Iowa Wins 5-2, Clinches Calder Cup Playoff Berth
April 16, 2023 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Iowa Wild News Release
CEDAR PARK, Texas - The Iowa Wild clinched the second trip to the Calder Cup Playoffs in team history with a 5-2 win over the Texas Stars Sunday afternoon. Nick Swaney scored twice to lift the Wild into the postseason on the season's final day. Jesper Wallstedt stopped 19 shots to earn his 18th victory and set a new Iowa single-season record for wins by a rookie goaltender.
Riley Damiani put Texas on the board 4:58 into the game. After Matej Blumel won a footrace to negate an icing, he tucked a pass to the backdoor for Damiani to snap past Wallstedt.
Sammy Walker tied the game with six seconds to play in the first period. After Marco Rossi threw the puck to the front of the net, Walker dove into the crease to poke the puck through the skates of Remi Poirier (26 saves). Nic Petan picked up a secondary assist on the play.
The teams entered the first intermission tied at 1-1. Texas led the shot count 10-9 after 20 minutes.
Swaney put Iowa up 2-1 with 11:13 to go in the middle frame. After Swaney dropped a puck for Turner Ottenbreit in the neutral zone, Ottenbreit returned a pass to Swaney along the right wing. Swaney's shot clipped the skate of a Texas defenseman and fluttered over the glove of Poirier.
Swaney delivered again three minutes later to give the Wild a 3-1 advantage. After the puck ricocheted to Nic Petan in the slot, Petan returned a pass through the hash marks for Swaney to slam home.
The Wild entered the second intermission with a 3-1 lead and a 19-17 shot advantage.
Michael Milne extended Iowa's margin to three goals 3:53 into the third. After Tanner Kaspick sent the puck up to Riese Zmolek at the left point, Zmolek snapped a shot toward goal that Milne tipped in out of midair.
Ben Gleason and the Stars made the score 4-2 with a one-timer from the right point with 9:24 to play.
Patrick Curry put Iowa up 5-2 at 15:09 of the third. After Daemon Hunt sent the puck in behind the net for Damien Giroux, Giroux fed the puck in front for Curry to blast past the glove of Poirier.
Iowa faces the Rockford IceHogs at BMO Center in Game 1 of the Central Division Quarterfinals on Wendesday, Apr. 19 at 7 p.m.
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American Hockey League Stories from April 16, 2023
- Admirals Drop Regular Season Finale - Milwaukee Admirals
- IceHogs Clinch Playoff Spot with 4-1 Win in Milwaukee - Rockford IceHogs
- Iowa Wins 5-2, Clinches Calder Cup Playoff Berth - Iowa Wild
- Wranglers Defeat Canucks, Clinching First in AHL and Pacific Division - Calgary Wranglers
- Tucson's Mike Carcone Wins AHL Scoring Race - Tucson Roadrunners
- IceHogs Announce Schedule for First Round of 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs - Rockford IceHogs
- Andreoff Wins Prestigious Willie Marshall Award - Bridgeport Islanders
- Texas Falls to Iowa in Regular Season Finale After Clinching Division - Texas Stars
- Tucson's Carcone, Bridgeport's Andreoff Capture 2022-23 AHL Scoring Titles - AHL
- Opening Schedules Announced for 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs - AHL
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- Seven Players Reassigned to Toledo Walleye - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Round 1 Schedule Set for Phantoms vs. Charlotte - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
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- Wolf Pack to Face Thunderbirds in Opening Round of Calder Cup Playoffs - Hartford Wolf Pack
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- Firebirds to Host Tucson Roadrunners in First Round of Calder Cup Playoffs - Coachella Valley Firebirds
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- Dustin Wolf Recipient of Hap Holmes Award - Calgary Wranglers
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- Roadrunners Wrap up Regular Season against San Jose Barracuda on Saturday, Will Begin Calder Cup Playoffs Wednesday in Coachella Valley - Tucson Roadrunners
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