Monthly Wrap-Up and Look Ahead
February 2, 2023
By Drew Galyardt
We’re officially halfway through the season, and while we recap what happened for the Eagles in January, we’re also excited for the second half of the season, which will give Colorado a chance to take a good standings position before a tough grind full of games away in March and April.
Colorado again lost its first game of the month, this time against the Coachella Valley Firebirds 4-2 away. Colorado rebounded a few days later in Tucson, defeating the Roadrunners with final scores of 2-1 and 6-1 before returning home for another 6 games.
During their second straight month of six home games, the Eagles tried to take advantage of home ice and went 11-4-1 through December at the Budweiser Events Center. The Eagles split the first series against Rockford before splitting another series against the Ontario Reign. After two more victories against Henderson in hard-fought matches, the month ended with another split series against Texas and a 4-2 loss away to Ontario.
Special teams were again a big talking point for Colorado in January. The Eagles have improved somewhat since December, converting 12 of 46 chances and jumping 19.2% to 18th in the AHL. The penalty shootout unit also improved slightly to 21st in the league at 79%, with Colorado scoring 42 of 50 penalties in January.
Charles Hudon eventually passed Brad Hunt to lead the scoring list as Hudon himself had a good month with 12 points (6g, 6a) and is level on points with team assists leader Jean-Luc Foudy (11g, 19a). . As for goalkeepers, Justus Annunen shouldered much of the burden in January when Jonas Johannsen was called up for the Avalanche. Annunen had a 5-3-1 record in January and ranks 14th in the league in goals against average (GAA) with 2.58 and a save ratio of .910. Despite only playing 4 games in January, Johannsen still ranks 7th in the AHL with a 2.36 GAA and .920 save percentage.
The Eagles are still in good form before the All-Star break and sit 3rd in the division behind Calgary and Coachella Valley. Abbotsford remains just a point behind Colorado, but the Eagles once again have a good chance of moving up the division with eight of the team’s 10 games in February being played against Pacific Division opponents.
Colorado starts February with two away games against Henderson before returning home for four straight games and trying to position itself well for the long road trips coming up in March.
Tickets for upcoming games are available at coloradoeagles.com, the OCR Box Office at the BEC, or by calling or texting the ticket office at 970-686-SHOT.
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Drew Galyardt is in his fifth season as the in-studio host and show producer for the Colorado Eagles’ radio shows on 99.9 The Point. He also works in the Eagles Front Office as an Account Executive for the Ticketing Department.
