LOVELAND, Colo. — The Colorado Eagles were one victory away from their first Calder Cup Finals. All they needed to do was beat the Chicago Wolves (CAR) one last time. Their captain, Jayson Megna, who has not played since May 5th with a broken jaw, even returned early from injury. Megna almost provided the boost that the Eagles needed to overcome a deficit, but it was too little, too late. The Eagles suffered a heartbreaking Game Seven loss to the Wolves to end the season.
“I’m incredibly proud, said head coad Mark Letestu. “I love those things, I love that team, I love what they stand for, I love standing behind them and letting them do their thing. It’s, and I think how hard it is to win is revealing, but yeah, I think that’s something. Maybe a couple weeks from now, in reflection, right now it’s this one stings.”
First period
The opening frame had to be one of the fastest periods of hockey I have ever seen. Every player was leaving everything on the ice. They all had nothing to lose in Game Seven. Shots were getting blocked that normally don’t get blocked, and the hits were harder. As the period progressed, the game did not lean go towards either team. Each side saw one penalty, but they each killed them off until late in the period. A scrum behind the net saw Jacob MacDonald incur a roughing call. A mere 37 seconds later, Noah Philp nailed a shot on the power play with only 14.5 seconds left in the period.
The period would see the Eagles suffer a couple of injuries. Tristen Nielsen took a shot to the face and Alex Gagne took one to the foot. Nielsen remained in the game, but Gagne stayed on the bench and didn’t take another shift.
With 14.5 seconds left in the period, Noah Philp hits the PP goal to break it open for the Wolves. #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @HockeyMtnHighCO pic.twitter.com/lodYjOrO96
— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) June 9, 2026
Second period
It was even more intense during the middle frame than in the first. Just one minute into the period, Gavin Brindley was hit hard in the Eagles’ zone to force a turnover. Eventually, Bradly Nadeau ended up with the puck right in front of Trent Miner and put the Wolves up by two.
A turnover in the Eagles' zone after a nasty hit along the wall leads to a 2-0 lead for a the Wolves #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @HockeyMtnHighCO pic.twitter.com/7Eadb14x2N
— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) June 9, 2026
Colorado took only 40 seconds to respond as Wyatt Aamodt rushed in behind T.J. Hughes. The former Wolverine dropped the pass to Aamodt, and he snapped a shot to get the Eagles on the board. Colorado continued to put up an aggressive push, not allowing a shot in the second half of the period. But it was not enough.
WYATT AAMODT! Aamodt scores his first of the playoffs to draw the Eagles within one goal shortly after the Wolves go up by two! T.J. Hughes (10), Alex Barré-Boulet (7) with the assists #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @HockeyMtnHighCO pic.twitter.com/5QnIHWkUPz
— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) June 9, 2026
Third period
Colorado carried its momentum right into the third period. The Eagles gained possession on the faceoff, and Jason Polin tied the game 14 seconds into the period.
THE CHAOS LINE STRIKES AGAIN! Jason Polin with the finish to TIE THE GAME in the first minute of the third! Ivan Ivan (12), Keaton Middleton (6) on the assists #Avs #GoAvsGo #EaglesCountry @HockeyMtnHighCO pic.twitter.com/KmWDv0w4Ll
— Brennan Vogt (@brennan_vogt) June 9, 2026
Over the next ten minutes, Colorado limited the Wolves to only five shots on goal. Unfortunately, two of them found their way past Miner to give them a solid 4–1 lead. In the process, the Eagles threw 19 shots Chicago’s way. As Colorado pulled Miner for the extra attacker with just over three minutes to go, they ramped up the pressure. Jayson Megna pinched down the slot and slammed the puck home to draw the Eagles within one. But with only 1:10 to work with, Colorado couldn’t finish the job and fell 4–3.
“It takes everything, you can’t, can’t dip your toe in,” said Megna “It’s, it’s all out sacrifice, and that’s why it’s, it’s so hard to win championships at any level, and obviously this level in the Stanley Cup, it’s, it’s extremely difficult, so it takes everyone, it takes guys, like I said, stepping up in the lineup that you know haven’t played a ton, that maybe haven’t played in a month, you’re asked to play a role, so super proud of the guys, obviously it’s not the end that any of us wanted to, but I wouldn’t say that it’s a negative season by any stretch of the imagination.”
Takeaways
This team could have won a championship in the AHL this season. They possessed every tool required. There was depth (lots of it), veteran leadership (lots of it) and goaltending depth to get through it. They had a slow start to Game Seven, so they were playing catch-up for the rest of the game. The offensive production was there, but unfortunately they couldn’t find a hole in Amir Miftakhov. The entire team had bought into their roles and what needed to be done. They just could not get over the hump and win that pesky fourth game.
Up next
The season is officially over for the Colorado Avalanche organization. All three teams have been eliminated from the playoffs with the Eagles having the best chance at a championship. Up next will be the NHL Draft at the end of June followed by Development Camp the following week.
