CHICAGO, Ill. – We finally saw the high scoring game that we expected out of the Portland/Connecticut semifinals as the Pirates won game five at home to take a 3 games to 2 lead with two chances to advance to the next round. The Lake Erie Monsters doubled up on the Manitoba Moose and are one game away from winning the series. Of the six games on Friday, in half of those we can see three teams being eliminated from the division semifinals. FIRST ROUND Atlantic Division Semifinals PORTLAND vs. CONNECTICUT Portland leads series 3 – 2
The home team keeps winning as the Portland Pirates took Game 5 over the Connecticut Whale by the score of 5-4. The series now goes back to Hartford as the Pirates have a chance to advance to the next round.
Portland got on the board fast scoring the first three goals of the game. The Pirates scoring leader playing in only his second game of the playoff, Mark Mancari tallied the first goal on the power play at 11:28 in the period. Center Travis Turnbull finish the scoring in the first and Luke Adam started off fast scoring 45 seconds to start the second.
The Whale finally got on the board as Kris Newbury scored at 4:28 on the power play. Dennis McCauley got that one back for the Pirates but then Connecticut reels off three straight goals themselves. Again it was Newbury, getting it in unassisted, then center Chad Kolarik finished the scoring in the second on the man-advantage.
Brodie Dupont scored early in the third to tie the score at 1:36, but the Connecticut left winger found himself in the penalty box just seconds later. Mark Parrish made him pay with the game-winner.
Game 1 – Thu Apr 14 7:00 PM PORTLAND 3, Connecticut 2 Game 2 – Sat Apr 16 7:00 PM PORTLAND 3, Connecticut 2 OT Game 3 – Sun Apr 17 6:00 PM CONNECTICUT 3, Portland 1 Game 4 – Tue Apr 19 7:00 PM CONNECTICUT 3, Portland 1 Game 5 – Thu Apr 21 7:00 PM PORTLAND 5 Connecticut 4 Game 6 – Sat Apr 23 7:00 PM Portland at Connecticut Game 7 – Mon Apr 25 7:00 PM * Connecticut at Portland Atlantic Division Semifinals MANCHESTER vs. BINGHAMTON Manchester leads series 3 – 2
The Manchester Monarchs have another chance to win their series at home against the Binghamton Senators. The Senators came back to win Game 5 in overtime 5-4. This was the third overtime game of the series.
Game 1 – Thu Apr 14 7:00 PM MANCHESTER 2, Binghamton 1 Game 2 – Fri Apr 15 7:00 PM Binghamton 4, MANCHESTER 3 OT Game 3 – Sun Apr 17 5:05 PM Manchester 5, BINGHAMTON 4 OT Game 4 – Tue Apr 19 7:05 PM Manchester 6, BINGHAMTON 3 Game 5 – Wed Apr 20 7:05 PM BINGHAMTON 5, Manchester 4 OT Game 6 – Fri Apr 22 7:00 PM Binghamton at Manchester Game 7 – Sat Apr 23 7:00 PM * Binghamton at Manchester East Division Semifinals W-B/SCRANTON vs. NORFOLK series tied 2 – 2
Norfolk’s parent club, the Tampa Bay Lightning, made some additions to the Admiral’s post season lineup by returning forwards Blair Jones and Mattias Ritola. They also brought up forward Carter Ashton from the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League.
The Penguins have only scored two goals on the man-advantage in 22 tries but the good thing is that they both gave the team tie breakers late in the game.
Both teams have been playing short on players due to injuries and call-ups since both parent clubs are in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Game 1 – Fri Apr 15 7:05 PM Norfolk 2, W-B/SCRANTON 1 Game 2 – Sat Apr 16 7:05 PM Norfolk 2, W-B/SCRANTON 0 Game 3 – Tue Apr 19 7:15 PM W-B/Scranton 2, NORFOLK 1 Game 4 – Wed Apr 20 7:15 PM W-B/Scranton 4, NORFOLK 2 Game 5 – Fri Apr 22 7:30 PM W-B/Scranton at Norfolk Game 6 – Sat Apr 23 7:05 PM Norfolk at W-B/Scranton Game 7 – Mon Apr 25 7:05 PM * Norfolk at W-B/Scranton East Division Semifinals HERSHEY vs. CHARLOTTE series tied 2 – 2
The Carolina Hurricanes prospect Justin Faulk, a second pick for the team in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft was inserted into his first professional game this past Wednesday as his team the Charlotte Checkers tied the Hershey Bears at two games apiece in the East Division Semifinals. Faulk is fresh off helping the University of Minnesota-Duluth win the NCAA Championship.
Game 1 – Thu Apr 14 7:00 PM Charlotte 5, HERSHEY 4 Game 2 – Sun Apr 17 5:00 PM HERSHEY 4, Charlotte 2 Game 3 – Tue Apr 19 7:00 PM Hershey 3, CHARLOTTE 2 Game 4 – Wed Apr 20 7:00 PM CHARLOTTE 3, Hershey 2 Game 5 – Fri Apr 22 7:00 PM Hershey at Charlotte Game 6 – Sun Apr 24 5:00 PM Charlotte at Hershey Game 7 – Mon Apr 25 7:00 PM * Charlotte at Hershey North Division Semifinals HAMILTON vs. OKLAHOMA CITY series tied 2 – 2
The Oklahoma City Barons now have the momentum as they won the last two games to tie their semifinals series against the Hamilton Bulldogs. A good deal of that comes from players that have been assigned from the Edmonton Oilers or coming up from the ECHL. It might have taken them two games but the chemistry is coming in at the right time.
Game 1 – Thu Apr 14 7:30 PM HAMILTON 5, Oklahoma City 2 Game 2 – Sat Apr 16 4:00 PM HAMILTON 2, Oklahoma City 1 Game 3 – Tue Apr 19 7:05 PM OKLAHOMA CITY 2, Hamilton 0 Game 4 – Wed Apr 20 7:05 PM OKLAHOMA CITY 5, Hamilton 2 Game 5 – Fri Apr 22 7:05 PM Hamilton at Oklahoma City Game 6 – Sun Apr 24 4:00 PM Oklahoma City at Hamilton Game 7 – Mon Apr 25 7:30 PM * Oklahoma City at Hamilton North Division Semifinals LAKE ERIE vs. MANITOBA Lake Erie leads series 3 – 1
The Lake Erie Monsters scored two goals in each frame in Manitoba to beat the Moose 6-3. The Monsters take a commanding 3-1 series lead.
Lake Erie’s Ben Walter and Luke Walker placed two power play markers late in the first period as both teams notched 16 shots each. Two goals by each team paced a scoring second. The Monsters Justin Mercier scored two goals that were wedged in between goals by Kevin Clark and Jason Jaffray.
Into the third, it was Clark again scoring at the 13:56 mark to bring the Moose within one goal but Lake Erie scored two empty net goals in the last 33 second of the game.
Manitoba netminder Tyler Weiman played half the game giving up 4 goals on 20 shots as he was replaced by Eddie Lack who allowed no goals on only eight shots playing 29:44 in goal.
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 Lake Erie at Manitoba Game 6 – Sun Apr 24 4:00 PM * Manitoba at Lake Erie Game 7 – Tue Apr 26 7:00 PM * Manitoba at Lake Erie West Division Semifinals MILWAUKEE vs. TEXAS series tied 2 – 2
This series is being played as one of the most defensive low scoring series in the playoffs. Rightfully so in that the Admirals allowed the second least goals in the regular season. With that the Stars were up there to in top ten in the American Hockey League.
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 at Texas Game 6 – Mon Apr 25 7:00 PM Texas at Milwaukee Game 7 – Tue Apr 26 7:00 PM * Texas at Milwaukee West Division Semifinals HOUSTON vs. PEORIA Houston wins series 4 – 0
With a long way to go before the Aeros face their next opponent, they can easily challenge the Rivermen to a couple of rounds of golf.
Game 1 – Wed Apr 13 7:05 PM HOUSTON 4, Peoria 1 Game 2 – Fri Apr 15 7:35 PM HOUSTON 3, Peoria 2 OT Game 3 – Mon Apr 18 7:05 PM Houston 5, PEORIA 3 Game 4 – Tue Apr 19 7:05 PM Houston 2, PEORIA 1 (* if necessary)
Contact the author at matt.chin@prohockeynews.com
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