AHL Texas Stars

Texas Stars Playoff Update #57

June 9, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Texas Stars News Release


After getting in the win column with a come-from-behind victory on Monday, Hershey tries to even up the Calder Cup Finals tonight when the Bears take on Texas in Game 4. Hershey, which had totaled four goals in the first two games of the series, fell behind 3-1 after the first period of Game 3 but erupted for five unanswered goals over the final 40 minutes to come away with a 6-3 decision. A trio of Bears forwards - Andrew Gordon, Mathieu Perreault, and Kyle Wilson - each tallied two goals in the winning effort. Gordon now shows three goals in his last two games and 13 markers in just 14 playoff games overall (13-5-18), which ranks second in the AHL behind Stars rookie Jamie Benn's 14 (14-12-26). Perreault snapped a five-game goal-scoring drought with his pair but now has at least a point in four of his last five outings (2-3-5), and Wilson recorded his first multiple-goal performance since scoring twice at Binghamton on Mar. 17. Wilson's second goal of the night came on the power play and snapped a 0-for-16 slide by Hershey with the man-advantage, a skid which dated back to Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals vs. Manchester. Keith Aucoin recorded two more assists for the Bears, extending the AHL MVP's league-leading total to 21 helpers overall (1-21-22), including at least one in 16 of 18 playoff games thus far. Hershey defenseman Karl Alzner, drafted fifth overall by the parent Washington Capitals in 2007, also registered two assists to snap a seven-game points drought. Francois Bouchard, who earned an assist on Monday, has a point in all three games of the Finals thus far (2-1-3). Bears goaltender Michal Neuvirth allowed three goals on 11 shots in the first period but stopped all 19 he faced the rest of the way to pick up his league-leading 11th win of the postseason (11-4, 2.30, .911). Prior to Monday night, each of the Bears' last seven games had been decided by a one-goal margin since they took a 4-2 win over Manchester to open the conference finals. Texas scored first for the second straight game on Monday after allowing the first goal in its previous 11 outings. Andrew Hutchinson, Francis Wathier, and Raymond Sawada all netted first-period goals for the Stars, with Hutchinson's coming on the power play and Wathier's shorthanded. It marked Texas' first shorthanded goal of the playoffs and the third given up by Hershey. Stars rookie Scott McCulloch is riding a three-game scoring streak (1-2-3) to begin the Finals, while fellow rookie Benn has an assist in two straight after being held without a point in the series opener. Monday marked the first time since a 6-3 loss to Peoria on Feb. 5 that Texas allowed as many as six goals in a game. Texas goaltender Matt Climie (7-4), who surrendered all six goals, saw his postseason goals-against average rise from 2.51 to 2.79, and his save percentage fall from .923 to .914. Hershey and Texas are both 7-2 when scoring the game's first goal during the 2010 playoffs.

SERIES SUBPLOTS.......

* The team that wins Game 4 of the Finals has won the Calder Cup 50 of 71 (70.4%).

* 12 Calder Cup Finals have gone the distance (10 best-of-seven, two best-of-five)

* The Stars are 0-2 in their last two home games and have not won in regulation at Cedar Park Center since May 7, a 5-3 win over Chicago in Game 5 of the West Division Finals

Calder Cup Finals Schedule (best of seven)

Game 1 - Texas 2 at Hershey 1

Game 2 - Texas 4 at Hershey 3

Game 3 - Hershey 6 at Texas 3 (TEX leads series 2-1)

Game 4 - Wed., June 9 - Hershey at Texas, 7:30 pm

Game 5 - Fri., June 11 - Hershey at Texas, 7:30 pm

*Game 6 - Mon., June 14 - Texas at Hershey, 6:00 pm

*Game 7 - Wed., June 16 - Texas at Hershey, 6:00 pm

*if necessary... All times Central

TICKETS TO THE CALDER CUP FINALS AT CEDAR PARK CENTER

Tickets are going fast for the Calder Cup Finals at Cedar Park Center. The Stars expect capacity crowds for the next two contests; for pricing and availability, fans may call 512-GO-STARS. Individual tickets for playoff games at Cedar Park Center also can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000, visiting any Ticketmaster outlet or the Cedar Park Center box office, or online at ticketmaster.com.

WEAR WHITE and Calder Cup Finals Promotions

The Texas Stars are asking fans to wear WHITE to Cedar Park Center for every home game of the 2010 Calder Cup Finals. For Games 4 and 5, the first, 5,000 fans will receive a pair of Texas Stars Thundersticks. Cedar Park Center will provide $2.00 domestic drafts and $1.00 hot dogs for all three home games.

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.)

Check out the Texas Stars Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from June 9, 2010


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