The Colorado Eagles are back in control of the Northern Conference Finals following a 5-2 win over visiting Wichita in Game 5 Monday evening. The victory gives Colorado a 3-2 series lead, and an opportunity to advance to the Ray Miron President’s Cup Finals with a win Wednesday at Wichita. Should Wichita win Wednesday to tie the series, a seventh and deciding game would be required Friday evening back in Colorado. Monday, Chris Hartsbug scored the game winning goal and added an assist to pace the Eagles in Game 5. The eventual winner of the series will receive home ice advantage against the Southern Conference champion Laredo Bucks, currently resting and awaiting an opponent.

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Northern Conference Finals, Game 6
Wichita 2 @ Colorado 5
The Eagles are a win away from their first ever appearance in the Ray Miron President’s Cup Finals, while Wichita faces a must win situation Wednesday at home and again Friday in Colorado to advance. The home team has won each of the first five games of the series. In Game 5, the clubs traded early first period power play goals, first by Colorado’s Riley Nelson (5th of the playoffs), then by Wichita’s Scott Allison (4th). The Eagles would regain the lead later in the period with Ryan Tobler adding his 4th of the post-season. A pair of Colorado goals in the second period, by Chris Hartsburg (2nd) and Mike Lephart (5th, shorthanded), extended the lead to 4-1 after 40 minutes of play. Wichita halved the lead early in the third when CHL Most Outstanding defenseman Paul Esdale converted on the power play for with his third of the playoffs. That’s as close as the Thunder would come in Game 5, with Kevin McDonald salting away the win for the Eagles with his first post-season marker. The Thunder finished the night with two goals on six opportunities, while Colorado converted once in four chances.

Game 5 Quotables

Chris Stewart, Colorado Coach, in the Fort Collins Coloradoan:
"I think we had the effort. We were crossing wires, and we still found a way to win. That's the real positive side of it. When you look at us not playing our best game and still being able to dominate, that's a very positive sign."

Derek Laxdal, Wichita Coach, in the Wichita Eagle:
"That shorty really hurt us. You just can't make mistakes like that when you're playing a talented hockey club like Colorado. But that's playoff hockey, and we have to battle back into it. I really thought Weiman was the story. He stood on his head.”