BROOMFIELD — A turn-around on a dismal streak and an upswing into a winning one. That's all Tracy Eagland was asking out of the weekend.

Instead, his team's 2-1 loss to the rival Colorado Eagles just extended the Rocky Mountain Rage coach's woes.

The falter at the Broomfield Event Center marks the fifth-consecutive loss for the Rage, and the second in a two-game home stand against the Eagles.

It was also the fifth game between the teams that has been decided by one goal. And, unfortunately for Egeland, the loss ended up being a microcosm of his team's season so far.

"I think the weekend defined our season," he said. "Good game, bad game, played in spurts. Tonight, we were still in it, but just not good enough (to win)."

The Rage (6-14-3, 15 points) hung with Colorado (17-4-0, 36 points), despite allowing the opponents to be the aggressors. The Eagles out-shot Rocky Mountain 52-to-27.

The third period was especially tough on the Rage, with Chris Heartsburg scoring the game winner in his team's most productive period. The center nailed a backhander at 9:47, aided by the Eagles putting 24 shots on goal.

It put to waste a heroic stand by Rage keeper David Guerrera.

"But how many good saves are we going to make before the other team gets goals?" Egeland said. "I can't really put into words how bad I feel for (David)."

Colorado put its first points on the board in the first, with Seth Leonard taking advantage of a Guerrera save. The left wing hit his team's first power-play goal with the Rage keeper down in the crease — still sprawled after rejecting Riley Nelson's initial slap shot.

Rocky Mountain didn't hit the equalizer until Chip Dunleavy found a crack nearly 20-minutes later. The winger scored his second point of the season — first at the Event Center — on a backhand shot he put in the from the blue line.

But the game-winning goal the Rage searched for all weekend remained missing. And in Dunleavy's opinion it's because his team isn't putting together a full 60-minutes of hockey.

"Right now we're just getting out worked," Dunleavy said. "We're losing the little battles."

Rocky Mountain couldn't beat the Eagles with its sticks, but the team could with its fists. Wing Adam Stefishen de-gloved against 220-pound Colorado defenseman Les Borsheim and summarily whipped him at the end of the first period.

It is the third time Stefishen has knocked an Eagle on his duff. Twice the 208-pound wing won fights against Frasher Filipic — the CHL fighter of the year last season.

Colorado 2, Rocky Mountain 1 Colorado1 0 1—2 Rocky Mountain0 1 0—1

First Period: Colorado, Leonard (Nelson, Williamson), 8:25 (pp). Penalties: Strain, Colorado (hold), 1:58; DiPace, Rocky Mountain (hold) 4:53; Rosychuk, Rocky Mountain (roughing), 6:30; Birnie, Colorado (elbow), 8:42; DiPace, Rocky Mountain (hold), 11:05; Borsheim, Colorado (high stick), 14:02; Borsheim, Colorado (fisticuffs), 18:22; DiPace, Rocky Mountian (rough), 18:22; Filipic, Colorado (rough), 18:22; Stefishen, Rocky Mountain (fisticuffs), 18:22.

Second Period: Rocky Mountain, Dunleavy (Noel), 18:33 (pp). Penalties: Robertson, Colorado (cross check), 1:59; Vandermeer, Rocky Mountain (trip), 4:32; Kos, Rocky Mountain (cross check), 7:57; Kos, Rocky Mountain (unsports), 7:57; Stefishen, Rocky Mountain (unsports), 9:54; Tobler, Colorado (unsports), 9:54; Polaski, Colorado (slash), 11:11; Tobler, Colorado (goalie interfere), 14:14; Robertson, Colorado (slash), 16:43;Tobler, Colorado (rough), 16:43; Wires, Rocky Mountain (rough), 16:43.

Third Period: Colorado, Hartsburg (Schneekloth, Williamson), 9:47 (pp). Penalties: Plume, Colorado (slashing), 7:52; Robertson, Colorado (interfere), 10:18; Rosychuk, Rocky Mountian (slash), 13:32; Kos, Rocky Moutain (high stick), 17:19.

Shots on Goal: Colorado 52-50-2. Rocky Mountain 27-26-1. Power-play opportunities: Colorado 2 of 9; Rocky Mountain 1 of 8. Goalies: Colorado, Boron 4-2-0 (27-shot-26 saves); Rocky Mountain, Guerrera 6-10-3 (52-50).

Attendance: 4,555.