Kevin Marsh had a pair of second period goals Tuesday night to give the Colorado Eagles a 2-1 win and a 1-0 series lead over the Laredo Bucks in the opening game of the 2004-2005 Ray Miron President’s Cup Finals. In a physical and fast paced opening contest, both goaltenders (Colorado’s Tyler Weiman and Laredo’s David Guerrera) were outstanding. Colorado has now won the first game of each of their three playoff series in the post-season, while Laredo trails in a series for the first time in the playoffs. Laredo’s perfect record (6-0, now 6-1) when scoring first has also ended. In 57 previous seven game playoff series in CHL/WPHL history, the team winning Game 1 has gone on to win the series 46 times (80.7%).

Live Playoff Scoreboard
Playoff Bracket & Schedule
Watch the Ray Miron President’s Cup Finals Live on CHLTV.com


Finals Game 1 – Laredo 1 @ Colorado 2
Colorado Leads Best of Seven Game Series1-0

The two championship caliber teams spent most of the opening period Tuesday renewing acquaintances and getting familiar with each other’s line-ups, having met just once (Colorado 2 @ Laredo 0 on January 15th in Laredo) in the regular season. Eagles coach Chris Stewart was content to match top lines with the Bucks for much of the contest, with CHL MVP Greg Pankewicz, Ryan Tobler and Riley Nelson sharing the ice with Laredo’s Brent Cullaton, Jeff Bes and James Hiebert. Colorado controlled much of the early play, but several great saves by Laredo starter David Guerrera, including tremendous stops on Pankewicz and Karlis Zirnis, kept the game scoreless until late in the frame. A late period skirmish resulted in a Laredo power play, and Cullaton opened the scoring with 2:28 to play, deflecting a Paul Elliott slapshot past Eagles starter Tyler Weiman with four seconds left in the man advantage.

Midway through the second period, Colorado finally got on the board with a power play goal of their own, as defenseman Matt Desrosiers wired a slap shot at the Bucks net, and rookie Kevin Marsh tucked home the rebound. Under five minutes later, Marsh again scored, tipping a Brad Wiliamson wrist shot into the net. Laredo would counter with several late period chances, including a point blank shot from Bes, but Weiman was equal to the task.

Colorado maintained sustained pressure in the third period, cycling the puck down low and controlling the action, which almost resulted in Marsh’s third goal of the night. Laredo’s comeback attempt was diminished with 5;14 to play, as defenseman Dion Hyman was assessed a double minor high sticking penalty which limited the Bucks chances. The Eagles finished 1 for 6 on the power play, with the Bucks converting 1 of 5 opportunities. For the game, Colorado held a 30-24 shots on goal advantage.