Eagles don't take advantage of opportunities

LOVELAND -- The whole of Game 3 of the Ray Miron President's Cup finals can be summed up in two words -- missed opportunities.

The Colorado Eagles lost only their second playoff game at the Budweiser Events Center 5-2 on Wednesday to the Arizona Sundogs, putting Colorado down 3-0 in the series.

"There's no excuse, you get two goals on 50 some odd shots," Eagles' center Ed McGrane said. "The chances are there, we just aren't putting them away. That's the big difference right now."

The Eagles outshot Arizona 53-30, but couldn't find the back of the net enough in part, because of the performance by Arizona's goal tender Robert McVicar.

"I think (McVicar) played very well and I said that before the game the game was going to be lost in front of our net or theirs," Eagles' coach Chris Stewart said. "If you look at the quality chances we had, we out-chanced them in this game alone, compared to the other two. But it doesn't matter, the bottom line is you have to finish your opportunities and we didn't do that."

McVicar has earned a 10-1 record in the playoffs so far, and his 51 saves in Wednesday's game only highlighted his playoff performances.

"He played well, but we have to find a way to start scoring some goals," McGrane said.

Game 4 is now a life-or-death battle as the Eagles look to correct their mistakes and swing the momentum in their favor.

"We know how good we are and we know the things we have to do," Eagles' left wing Ryan Tobler said. "We have to bear down and be a little sharper. Once we do that and things start going our way, it's going to turn around."

Stewart added: "If we start to finish the way we should, it should go our way. But it hasn't and regardless of that fact we are in the position we are in and we have to get out of it."

It starts with Game 4 on Friday night and not losing another game at home, a feat Stewart doesn't see as unreasonable.