Iowa Stars 4-21 Calder Cup Recap
April 21, 2007 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Iowa Chops News Release
OMAHA, NE - The Iowa Stars and the Omaha Knights played Game Two of the best-of-seven series Saturday night in Downtown Omaha. With both teams playing in their first-ever Calder Cup Playoff overtime game, it was Iowa that came out on top, winning 2-1 in the extra session. The series is now tied at one game apiece and returns back to Wells Fargo Arena in Downtown Des Moines for Game Three on Monday and Game Four on Wednesday. Both games have a 7:00 PM face-off.
As was the case in Game One on Friday, both teams hit the ice looking to establish their style of play. Despite having to kill-off an Omaha power-play that came just :56 seconds into the game, Iowa was able to get the game's first goal. Keeping the puck in the Omaha zone at the blueline, Defenseman Mark Ardelan sent the puck down low behind the Omaha goal where Scott May collected and sent a centering pass to the top of the slot. Defenseman Matt DeMarchi unleashed a slap-shot over the right pad of a downed Omaha netminder, Curtis McElhinney. DeMarchi's goal at the 8:20 mark was his first career post-season tally. Iowa Goaltender Dan Ellis made 12 saves in the opening period.
Early in the second period, Ellis helped preserve the 1-0 lead with a great glove save while Omaha was in the midst of their third power-play. Ellis made another great leg pad save midway through the period on David Van der Gulik. The Stars would then have several scoring chances on the Omaha goalie, but Curtis McElhinney was up to the challenge. McElhinney stopped a Junior Lessard one-time attempt in the low slot with 4:30 left in the period. That shot led to two cross-crease diving saves by McElhinney. After making a sprawling save on a shorthanded bid by David Van der Gulik, the face-off came to his left. Center Brandon Prust, winning the face-off, sent the puck back to the right point where Defenseman Brett Palin sent a wrist-shot over the shoulder of a stunned Dan Ellis with under three seconds left in the middle stanza. The shorthanded goal tied the game at one.
The Stars maintained a majority of the play in the third period, but were unable to capitalize on two power-play man advantages, one early in the period and one with four minutes left in regulation. Iowa's best scoring chance came at the 12:20 mark. Francis Wathier stole the puck at the blueline and played give-and-go with Dan Hacker. Wathier fired a one-time shot, but McElhinney stood his ground for the save. Iowa had nine shots in the period, while Omaha had four. Both teams were unable to score in the period, forcing a 20-minute sudden-death overtime period.
The overtime period began with the Knights getting two good quality scoring chances on the Iowa goal, but Ellis made the saves to keep it tied at one. With Francis Wathier bringing the puck up the ice, a nice pass to Marius Holtet who then fired a shot from the low right circle that caught right under the crossbar for the game-winning tally at 3:35 of the extra session. The goal was his third career playoff goal of his career.
Marius Holtet was named the Number One Star of the game while Iowa netminder Dan Ellis was named the Number Three Star of the Game. For Ellis, it was his first AHL playoff win of his career.
IOWA STARS INFO: The Stars return home for Game Three on Monday and Game Four on Wednesday at Wells Fargo Arena. Game times are 7:00 PM. Listen to all games, home and away, on AM 940 or watch streaming video over the B2 Networks by visiting IowaStarsHockey.com. Bring a group or hold your child's birthday at a Stars game! All ticketing information can be obtained by calling 515-23-STARS or by visiting IowaStarsHockey.com.
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