CHICAGO, Ill – And now there was one, game that is, left in the Divisional Semifinals as Manitoba will face Lake Erie in Game 7 of their series. Tonight, the Milwaukee Admirals advanced to the West Division Finals after winning in dramatic fashion in double overtime by defeating the Texas Stars with Mark Van Guilder scoring the game-winning goal. They will now host the Houston Aeros in the West Division Finals. FIRST ROUND West Division Semifinals MILWAUKEE vs. TEXAS Milwaukee wins series 4 – 2
The Milwaukee Admirals defeated the Texas Stars by the score of 3-2 in double overtime to win the West Division Semifinals. They will now face the Houston Aeros starting on Friday at home.
Mark Van Guilder got the game-winner at 10:42 in the second overtime period. The play started with Texas having possession of the puck in their own zone. Milwaukee left winger Ryan Thang got tripped near the puck and as he was getting up, took possession and fired it on net. Texas netminder Richard Bachman let out a huge rebound to Guilder who fired it right in to the back of the net.
Bachman was impressive in the loss stopping 44 of 47 shots. Jeremy Smith was a goal better going 47 same on 49 shots.
The Admirals started the scoring as right wing Mike Bartlett got the biscuit in with helpers from Kelsey Wilson and Andreas Thuresson for the only score in the first period. Texas got the only score in the second early at the 4:41 mark on the man-advantage as Colton Sceviour tapped in the puck that was sitting in the middle of traffic.
In the third, Thuresson got his second point of the game early in the period at the 1:22 to give Milwaukee the lead. But the Stars came right back at the 7:14 mark with a backhander wrister from center Travis Morin to send the game into overtime.
Game 1 – Thu Apr 14 7:00 PM MILWAUKEE 5, Texas 2 Game 2 – Sat Apr 16 7:00 PM Texas 3, MILWAUKEE 1 Game 3 – Tue Apr 19 7:30 PM TEXAS 3, Milwaukee 2 OT Game 4 – Wed Apr 20 7:30 PM Milwaukee 3, TEXAS 2 Game 5 – Fri Apr 22 7:30 PM Milwaukee 2, TEXAS 1 OT Game 6 – Mon Apr 25 7:00 PM MILWAUKEE 3, Texas 2 OT2
North Division Semifinals LAKE ERIE vs. MANITOBA series tied 3 – 3
It is not surprising that these two teams need a seventh game to decide the series. Both had almost identical regular season records, goals for and against were only a few apart and special teams ranking were only a few teams apart. Head to head in the regular season you couldn’t tell them apart, both going 2-2 with each two games series, they finished winning one and losing one in each other’s home rink. We should be surprised if the game goes into extra sessions/
Game 1 – Sat Apr 16 12:00 PM LAKE ERIE 6, Manitoba 4 Game 2 – Sun Apr 17 3:00 PM Manitoba 3, LAKE ERIE 2 OT Game 3 – Tue Apr 19 7:30 PM Lake Erie 2, MANITOBA 1 Game 4 – Thu Apr 21 7:30 PM Lake Erie 6, MANITOBA 3 Game 5 – Fri Apr 22 7:30 PM MANITOBA 2, Lake Erie 0 Game 6 – Sun Apr 24 4:00 PM Manitoba 3, LAKE ERIE 1 Game 7 – Tue Apr 26 7:00 PM Manitoba at Lake Erie Atlantic Division Semifinals PORTLAND vs. CONNECTICUT Portland wins series 4 – 2 Atlantic Division Semifinals MANCHESTER vs. BINGHAMTON Binghamton wins series 4 – 3 East Division Semifinals W-B/SCRANTON vs. NORFOLK W-B/Scranton wins series 4 – 2 East Division Semifinals HERSHEY vs. CHARLOTTE Charlotte wins series 4 – 2 North Division Semifinals HAMILTON vs. OKLAHOMA CITY Hamilton wins series 4 – 2 West Division Semifinals HOUSTON vs. PEORIA Houston wins series 4 – 0
SECOND ROUND Atlantic Division Finals PORTLAND vs. BINGHAMTON Not yet started
The Binghamton Senators were the low-man crossover team that came and defeated the Manchester Monarchs in a tough seven game series that feature five games that went into overtime with one of those needing a second to decide the game. They will now face the a Portland Pirates team that bookended four wins against Connecticut in six games.
Game 1 – Wed Apr 27 7:00 PM Binghamton at Portland Game 2 – Thu Apr 28 7:00 PM Binghamton at Portland Game 3 – Sat Apr 30 7:05 PM Portland at Binghamton Game 4 – Mon May 2 7:05 PM Portland at Binghamton Game 5 – Tue May 3 7:05 PM * Portland at Binghamton Game 6 – Fri May 6 7:00 PM * Binghamton at Portland Game 7 – Sat May 7 7:00 PM * Binghamton at Portland East Division Finals W-B/SCRANTON vs. CHARLOTTE Not yet started
This is Charlotte’s first season in the American Hockey League from the ECHL. Charlotte dispatched the two-time defending Calder Cup Champions in six games and will now face the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in what should be a high scoring series. The Penguins came back down two games to none and won four straight to win the series against Norfolk.
Game 1 – Thu Apr 28 7:05 PM Charlotte at W-B/Scranton Game 2 – Sat Apr 30 7:05 PM Charlotte at W-B/Scranton Game 3 – Mon May 2 7:00 PM W-B/Scranton at Charlotte Game 4 – Wed May 4 7:00 PM W-B/Scranton at Charlotte Game 5 – Fri May 6 7:00 PM * W-B/Scranton at Charlotte Game 6 – Sat May 7 7:05 PM * Charlotte at W-B/Scranton Game 7 – Mon May 9 7:05 PM * Charlotte at W-B/Scranton North Division Finals HAMILTON vs. TBD Not yet started
The Hamilton Bulldogs will just have to wait one more day to find out who their opponent will be. Will it be the Lake Erie Monsters or fellow Canadian team Manitoba Moose?
West Division Finals HOUSTON vs. MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS Not yet started
Houston finally has a dance partner. Milwaukee will have three days of rest between games while the Aeros have been waiting a total of nine days. Will the long layoff affect Houston who will travel to Milwaukee to start the series.
Game 1 – Fri Apr 29 7:00 PM Houston at Milwaukee Game 2 – Sun May 1 5:00 PM Houston at Milwaukee Game 3 – Tue May 3 7:05 PM Milwaukee at Houston Game 4 – Thu May 5 7:05 PM Milwaukee at Houston Game 5 – Fri May 6 7:35 PM * Milwaukee at Houston Game 6 – Sun May 8 5:00 PM * Houston at Milwaukee Game 7 – Tue May 10 7:00 PM * Houston at Milwaukee (* if necessary)
Contact the author at matt.chin@prohockeynews.com
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