The Chicago Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, is not a rival for the Colorado Eagles. Yet during the last series involving these teams, it appeared that way. Each team kept chirping, which created intriguing games. The Eagles earned all four points, but it wasn’t easy.

Friday Night: 5–3 victory

Matt Stienburg returned to the Eagles after missing 19 games with a lower body-injury. The forward played in the season’s opening contest against the Calgary Wranglers (CGY). He had points in that game, but the Eagles have missed his presence. In his return, Stienburg provided a strong forecheck against the opposing team and physicality that only a couple of players can replicate. The Cornell alum led several charges up the ice that included scoring chances for the Eagles, including one shot at the end of a penalty kill for his first goal of the season. He would add an assist on Jayson Megna’s empty-net goal for the multi-point night as well.

The Eagles’ defense had trouble clearing the front of the net. Both of Rockford’s goals came right on top of the crease. The initial score arrived during the second period, derived from a one-timer plus pressure from the rear for a rebound. The second goal, coming in the third cam on the rush. Jamie Engelbert shot the puck for a rebound, and Samuel Savoie nailed the rebound right on top of the crease.

Jayson Megna, the captain, established the tone for the Eagles during the initial period of play. He would tally the first two goals of the game for the Eagles, including a power play goal. The goal during the man advantage halted the five-game streak, during which the Eagles did not score during the power play. Megna would also add an empty-net goal with just over a minute left in the contest to secure a hat trick. It would be the first by any Eagles’ player all season long and his ninth goal of the season.

Saturday night: 2–1 victory

Taylor Makar has been on a roll. He scored two goals in the first period of Saturday’s contest, his second multi-goal performance of the season. The first one was against the San Jose Barracuda only eight days ago. Makar’s offensive game has become more intense, as seen in his pursuit of loose pucks and his hard play in front of the goal.

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The Eagles benefited from adding forward Luke Toporowski. Colorado has been without Cooper Gay, Jason Polin, and Danil Gushchin because of injuries. A trade brought the Eagles Toporowski after they sent Garret Pyke to the Hershey Bears (WSH). His aggression in the neutral zone has led to impressive plays in the top-six for Colorado. Since he has come to Loveland, Toporowski has one goal and four assists in five games. In his previous five with Hershey, he had only one assist.

The penalty-kill unit came up big on Saturday night. They killed all five power plays for the IceHogs, with two of the power plays coming in the third period. The Eagles failed to score when they possessed the power-play advantage. They had six chances (one of them just 25 seconds) on the power play and did not convert. Colorado has converted just one power play in their last 22 chances in seven games.

Up Next

The Eagles will head home to Blue Arena to battle the Ontario Reign (LAK) on Friday, December 12, at 7 p.m. MT. Denver KCDO Local 3 and NHL Network will broadcast the game.