Ice Lock Top Spot in East with 5-0 Shutout Win
March 21, 2014 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Indiana Ice News Release
On a night when they needed it most, all sides of the puck delivered.
The Indiana Ice were firing on all cylinders and then some on Friday as the team downed the Muskegon Lumberjacks in a 5-0 blanking to secure the number one seed for the 2014 Clark Cup Champion playoffs.
The visiting Ice were down to a magic number of one to lock into the top spot in the East. An ironclad performance by Hayden Stewart and a staggering four-point (G, 3A) show by leading scorer Scott Conway assured Indy of the honors while moving the squad to within two points of the USHL's overall leaders, the Waterloo Black Hawks, with one game in hand.
Cornell University-commit Stewart can also celebrate hold the franchise record with the longest consecutive win streak (11 games), previously held by former netminder Jon Gillies (Providence-HE). He also tied a record with fellow backstopper Jason Pawloski and Clark Cup Champion Brett Bennett with his fourth shutout in a season.
Conway put on a show on his own end of the ice as the Penn State commit badgered the Muskegon defense with his four-point effort followed up with a three-point (G, 2A) night from fellow skater Patrick Newell. Jacob Pritchard, Jason Salvaggio and Dwyer Tschantz also potted goals in the contest for Indy.
Mere seconds elapsed in the contest before the Ice would take the lead in the contest as a Lumberjacks' boarding call would send the hosts on the penalty kill and the potent Indy offense on the power play.
A power play unit that normally converts on only 16.3% of the man advantage needed only 27 seconds to tally their first of three power play goals on four attempts.
Pritchard took a feed from Conway and Washington Capitals prospect Brian Pinho as Indy would pot their first of three first-period goals just 2:14 into the contest.
Dual power play lamplighters in the second period would finalize the tilt with Indy on top of the playoff-hunting Lumberjacks 5-0.
Stewart faced 15 shots, but turned aside all to notch his second shutout in his past three games while passing Gillies for the franchise record in consecutive wins. Through 11 contests in Indy, the Rockford, IL is nearly perfect with a impressive 11-0-0 record and a 0.73 goals against during the stretch.
Indy continues down the final stretch of the regular season this weekend with contests against the Youngstown Phantoms tomorrow at 7:05 pm from Pan Am Pavilion. Sunday's "Family Night" contest against Muskegon will be played from Bankers Life Fieldhouse at 3:05 pm.
Fans at Sunday's game will be treated to a free post-game concert featuring the performing artist "New Method."
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United States Hockey League Stories from March 21, 2014
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- Frigo Lifts Lancers To Gritty 3-2 Win - Omaha Lancers
- Ice Lock Top Spot in East with 5-0 Shutout Win - Indiana Ice
- Friday Goes to Fargo - Waterloo Black Hawks
- Early Offense, Late Defense from Indiana Freezes Muskegon - Muskegon Lumberjacks
- School Day Seven: Phantoms Beat Team USA in Matinee Special - Youngstown Phantoms
- Stampede Host Stars Sunday Night at the Arena - Sioux Falls Stampede
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