CHICAGO, Ill. – The Houston Aeros tamed the Hamilton Bulldogs by the score of 2-1 to take Game 1 of the Western Division Finals. While the Binghamton Senators shut out the Charlotte Checkers 3-0 to take a two games to none series lead as the series no travels to Binghamton.
In Houston, both goaltenders played well as they did throughout the season. The Aeros Matt Hackett stopped all but one of the 39 shots he faced for the win as Drew MacIntyre went 26 of 28.
One goal was scored in every period as the Aeros scored the first two of the game. With 5:08 left in the first, center Chad Rau scored on the power play for his fourth of the playoffs with assists from Casey Wellman and Maxim Noreau. Jed Ortmeyer added to the lead early in the second at the 2:59 mark with the lone assist going to Jared Spurgeon.
In the third, defenseman Mathieu Carle stopped Hackett’s bid for the shutout with 51 seconds left and that is where the game ended with the Aeros winning.
Leading goal scorer in the playoffs, center Ryan Potulny, scored his 12 and 13 of the playoffs to pace the Binghamton Senators to a 3-0 of the Charlotte Checkers. Goaltender Robin Lehner went a complete game stopping all 35 shot he faces.
One goal was scored in each of the frames with Potulny’s first coming with 44 second left in the initial frame. Less than a half minute into the second, Potulny scored on the power play. Bobby Butler finished game scoring his ninth of the playoffs to put the game away at the 13:01 mark of the third.
Charlotte and Binghamton will have the weekend off to travel to the Broome County Veterans Memorial Stadium where the Senators will try to win the series buy taking two games at home. Hamilton and Houston will resume playing at the Toyota Center on Sunday as the Bulldogs will try to even up the series. CONFERENCE FINALS Eastern Conference Finals CHARLOTTE vs. BINGHAMTON Binghamton leads series 2 – 0 Game 1 – Thu May 12 7:05 PM Binghamton 7, CHARLOTTE 4 Game 2 – Fri May 13 7:05 PM Binghamton 3, CHARLOTTE 0 Game 3 – Tue May 17 7:05 PM Charlotte at Binghamton Game 4 – Wed May 18 7:05 PM Charlotte at Binghamton Game 5 – Sat May 21 7:05 PM * Charlotte at Binghamton Game 6 – Mon May 23 7:05 PM * Binghamton at Charlotte Game 7 – Tue May 24 7:05 PM * Binghamton at Charlotte Western Conference Finals HOUSTON vs. HAMILTON Houston leads series 1 – 0 Game 1 – Fri May 13 7:35 PM HOUSTON 2, Hamilton 1 Game 2 – Sun May 15 4:05 PM Hamilton at Houston Game 3 – Tue May 17 7:30 PM Houston at Hamilton Game 4 – Wed May 18 7:30 PM Houston at Hamilton Game 5 – Fri May 20 7:30 PM * Houston at Hamilton Game 6 – Sun May 22 4:05 PM * Hamilton at Houston Game 7 – Tue May 24 7:05 PM * Hamilton at Houston
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Contact the writer at matt.chin@prohockeynews.com
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