When
a hockey team scores seven goals in one period, it’s usually a pretty good
indication that they probably won the game.
That was not the case in Saturday’s game between the Quad City Ice
Eagles and the Northwest Chargers, when the Eagles blitzed the Charger goal for
seven third period goals, but that was only enough to salvage a wild 8-8 tie.
Playing
without Hegwein, Hasselbusch (injuries) and Balsar (flu), the Eagles fell
behind the home team just 10 seconds into the contest when Myers scored for the
Chargers. Mark Muenstermann got that
one back at the 4:46 mark of the first period, but the rest of the first and
second periods were a disaster for the Eagles as repeated defensive breakdowns
left Goalie Brandon Morgan fighting for his life in the Eagles’ goal. Four unanswered Charger goals pushed their
lead to 5-1 after two periods.
Between
the second and third periods, Coach Jerry Moon told the players to play like it
was 0-0 and just try to win the third period.
Ryne Takacs started the Eagle comeback when he scored just seven seconds
into the third, and Josh Moon scored 58 seconds later to cut the lead to
5-3. But just as suddenly, the Chargers
struck back with two quick goals to extend the lead to 7-3. But the Eagles did not quit. Justin Welsh sent Austin Busch in alone for
a breakaway goal at 4:59, and 31 seconds later, Robbie Jacobsen made it 7-5,
assisted by Carr and Dotterer. The
Chargers responded again at 6:54 to make it 8-5, setting the stage for one last
push by the Eagles. Jacobsen found
Busch floating behind the defense and his perfect pass sent Busch in alone for
another breakaway goal at 8:14, and Busch finished his hat trick 31 seconds
later on yet another breakaway. Now
trailing just 8-7, the Eagles tied the game on Takacs’ second of the game,
assisted by Jason Corcoran.
With
the Chargers reeling, the Eagles continued to pour shots at the net, but
couldn’t get the game winner, and had to settle for a tie. It wasn’t pretty, but QC had to feel a lot
better about the tie than did the Chargers.
