(Courtesy of the Laredo Bucks)

LAREDO, Texas – The Laredo Bucks pulled out a dramatic come from behind victory when captain Brent Cullaton scored on a penalty shot with 26.4 seconds to go in regulation time to send 7,184 fans in to a frenzy at the Laredo Entertainment Center and give the Bucks a 4-3 victory over the Colorado Eagles. The Bucks went 3-3 on the power play and were credited with a shorthanded goal on the penalty shot as their special teams paved the way to their eighth straight win. The Bucks are a CHL best 18-3-1, with 37 points and remain in first place in the Southeast division.

In this highly anticipated match up it was Colorado striking first. Eagles’ forward Riley Nelson lifted a rebound up over a fallen Marco Emond into the net at 3:33 for a 1-0 Colorado lead. Less then three minutes later it was Nelson cutting down the slot and backhanding the puck into the net at 6:24 for a 2-0 Eagles advantage. The Bucks got back in the game by using the number one ranked power play in the league. Forward Chris Grenville slipped a great pass backdoor to defenseman Serge Dube who had his initial shot stopped, but jammed home the rebound to get the Bucks on the scoreboard at 9:25. Later in the period the Bucks again went on the man advantage. Dube blasted a shot from the point that forward Patrik Nilson redirected by Eagles goalie Ryan Bach at 15:37 to tie the game.

In the second period the Bucks capitalized again on the power play. Defenseman J.F. David sent a rink wide pass across to the left side where forward James Hiebert one-timed it home to give Laredo their first lead of the night at 17:10 by the score of 3-2.

In the third period the Eagles put on a furious charge and it paid off late. Forward Mike McGhan picked up a loose puck in the slot and slammed it by Marco Emond at 14:52 to tie the game. Then Bucks forward Jeff Bes was called for a holding the stick penalty with less than a minute to go in regulation time. With the Eagles on the power play things looked grim, but Bucks captain Brent Cullaton blocked a shot and raced up the ice on a short handed breakaway. Cullaton was hooked as he shot and was awarded a penalty shot. On the penalty shot Cullaton raced in faked and backhanded the puck past Bach to give Laredo the lead 4-3 at 19:34. The Bucks survived the final 34 seconds and emerged with the victory.