Stars Pushed To Brink
May 8, 2007 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Iowa Chops News Release
DES MOINES, IA - The Iowa Stars and the Chicago Wolves met for Game Four of the West Division Finals on Tuesday evening at Wells Fargo Arena in Downtown Des Moines. The Stars dropped Game Four by the score of 6-1. Dan Hacker registered the lone goal in Iowa's loss. The Stars now trail the best-of-seven series, three-games-to-one and are now in a must-win situation from here on out. Iowa does have a bit of history on their side. Last season Iowa was also down 3-1 going into a Thursday Game Five with Milwaukee and won both Game Five and Six to force a Game Seven.
For the third time in four games, the Wolves were able to score the game's maiden marker. Darren Haydar took a clearing pass from Brett Sterling and skated in on a two-on-one with Jason Krog on Iowa netminder Dan Ellis. Haydar skated wide and drew the defender with him and passed to his right to a wide-open Krog. Krog caught Ellis sliding from his right-to-left and was able to redirect the puck into the open net at the 4:06 mark. Just over four minutes later, the Iowa Stars evened the score at one. Working down low behind the net, rookie Dan Hacker emerged on the right side of Chicago netminder Michael Garnett. Hacker then fired a shot from the bottom of the left circle that somehow found some room between Garnett and the near post. Francis Wathier and Janos Vas earned the assists on the goal that came at the 8:31 mark. Chicago regained the lead three minutes later when they capitalized on a bad clearing pass by the Iowa defense. Center Kevin Doell intercepted the pass in the left corner and sent a centering pass to Andre Deveaux. Deveaux, all alone in front of the Iowa goal, wristed a shot past Ellis. The goal came at the 11:12 mark and on Chicago's second shot of the period.
The second period began as a back-and-forth period with neither team really generating many chances in the first few minutes of play. Left Wing Colin Stuart gave Chicago a 3-1 lead midway through the period. Stuart streaked down the left wall, but had his shot blocked by a sliding Iowa defender. Stuart regained and from behind the goal line flipped a pass over the downed Iowa player, and over the back of the net. As the puck came to rest, Deveaux tapped-in the loose puck right at the goal crease. It was his second goal of the game and third of the series. The Stars had a chance to pull to within one when Loui Eriksson and Shane Endicott had a two-on-one with about a minute left in the middle stanza. Eriksson skated to the right post with the puck, beating the Chicago defender, and slid a pass across to Endicott. Endicott's shot was blocked by a sliding Garnett to preserve the two-goal lead.
Just :45 seconds into the third period, former Iowa Star Defenseman Brian Fahey helped Chicago expand their lead. Fahey roofed a wrist-shot from the middle of the left circle that beat Dan Ellis right under the crossbar for the 4-1 lead. With both team's skating four-on-four, Cory Larose's slap-shot from the top-of-the-slot beat Ellis at the 1:29 mark. Larose's shot seemed to hit something low to the ice or take a funny bounce to change direction on its way to Ellis. Shortly thereafter, Iowa Head Coach Dave Allison replaced Ellis with Tobias Stephan between the Iowa pipes. Stephan went on to stop 10 of 11 shots in the period. The only goal came on what looked like a high-stick by Jason Krog. After a conference with his linesmen, Krog's shot was deemed a goal.
Dan Ellis faced 14 shots in the loss. Tuesday's loss was the fourth time in 10 playoff games Iowa has out-shot their opponent. In all four games, Iowa has come out on the losing end.
Shots: IOWA: 26; CHICAGO: 25; Game Sheet: http://stats.theahl.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1003370
IOWA STARS INFO: The Iowa Stars and Chicago Wolves play Game Five on Thursday, May 10th. Thursday's game will have a 7:00 PM start time. Select adult tickets for home games are $16, while all kids' tickets are just $8. 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 May 8, 2007
- Stars Pushed To Brink - Iowa Chops
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- P-Bruins Defeat Monarchs 2-1 - Providence Bruins
- Late Third Period Goal Downs Monarchs - Manchester Monarchs
- Bulldogs add five players from ECHL - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Habs Assign Defenceman Mathieu Carle To Dogs - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Kings Sign Murray To Multi-Year Contract - Manchester Monarchs
- Dubielewicz Signed by Islanders - Bridgeport Islanders
- Lowell Devils tap Ciceri as new executive director - Albany Devils
- Admirals Set Ticket Prices for the 07-08 Season - Milwaukee Admirals
- Griffins Add to Accounting and Sales Staffs - Grand Rapids Griffins
- AHL Morning Skate - AHL
- Sound Tigers Release New Referal Program - Bridgeport Islanders
- Benson Signed to AHL Contract for 2007-08 - Peoria Rivermen
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