Iowa Stars 4-7 Game Recap and Year End Awards
April 7, 2007 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Iowa Chops News Release
DES MOINES, IA - The Iowa Stars concluded their Regular Season home slate on Saturday evening on Fan Appreciation Night. Iowa gave the fans plenty to cheer about and to appreciate with a 3-1 win over the Rampage. Iowa finished their season series with San Antonio with a 7-3-0-0 record. Iowa also regained a four-point lead over the Peoria Rivermen for the fourth and final playoff spot in the West Division. Iowa's magic number to clinch is now four points.
Despite allowing the first three shots of the period to San Antonio in the game's first three minutes, the Stars were able to control the remaining 17 minutes of play and the period's tempo. Iowa had the chance to take a 1-0 lead at the 9:21 mark when Vojtech Polak fired a slap-shot, however, Rampage netminder Josh Tordjman flashed the glove for the save. Shortly thereafter, the Stars obtained the all important first goal of the game. Working the puck behind the net, Junior Lessard passed the puck to Paul Szczechura who then passed to a cutting Chris Conner in front of the Rampage goal. Conner one-timed home his 17th goal of the season at the 10:35 mark. Iowa out-shot San Antonio nine to three in the period.
The Stars gave themselves a 2-0 lead with a power-play goal a quarter of the way through the second stanza. Working the power-play formation right-off a face-off win, Forward Yared Hagos tipped a shot from Defenseman Mark Ardelan that sailed past the Rampage netminder at the 6:31 mark. San Antonio's Yanick Lehoux cut Iowa's lead to one four minutes later. Cycling in the left circle, he took a pass from Jakub Koreis and fired a shot that broke-off Dan Ellis at the 10:39 mark. Tordjman kept the deficit at one when he stopped Dan Hacker's top of the crease attempt with five minutes left in the second period.
The third period brought some physical play to the delight of the hometown fans. Iowa gave themselves a bit of breathing room at the 9:56 mark. On the power-play, Yared Hagos regained the two-goal lead for the Stars with his second goal of the game. Hagos, camped in front of the net, again tipped a Mark Ardelan slap-shot from the blueline. Hagos finished with two goals, and Ardelan and Scott May had two assists.
Iowa Goaltender Dan Ellis stopped 16 of 17 Rampage Shots for his 28th win of the season. Ellis owns wins in 13 of Iowa's 16 home wins.
Following the game, as part of Fan Appreciation Night, several fans received autographed game-worn jerseys right off the player's back
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American Hockey League Stories from April 7, 2007
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