LOVELAND, Colo. — The Colorado Eagles took on their division rival, the Bakersfield Condors (EDM), on Tuesday and Wednesday night. They would find their power play legs but struggle while on even strength. With two wins this week, the Eagles are now third in the AHL in the standings. They are also first in the conference and the division. This is also with the return of Trent Miner, who will be back in the crease for the Eagles after a stint with the Colorado Avalanche. Several players stood out in the two-game set, so let’s look at a few and see what went right during the victories.

Tuesday Night: 5–4 overtime victory

Tye Felhaber finally broke his goal drought. Last season, Felhaber had career highs in both goals and assists (22 of each). His exceptional performance last season secured him a two-way contract, similar to Tristen Nielsen’s contract earlier this week. Felhaber even played five games for the Colorado Avalanche, making his NHL debut. It took until his eighth game played to net his first goal of the season as he fell to the fourth line for the Eagles. This may have been the wake-up call Felhaber needed to spark his shot. He now has one goal and three assists as of Tuesday night.

The special teams made the difference for the Eagles throughout the entire game. The penalty-kill unit worked its way through two of four power plays for the Condors. Bakersfield’s power play scored in key moments during the game, tying the game late and taking it to overtime. The Eagles’ power play held them in the game, with the five-on-five play struggling. It was two power play goals late in the second period that catapulted Colorado ahead in the middle frame. With just five seconds left in the power play in overtime, Jason Polin threw the puck top-shelf to win the game. All in al, the Eagles went three of five on five on the power play for the night.

“We didn’t have it five on five, we weren’t executing clean,” said head coach Mark Letestu. “We lost a lot of puck battles. And when you compartmentalize, sometimes your power play or your penalty kill needs to bail you out, like your goalie does some nights. And I thought tonight, our power play stepped up when we needed them to, because five on five, we just, we just weren’t right today. So that’s what that’s for. Those guys were big, and obviously we needed every one of those goals tonight.”

Despite giving up four goals, Isak Posch has been vital for this team so far. The injury to Mackenzie Blackwood meant he had to start, even though he thought he would be eased into it. So far this season, Posch has a 5–1–0 record with two shutouts. He sits fourth in the AHL among rookie goaltenders with a 2.00 goals allowed average and seventh with his .905 save percentage. He was an undrafted free agent and signed him last season at the end of March before he joined the Eagles last season.

Mark Letestu interview October 28, 2025

Wednesday Night: 2–1 victory

Taylor Makar has been getting more aggressive as he has been getting more comfortable with the professional game. He has played in every game for the Eagles so far this season, throwing three points on the board (1g/2a). On Tuesday night, he used his size to force the man off the puck behind the net and stole it away. He did not hesitate to pass to the front of the net for Alex Barré-Boulet and then Jayson Megna for the goal. On Wednesday, he hung out in the neutral zone, cherry-picking the Condors. The Eagles adapted the stretch pass in game two. Makar benefited from it, running up the wing and forcing his way to the front of the net.

“Tonight it was good to see him go head to head with Josh Brown, who’s got 300 NHL games, and they just go shoulder to shoulder,” said Letestu. “And he didn’t get deterred. He went at him. He made plays. His speed showed up at all times. So that was a really good, strong game for him. The unfortunate part for him now is that’s his standard. Now I get to hold him to that. So he has to continue to keep elevating, because his goals are beyond this league, and we want him to consistently show that, so that one day he can contribute at that NHL level.”

Barré-Boulet finally broke through and scored his first Eagles’ goal. Not only that, it was a power play goal. He then scored another even-strength goal four minutes later. After scoring 63 points last season with the Laval Rocket (MTL), Barré-Boulet struggled to find the back of the net. In the eight games before Wednesday night, he had five assists. So he was seeing the plays, he just couldn’t get past the goalie. Given Barré-Boulet’s convincing performance with the Eagles, their lineup now presents enhanced depth plus increased danger.

Taylor Makar interview October 28, 2025

Mark Letestu interview October 29, 2025

Up Next

The Colorado Eagles will head out West once again for a three game road trip starting with the Coachella Valley (SEA) on Saturday at 7p.m. MT. AHLTV on FloHockey.com will stream the game.