Ice Home Friday at Pan Am
March 31, 2014 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Indiana Ice News Release
SPLITSVILLE: Indy's bid for the Anderson Cup got a bit more interesting as the team split road contests with the Dubuque Fighting Saints on Friday and Saturday. Sam Kurker potted a pair of goals while Dwyer Tschantz, Joe Sullivan and Matt Roy added tallies as the Ice topped the Saints 5-4 on Friday. Hayden Stewart logged his 13th consecutive win of the season against his former team in the 27-save effort. Indy looked to have the game well in hand with a 2-0 lead midway through the third period on Saturday until a quick three-goal rally propelled host Dubuque over Indy 3-2. Brian Pinho scored the first goal of the contest before Kurker notched his third goal in two contests during the second period. Jason Pawloski faced 27 shots on net, registering 24 saves in the match.
DOWN TO THE WIRE: With three tilts remaining and a game in hand, Indy sits two points behind the Waterloo Black Hawks in the chase for their first-ever Anderson Cup championship, awarded to the team with the most standings points at the end of the regular season. If both teams have an equal amount of points at the conclusion of the regular season, Indy and Waterloo would share the title.
WE'RE THE TOPS: Friday's win at Dubuque was more special than what was on the score sheet as the team eclipsed a pair of franchise records in the 5-4 victory. The decision was Indy's 40th of the season, passing marks for team wins set in the 2007-08 and the 2008-09 seasons while setting a new record with their eighth consecutive victory. The Ice could equal two additional franchise bars by sweeping this week's homestand (most home wins-22, most home points-48).
SAVE THE LAST DANCE FOR ME: Seven of eight USHL teams have punched their post season dance card with four teams vying for the last remaining Eastern Conference playoff spot. Muskegon (63), Green Bay (62), Team USA (61) and Chicago (60) are still fighting for the final spot with the Steel having a game in-hand against the others. Conference leaders Indy and Waterloo are the only teams to have clinched a seed (both number ones) with the remaining squads battling for position.
STEWIE!!!!: With the win Friday in Dubuque, goaltender Hayden Stewart extended his franchise best win streak to 13 games. The second-year USHL goaltender has yet to lose as a member of the Ice and his numbers now include a 13-0-0 record, 1.08 GAA, four shutouts and a .954 save percentage.
SWINGMAN: Aidan Muir's helping hand continues to fuel the Ice as the Edmonton Oilers prospect is riding a four-game assists streak with six helpers and a +4 plus-minus rating during the stretch. Muir has been a consistent contributor on the Indy offense as the first overall pick in the 2013 USHL Entry Draft has collaborated on nine goals while chipping in one of his own for ten points (G, 9A) in his past ten games.
PLAYER BRACKETS: Scott Conway has 18 points (8G, 10A) in his past ten games...Jason Pawloski is third in the league in wins (25)...Hayden Stewart is second in the league in GAA (2.06) and tied for second in save percentage (.922)...Dwyer Tschantz has seven points (4G, 3A) in his past five games...Defenseman Matt Roy has points in back-to-back contests...Brian Pinho has six goals in his last four games.
TEAM TOURNAMENTS: Indy leads the league in goals against per game (2.35) and is third in goals per game (3.81)...The Ice lead the league in shots against per game (24.95)...Indy is riding a five-game home winning streak...The Ice is third in the league on the penalty kill at home (87.5%), on the road (85.8%) and overall (86.5%)...Indy is 28-6-7 against the Eastern Conference.
FROZEN ALUMNI: A pair of former Icemen will be vying for the top prize in NCAA Division I college hockey in April as Nick Mattson (North Dakota) and Matt Krug (Union College) will suit up with their respective teams for a shot at the 2014 Frozen Four Championship starting Thursday, April 10 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. Union will face off against Boston College in the first game while North Dakota and Minnesota will square off in the second game of the evening. The winners of both games will meet in the Frozen Four Championship on Saturday, April 12 at 7:30 pm.
United States Hockey League Stories from March 31, 2014
- More Memorable Montour Moments - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Ice Home Friday at Pan Am - Indiana Ice
- Lancers Weekly - Omaha Lancers
- Schmaltz, Milano, Tiffels, Montour, and Tirone Earn USHL Weekly Honors - USHL
- Van Guilder Makes NHL Debut with Nashville - Tri-City Storm
- Waterloo Black Hawks Name Players of the Week - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Lancers Announce First Two Playoff Dates - Omaha Lancers
- Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report - OSC Original by Dan Krieger
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