Outlaws suffer first loss of the season

Your St. Louis Outlaws, previously unbeaten in three games, skated Monday night against a team they had never faced in their history.  The Eagles played in the B4 division last year, and in the B2 division the preceding years.  With a change of goalie – Matt Heath replacing Aaron Cole – and the addition of forward Rich Michalek, the Eagles were able to defeat the Outlaws 2-1 in a fast-paced game.  The Eagles are now the only B3 division team to have recorded at least one point in every game so far this season.

Uncharacteristically, the Outlaws had as many odd-man rushes in their favor as they allowed against their opponent, but neither team scored on these opportunities.  In fact, the game was scoreless until almost halfway through the second period, when Eagle captain Mark Perkins skated around the Outlaw net and passed to Michalek, who was allowed to stand in the slot and hammer home a shot to give the scorekeeper his first work of the evening.

The Eagles gave the Outlaws an opportunity to tie the score shortly thereafter, by taking two hooking penalties in rapid succession, allowing a 5-on-3 power play for a minute and 15 seconds.  But the Outlaws were unable to capitalize on this opportunity, and even found themselves stuck in their own zone for an extended period of time during the power play. 

The Outlaws were, however, able to take advantage of another power-play opportunity before the end of the second.  Jeff Fields was sent off for slashing Outlaw goalie Craig Schellenbach after he had covered the puck.  Thirty seconds later, Outlaw defenseman John DePeneloza fired the puck into a crowded slot; Joe Wallington tapped it ahead, and Sean McCloskey buried it for his first goal of the season.  The second period ended with the score tied 1-1. 

Unfortunately, the only goal of the third period belonged to the Eagles on a play that looked similar to their other scoring play of the game.  Donald Boyce skated around the Outlaw net and passed into the slot to Perkins.  The Outlaw defensive coverage was a bit better this time around, as there were white jerseys in the slot checking Perkins.  However, they were unable to tie up his stick or clear the puck out of danger, and Perkins slid the puck past the screened Outlaw goalie to record the game-winning goal.

Both teams had numerous other scoring opportunities, but good netminding on both ends kept the score low.  A roughing penalty called against Jim Owens forced the Outlaws to play the final 1:45 of the game shorthanded, and they were unable to mount any sustained pressure.  The Outlaws were outshot in all three periods, but by the slimmest of margins.  Schellenbach saved 23 of 25 Eagles shots, and Heath saved 20 of 21 Outlaw shots.  The final score was Eagles 2, Outlaws 1.

The cold rain, which had been forecast all day, held off long enough for both teams to enjoy happy hour in the parking lot after the game, complete with brats and hot dogs.  The Outlaws’ next game will be Wednesday, November 19th, at 10:15 at the Ice Zone.  It will be a rematch against the IceDogs, whom the Outlaws beat 4-3 in their opening game of the season.  The IceDogs are 0-3 on the season thus far, having also lost to the Eagles and Hornets.  They will play the Shock on Wednesday of this week, and will also have 4 games under their belts coming in to next week’s contest.