LOVELAND, Colo. — The Eagles had a chance to take a five-point lead while hosting the second-place team in the Pacific Division, the Ontario Reign (LAK). Instead, they lost both games — one in regulation and the other in a shootout. The two games could not have been more different, and yet both were heartbreakers for players and fans alike.

Tuesday Night: 6–3 loss

By Brennan Vogt

It was a fight for first place on Tuesday night with Ontario rolling into town. The Reign did not wait to get things started. Just five minutes into the period, Samuel Bolduc snapped a shot from the point, but Wyatt Aamodt accidentally set a screen in front of Isak Posch. Six minutes later, the Eagles answered back with one of their own. Nikita Prishchepov and Chase Bradley worked down low in the corner to steal the puck and get it to Jason Polin in front. Bradley would tip Polin’s shot in and tie the game at one.

The second period was not the greatest for the Eagles. Two goals in 48 seconds by the Reign gave them a 3–1 lead heading out of the frame. The second goal was a horrible neutral zone turnover by Prishchepov, and the second was a long stretch pass leading to a rush. To add to it, Colorado went 0-for-3 on the power play in the period. Stemming the chance of taking a lead.

The third period is when things got away from the Eagles. Less than two minutes into the period, the Reign added a fourth goal. Prishchepov, with his hard work, wrapped around the net to make it 4–2. Ontario would have none of it as they tacked on two more. One of them while on the 5-on-3 power play. Colorado tried to fight back but lacked the strength to break through. Bradley gave it one last effort with 30 seconds left as he buried his second of the game . Unfortunately, it was not enough.

“Well early on, I think for two periods, we were probably the better team,” said head coach Mark Letestu. “I thought they were pretty efficient on their chances. We created a lot. We had good power play looks, and weren’t able to get the second or third goal, and then, I don’t know if we’re pressing in the third a little bit things get loose. And again, they’re pretty efficient on chances, I think six on 20 tonight. So we’ve got to be a little bit tighter. Obviously, limit it a little bit more. There’s some positives to take from this. But you don’t want to lose that game to that score at home.”

Takeaways

Colorado knew they had a rough road ahead of them playing Ontario. Unfortunately, one line could put the puck into the back of the net. They looked sluggish, and it was hard to find any space on the open ice. Ontario used its weight to its advantage, and it paid off with more chances in the Colorado zone.

Mark Letestu interview January 13, 2026

Alex Gagne interview January 13, 2026

Wednesday night: 4–3 Shootout loss

By Marie Sexton

After a brutal loss on Tuesday, the Eagles started Wednesday night off right only 33 seconds into the first period. Captain Jayson Megna picked up a rebound just outside of the crease and found twine to put the Eagles up 1–0. Tye Felhaber and Alex Barré-Boulet  assisted on the play. Just over seven minutes later, a goal-mouth scramble resulted in a goal by Zakhar Bardakov, his first as an Eagle, assisted by Taylor Makar and Wyatt Aamodt.

The score remained 2–0 Eagles through the second period. Thirty-seven seconds into the third period, the Eagles scored again to make their lead 3–0.

Colorado seemed to head for a victory, but Ontario changed the outcome.

It started with a small scrum in front of the net at 3:45 of the third period. What started out as nothing much turned into a problem when Prischepov punched Reign defenseman Joe Hicketts in the face and was sent to the box for roughing. Nikita Alexandrov scored on the ensuing power play, narrowing the Eagles’ lead to 3–1. Thirteen minutes later, with a little over three minutes left to play, Ontario pulled their goalie. Kenny Connors scored before Copley even made it to the bench, making the score 3–2. Then, with 57 seconds left to play, Alex Gagne was called for interference. With an empty net and a two-man advantage, Ontario scored a game-tying goal with only 18.6 seconds left on the clock.

The Eagles spent much of overtime pinned down in their own zone but got through without giving up another goal, only to lose in a shootout.

Takeaways

The Eagles came into the series with a one-point lead on the Ontario Reign. After two losses — one in regulation and one in a shootout — the Eagles now trail the Reign by two points. Jason Polin was clear about how the team felt about their play.





We have higher expectations than that. We can’t be giving up leads and end up losing games. We have to find a way to fight through and get the win at the end of the day.




Coach Letestu put it another way, commenting on unnecessary penalties that led to them losing a three-point lead.




I think we unfortunately found a different way to lose, which is concerning, you know? Discipline down the stretch, putting [Ontario] on the power play a couple of times and not being able to close out games. But we’re learning so, we’ll go look at the film, make some adjustments, and hopefully start coming out on top of some of these games.




In addition to committing penalties at inopportune times, the Eagles proved unable to convert on their own power plays, going zero for five in the series. Coach Letestu commented on that as well.




Our five on five plays is pretty good again. It’s three to one us and the special teams and the discipline ultimately are the reason we’re upset about things right now… Taking penalties at key times, letting them back in the game. That’s the stuff that I’m a little bit more concerned about.




The Eagles will need to address special teams issues and lapses in discipline if they hope to retake the lead in the Pacific Division and earn home-ice advantage for the playoffs.


Jason Polin interview January 14, 2026




Mark Letestu interview January 14, 2026




Up Next


The Eagles end their six-game homestand with two games this weekend against the Henderson Silver Knights (VGK). The Eagles are 3–1–0–0 against Henderson this season. AHLTV on FloHockey.com will stream the game.