AHL Texas Stars

Texas Stars Playoff Update #29

Published on May 12, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Texas Stars News Release


Rosemont, IL - The Texas Stars (8-3) defeated the Chicago Wolves (7-7) 6-5 in overtime on Tuesday night in front of 3,958 fans at the Allstate Arena in Game 7 of the West Division Finals. Right wing Jamie Benn beat Chicago goalie Drew MacIntyre 4:57 into overtime, lifting the Stars over the Wolves and into the Western Conference Finals. Texas overcame a pair of two-goal deficits and a one-goal deficit with 10:15 left in the third period to defeat the Wolves in the 15th Game 7 in AHL history to go into overtime. Defenseman Andrew Hutchinson and Maxime Fortunus each scored third-period goals to complete the Texas comeback. Fortunus finished with a goal and two assists. The Stars outshot the Wolves 24-6 in the third period and overtime combined. Forwards Travis Morin, Scott McCulloch and Aaron Gagnon also posted goals in the first Game 7 in Texas history. Stars goalie Matt Climie (1-0) made 24 stops in his first postseason win of the 2010 Calder Cup playoffs. Chicago goalie Drew MacIntyre (1-2) made 47 saves in the loss.

West Division Finals Schedule (best of seven)

Game 1 - Texas 4 at Chicago 3 (OT)

Game 2 - Texas 3 at Chicago 4 (OT)

Game 3 - Chicago 5 at Texas 3

Game 4 - Chicago 2 at Texas 3

Game 5 - Chicago 3 at Texas 5

Game 6 - Texas 0 at Chicago 2

Game 7 - Texas 6 at Chicago 5 (OT)

(TEX wins series 4-3)

STARS TO FACE HAMILTON BULLDOGS IN WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS - SERIES STARTS FRIDAY IN HAMILTON

Western Conference Finals Schedule (best of seven)

Game 1 - Fri., May 14 - Texas at Hamilton, 6:30 pm CT

Game 2 - Sun., May 16 - Texas at Hamilton, 1:00 pm CT

Game 3 - Wed., May 19 - Hamilton at Texas, 7:30 pm CT

Game 4 - Fri., May 21 - Hamilton at Texas, 7:30 pm CT

*Game 5 - Sat., May 22 - Hamilton at Texas, 7:00 pm CT

*Game 6 - Mon., May 24 - Texas at Hamilton, 6:30 pm CT

*Game 7 - Wed., May 26 - Texas at Hamilton, 6:30 pm CT

*if necessary

Eastern Conference Finals Start Tonight

Game 1 - Manchester at Hershey, 7:00 pm (ET) After 12 days of hibernation, the Hershey Bears return to the ice tonight and host Manchester in Game 1 of the 2010 Eastern Conference Finals. Hershey, which is 8-1 overall this postseason, has been idle since finishing off a four-game division finals sweep of Albany on Apr. 29. The Bears are 5-0 at home in the playoffs and have won 10 straight and 34 of their last 35 games at Giant Center dating back to the regular season. Hershey and Manchester split their two-game regular-season series, but the teams have not met since the Bears collected a 4-1 win in New Hampshire on Nov. 7. It's been seven months and a day since the Monarchs' lone visit to Giant Center this season, a 2-1 victory on Oct. 11 in their fourth game of the season. Bears forward Chris Bourque totaled 4-7-11 in the second round vs. Albany and is riding a five-game scoring streak overall (4-8-12). AHL MVP Keith Aucoin has registered a point in all nine playoff games thus far (1-12-13), and his 12 assists lead the league. Alexandre Giroux has netted a goal in three straight contests (4-2-6) and shows a point in five straight (5-4-9) and eight of nine overall (10-7-17) to lead all AHL scorers in both goals and points. Bears goaltender Michal Neuvirth, last spring's Calder Cup Playoffs MVP, has yet to suffer a loss this postseason (6-0, 2.42, .890). This series will pit Hershey's league-best playoff offense (4.44 goals scored per game) against Manchester's top-ranked defense (1.50 goals allowed per game). The key cog in the Monarchs' defensive effort is Baz Bastien Award winner Jonathan Bernier, who has a 1.48 goals-against average and a .952 save percentage while playing all 10 postseason games for Manchester (8-2). Bud Holloway is riding a 10-game scoring streak (6-5-11) to begin the playoffs, and he is the only Monarchs skater to enter this series with a double-digit point total. Gabe Gauthier had a point in four straight tilts (3-1-4) to close the Monarchs' division finals ouster of Worcester. Gauthier and John Zeiler are the only Monarchs remaining from the squad which was swept by Hershey in the 2007 conference finals. The Bears return Bourque, Giroux, Andrew Joudrey and Kyle Wilson from that series. The Bears have already authored six third-period comebacks this postseason, while Manchester is 4-0 when trailing or tied after 40 minutes.

WEDNESDAY'S GAME 5-12-10: Game 1 - Manchester at Hershey at 7:00 pm (ET) (Series 0-0)

TUESDAY'S SCORE: Game 7 - Texas 6 at Chicago 5 (OT) (TEX wins series 4-3)

SERIES SUBPLOTS.......

* Texas Stars Head Coach Glen Gulutzan improved to 4-0 in his coaching career in Game 7s.

* Chicago lost the first Game 7 at Allstate Arena in its AHL history, falling to 3-1 all-time in Game 7s on home-ice.

* The longest break between Calder Cup Playoff rounds ever is 17, set by the St. John's Maple Leafs during the 1992 postseason.

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 May 12, 2010


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