Stars Drop Game One Of West Division Semifinals
Published on April 20, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Iowa Chops News Release
OMAHA, NE - The Iowa Stars began their quest for the 2007 Calder Cup with Game One of the playoffs Friday evening at the Omaha Civic Auditorium. Tied after the first period and subsequently the second period, the Knights were able to notch two goals in the third period to take Game One of the West Division Semifinals, 4-2. Iowa looks to regroup for Game Two in Omaha on Saturday night. Game Time is 7:00 PM.
Entering Friday's game, Iowa's coaching staff repeated all week that this series would be a physical series with back-and-forth hitting and Friday's opening period was nothing short of a Nostradamus-like prediction. Both teams came out of the gates trying their hardest to establish a physical presence, hitting anything in another jersey that moved. The Knights grabbed the early shot advantage, firing six shots within the opening five minutes of play. One of Omaha's key scoring chances came off a breakaway by Warren Peters 4:40 into the game. Peters was molested enough by the Iowa defender to not get a clean shot off on Iowa Goaltender Dan Ellis. On their seventh shot of the game, Omaha claimed a 1-0 lead. Camped in front of the Iowa goal, Justin Taylor redirected a Dustin Boyd shot. The five-on-three power-play goal came at the 12:25 mark. After that goal, Iowa's offense came to life, out-shooting the Knights seven to one over the final seven minutes. The Stars would tie the game at one on a beautiful individual effort by Defenseman Matt DeMarchi. DeMarchi streaked up the right wall, passed the hash-mark and sent a centering pass to a streaking Dan Hacker. The former University of Nebraska-Omaha Maverick beat his defender and redirected the pass for a power-play goal at 16:56.
The Stars power-play helped Iowa regain the lead midway through the middle stanza. Just :05 seconds after Iowa's brief five-on-three power-play expired, rookie Paul Szczechura collected a loose puck in the Omaha crease and tapped-in his first goal of the playoffs at 12:39. Junior Lessard and Marty Sertich had the assists on Iowa's second power-play goal of the game. Sertich returned to the ice after missing 25 Regular Season games with an injury. Iowa's lead was short lived, as the Knights evened the score at two with their second power-play goal of the game. With Brandon Prust winning an offensive zone face-off, the puck was sent back to Defenseman Chris Lee. Lee skated to the top of the slot and fired a wrist-shot over the right shoulder of Dan Ellis at the 14:40 mark.
With the teams skating four-on-four and plenty of open ice, the Knights were able to obtain the go-ahead goal at the 9:21 mark. Defenseman Adam Pardy gained the puck at the top of the right circle and fired a wrist-shot that a screened Dan Ellis was unable to track down, giving Omaha a 3-2 lead. The goal came on Omaha's third shot of the period. Iowa tried to mount the comeback but Warren Peters gave Omaha the 4-2 lead five minutes later when his shot deflected-off the Iowa defenseman past Ellis.
Gamesheet: http://stats.theahl.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1003353
IOWA STARS INFO: The Stars continue their quest for the 2007 Calder Cup with a Saturday game, in Omaha, against the Ak-Sar-Ben Knights. The game time for Game Two is 7:05 PM. The Stars return home for Game Three and Four on Monday and 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.
American Hockey League Stories from April 20, 2007
- Zeiler Nets Double Overtime Winner For 2-0 Series Lead - Manchester Monarchs
- Admirals Take Game One in Wilkes-Barre - Norfolk Admirals
- Stars Drop Game One Of West Division Semifinals - Iowa Chops
- P-Bruins Defeat Wolf Pack 4-2, Series Tied At One - Providence Bruins
- Iowa Stars Go Racing - Iowa Chops
- Rivermen weekly - Peoria Rivermen
- Rangers Sign Defenseman Thomas Pock to a Contract Extension - Connecticut Whale
- AHL Morning Skate - AHL
- Admirals Playoff Preview - Milwaukee Admirals
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