't score on theirs. ... Matt Miller's first noteworthy move as a Buck was being sent to the box for interference, thus setting up another power-play goal by Haddon. Reeder had the primary helper on this one, as well. Bucks trail 2-0 at 11:45 in the first. ... What the heck is up in Odessa? The Gorillas are leading 5-2 heading into the second intermission. Bizarre. ... That was a quick period. Bucks trail 2-0 on those two power-play scores by the Eagles heading into the first intermission. Shots are 10-8 in their favor according to Pointstreak. ... Rick Kozak got a delay of game bench minor at the end of the period, so the Eagles will open up the second on another advantage.

Second Period: Either the Eagles' power play is amazing or the Bucks cannot kill penalties to save their lives tonight. Reeder just gave the Eagles a 3-0 lead on another power-play goal, thus picking up his third point of the game. Haddon and Greg Pankewicz had the assists. Shots are even at 10 now. ... I am trying so hard to watch/listen to this thing on Nifty, but it keeps crashing on me, and the Bucks' channel is playing the Eagles' broadcasters. Oh well. ... I had been wondering about this, and the Eagles' announcers have confirmed that Eagles goaltender Andrew Penner is the brother of last season's "enforcer," Alex Penner. Sebastien Centomo is in net for the Bucks. ... Bucks are getting their second power play now as Tom Reimann was called for cross-checking on Ryan Salvis. ... I'm a little confused as to what the lines are for the Bucks tonight, but it seems Miller is playing on the top line with Jeff Bes and Darryl Smith, replacing Kozak. He's wearing No. 22, by the way. ... Eagles are going back on the power play with a hooking call against Bes. ... The Eagles just narrowly missed adding to their lead as Ed McGrane hit a crossbar and started to celebrate before he realized he had a chance to knock it in on the rebound. ... The Eagles' announcers just said that the Bucks "look like a team that's been on a bus for 24 hours." They sure seem to, but that is not a reason Ruskowski will accept for the way they're playing. ... After keeping the Eagles off the board on that last power play and failing to score on one of their own on a tripping call against Ryan Tobler, the Bucks are 0-for-4 on the power play and the Eagles are 3-for-4. ... Listening to the Eagles' broadcasting trio talk amongst itself during radio commercials is kind of disturbing. ... Igor Agarunov has put the Bucks on the board to bring the score to 3-1 in the Eagles' favor. Alex Goupil had the assist on his score. On the ensuing faceoff, Kozak is back out with the top line. Interesting. ... Well, I guess the Eagles can score even-strength, as well. Centomo left the net to try to stop Reeder, I believe, then Pankewicz netted one from the right of the goal. It seems everyone is confused as to who will get credit for the goal and the assists, but there is no doubt that the Eagles lead 4-1 with 3:34 to play in the period. ... And now it is 5-1, as Riley Nelson has a goal on assists from Kevin Ulanski and Birnie. I have to admit I'm glad this wasn't a home game. ... The Bucks will enter the third down by that score as the second period has expired. Shots are even at 20.

Third Period: Ryan Gibb has replaced Centomo in net...wonder if that changes the plans for tomorrow night at all. ... Kozak has scored to make it 5-2 with 14:13 to play in the game. ... Oh my gosh. I went out to the newsroom to send back a page, and when I got back, the score was 5-4. Well, it still is. Erick Lizon, who assisted on Kozak's goal, scored his first of the season not much later, then Jason Dixon added his first since Dec. 6 (and second since Nov. 15). Whoa. At this point, there is 5:11 to go in the game. ... I am terrible luck. The Bucks have just been called for too many men, setting up the first power play of the period. ... Okay, the call has been changed to unsportsmanlike conduct on Kozak. I'm sure Ruskowski is thrilled with that right now. ... The Bucks have killed it, and they now have 1:48 to try to tie it. ... Gibb will go to the bench for a faceoff in the Eagles' zone with 51 seconds to play. ... The Eagles have scored an empty-netter to make it 6-4 with 15 to go.

Game Over: Eagles win 6-4. They improve their league-best record to 22-4-1 (45 points). The Bucks fall to 18-8-1 (37 pts.). Obviously, the third-period comeback by the Bucks was an impressive one, but just as obviously, it wasn't enough. They have a short ride to Broomfield tonight (unless they're staying over in Loveland), and it probably won't be a pleasant one. You can read Bryan Benway's press release about the game or the one from the Eagles for now. I imagine Adam Dunivan will have something up later. The Texas Brahmas also lost tonight (in what appears to have been a great game by the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees), keeping the Bucks' lead in the Southeast Division intact at four points, and the Odessa Jackalopes fell to keep the Bucks within five points in the Southern Conference standings. Bucks are back in action tomorrow night at the Rocky Mountain Rage, who defeated the New Mexico Scorpions tonight. In other news, wow (penalties, not the score). No wonder that game took so long.

UPDATE: That lone third-period penalty has been changed to an unsportsmanlike call against Ruskowski, rather than Kozak. That happened while I still had the game on, and no one said anything to make it seem as though Ruskowski had done anything out of the ordinary. They all thought it was a too-many-men call at first. Weird.

Other Scores: Gorillas 7, Jackalopes 4; Killer Bees 3, Brahmas 0; Blazers 4, RiverKings 3; Thunder 6, Oilers 3; Sundogs 3, Rush 0; Mudbugs 5, IceRays 1; Rage 6, Scorpions 2.

NHL Scores: Penguins 1, Devils 0; Capitals 3, Sabres 2; Islanders 4, Maple Leafs 1; Hurricanes 5, Thrashers 4; Lightning 4, Panthers 3 (SO); Predators 3, Red Wings 2; Blackhawks 5, Flyers 1; Oilers 3, Canucks 2; Coyotes 2, Kings 1.