Texas Stars Playoff Update #11
April 24, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Texas Stars News Release
Stars Advance to Second Round, Finish off Rockford with Sweep
The Texas Stars defeated the Rockford IceHogs 4-2 on Friday night in front of 2,403 fans at the Rockford MetroCentre. The Stars completed the sweep of the Hogs, winning all four games in the best-of-seven series. Stars goalie Brent Krahn (4-0) stopped 38 of 40 Rockford shots in the win. Texas defenseman Andrew Hutchinson scored two power-play goals, helping the Stars advance to the second round for the first time in team history. Forwards Warren Peters and Mathieu Beaudoin also scored as Texas finished the year 10-2-0-0 against Rockford. Rockford's Kyle Beach scored twice, as the IceHogs dropped their 10th straight playoff decision. IceHogs goalie Corey Crawford (0-4) made 20 saves on 23 Stars shots in his fourth straight playoff loss. Texas advances to the West Division Finals and will play the winner of the Chicago and Milwaukee series.
Milwaukee Wins Game 6, Forces Game 7 in Chicago on Monday Night
Milwaukee coughed up a 4-1 lead in regulation but bounced back to take a 5-4 overtime win over Chicago on Friday, sending the teams' West Division semifinal to a winner-take-all Game 7. The Wolves will host the decisive Game 7 on Monday night at Allstate Arena, with a date against Texas in the West Division Finals on the line. Ryan Maki netted the game-winning goal for the Admirals at 4:22 of overtime, with assists going to Triston Grant and Ben Guite . Grant and Ryan Thang each posted two assists for Milwaukee, and goaltender Mark Dekanich made 27 saves between the pipes.
Second Round Starts Tonight
Albany and Hershey kick off second-round action in the 2010 Calder Cup Playoffs tonight as the East Division Finals get underway at the Giant Center in Hershey. The River Rats ousted Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the division semifinals for their first postseason series win since 1998, while the defending champion Bears are coming off a five-game triumph over Bridgeport. Hershey is in the division finals for the fourth time in five years. The previous three trips (2006, 2007, 2009) ultimately resulted in a Calder Cup Finals berth. The Bears went 3-0 at home during the first round and have won 32 of their last 33 games at Giant Center overall.
Game for Saturday, April 24th
Game 1 - Albany at Hershey, 7:00
FRIDAY'S SCORES:
Game 4 - Texas 4, ROCKFORD 2 (TEX wins series, 4-0)
Game 6 - MILWAUKEE 5, Chicago 4 (OT) (Series tied, 3-3)
Game 5 - MANITOBA 5, Hamilton 2 (HAM leads series, 3-2)
Game 5 - ABBOTSFORD 3, Rochester 1 (RCH leads series, 3-2)
West Division Semifinals Schedule (best of seven)
Game 1 - Rockford 1 at Texas 2 Game 2 - Rockford 1 at Texas 3 Game 3 - Texas 6 at Rockford 1 Game 4 - Texas 4 at Rockford 2 (Texas wins series 4-0)
SERIES SUBPLOTS.......
* Texas had the largest goal differential (+10) of any first round series, outscoring Rockford 15-5.
* Stars goalie Brent Krahn is second in the AHL Calder Cup Playoffs with a 1.25 goals against average and a .961 save percentage. Manchester's Jonathan Bernier is first with a 1.24 GAA and a .962 save percentage.
* Texas forward Travis Morin is second overall in the AHL with seven assists. He is also tied for the playoff scoring lead among all rookies with seven points.
Playoff Format.......
Four rounds, with each round slated as a best of seven series. The top four teams in each division qualify for playoffs. The teams play within their division for the first two rounds. The division winners will meet in the conference finals. The winner of the Western Conference will play the winner of the Eastern Conference for the Calder Cup. In order to take the Calder Cup, a team must win 16 games.
The Calder Cup.......
The coveted Calder Cup has been a motivational force for American Hockey League teams throughout the League's 73-year history. It is one of our sport's greatest challenges and ultimate honors to hoist the Calder Cup in victory.
The trophy is named for Frank Calder, who served as the National Hockey League's first President from 1917 to 1943. During the 1920's, Mr. Calder was instrumental in guiding hockey into the mainstream of America's major cities including Boston, New York, Detroit and Chicago, while helping in the formation of the American League.
The Calder Cup trophy itself was actually first awarded in 1938 to the Providence Reds for winning the second International-American Hockey League championship. (In 1996, George Parsons of the Syracuse Stars was presented the Calder Cup in a ceremony at the Onondaga County War Memorial, as it is believed the Stars never received a trophy for their 1937 championship.
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American Hockey League Stories from April 24, 2010
- Bears bite Rats in OT - Albany River Rats
- Samson Scores Twice As Albany Falls 4-3 - Albany River Rats
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