CHICAGO, Ill. – You can roll the lucky sevens for the two teams that staved off elimination tonight in the Western Division Finals. Their wins forced a seventh and decisive game in their series. The Milwaukee Admirals took an early three goal lead just to lose it when the Houston Aeros scored four straight. They managed to tie the game late in the third and won it in overtime a minute into the period by the score of 5-4. In Hamilton, the goaltenders stood on their heads in the game with only one mistake, as Manitoba scored the lone goal of the game in the second a man short.
The Moose and Bulldogs will do it again one last time in less than 24 hours while the Houston and Milwaukee will finish is up on Tuesday. CONFERENCE FINALS Eastern Conference Finals CHARLOTTE vs. BINGHAMTON Not yet started Game 1 – Thu May 12 7:05 PM Binghamton at Charlotte Game 2 – Fri May 13 7:05 PM Binghamton at Charlotte 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 SECOND ROUND North Division Finals HAMILTON vs. MANITOBA series tied 3 – 3
There was not much going on in this game except stellar defensive performance from both teams. Hamilton netminder Drew MacIntyre made the only mistake in the game, if you can really call it that, as center Alexandre Bolduc carried the puck in alone short-handed and scored. The lone goal carried on as the game-winner that forced a Game 7 to be played to determine the North Division winner.
Macintyre faced 34 shots in the game as his counterpart Eddie Lack stopped all 25 for the win. Both teams had six opportunities on the power play but could not convert on any. Game 1 – Thu Apr 28 7:30 PM HAMILTON 4, Manitoba 1 Game 2 – Sun May 1 4:00 PM HAMILTON 4, Manitoba 2 Game 3 – Tue May 3 7:30 PM MANITOBA 5, Hamilton 4 Game 4 – Wed May 4 7:30 PM MANITOBA 2, Hamilton 1 OT2 Game 5 – Fri May 6 7:30 PM Hamilton 5, MANITOBA 1 Game 6 – Sun May 8 7:30 PM Manitoba 1, HAMILTON 0 Game 7 – Mon May 9 7:30 PM Manitoba at Hamilton West Division Finals MILWAUKEE vs. HOUSTON series tied 3 – 3
The Milwaukee Admirals almost lost it tonight after giving up a three goal lead only to tie it late in the game and win it in overtime by the score of 5-4 to force a Game 7 at home on Tuesday against the Houston Aeros.
Milwaukee scored the first three goals of the game with two coming in the first. Defenseman Ryan Ellis scored on the power play 4:46 into the game with assists from Roman Josi and Ryan Thang. Late in the period with 1:31 left, Gabriel Bourque scored his sixth of the playoffs. Marks Santorelli and VanGuilder provided the helpers.
Josi scored the first of four total goals in the second, with this one also on the power play from Klesey Wilson and Thang at 3:24. The next four goals were all Houston. Right wing Jarod Palmer scored at 9:42. Defenseman Maxim Noreau potted his first of the playoffs just 47 seconds later. Captain Jon DiSalvatore then converted on the power play at 13:36.
Into the third, Patrick O’Sullivan gave the lead to the Aeros scoring at 9:32 into the third period. Both teams held on tight but the Admirals Chris Mueller scored the game tying goal with 4:44 left.
Milwaukee didn’t wait long as Thang got his fourth assist and Muellar with his second point on the helpers for Kelsey Wilson at the 1:01 mark. Wilson himself has a multipoint game with a goal and two assists.
Jeremy Smith got the win for the Admirals as he stopped 29 of 33 shots while Matt Hackett suffered the loss going 18 of only 23 shots.
Game 1 – Fri Apr 29 7:00 PM MILWAUKEE 3, Houston 1 Game 2 – Sun May 1 5:00 PM Houston 2, MILWAUKEE 0 Game 3 – Tue May 3 7:05 PM Milwaukee 5, HOUSTON 3 Game 4 – Thu May 5 7:05 PM HOUSTON 3, Milwaukee 2 OT Game 5 – Fri May 6 7:35 PM HOUSTON 3, Milwaukee 2 OT Game 6 – Sun May 8 5:00 PM MILWAUKEE 5, Houston 4 OT Game 7 – Tue May 10 7:00 PM Houston at Milwaukee Atlantic Division Finals PORTLAND vs. BINGHAMTON Binghamton wins series 4 – 2 to advance to Eastern Conference Finals
Game 1 – Wed Apr 27 7:00 PM Binghamton 3, PORTLAND 2 Game 2 – Thu Apr 28 7:00 PM Binghamton 5, PORTLAND 3 Game 3 – Sat Apr 30 7:05 PM Portland 3, BINGHAMTON 2 Game 4 – Mon May 2 7:05 PM BINGHAMTON 6, Portland 1 Game 5 – Tue May 3 7:05 PM Portland 6, BINGHAMTON 2 Game 6 – Fri May 6 7:00 PM Binghamton 3, PORTLAND 0 East Division Finals W-B/SCRANTON vs. CHARLOTTE Charlotte wins series 4 – 2 to advance to Eastern Conference Finals
Game 1 – Thu Apr 28 7:05 PM Charlotte 3, W-B/SCRANTON 2 Game 2 – Sat Apr 30 7:05 PM W-B/SCRANTON 3, Charlotte 0 Game 3 – Mon May 2 7:00 PM CHARLOTTE 2, W-B/Scranton 1 OT Game 4 – Wed May 4 7:00 PM CHARLOTTE 1, W-B/Scranton 0 Game 5 – Fri May 6 7:00 PM W-B/Scranton 1, CHARLOTTE 0 Game 6 – Sat May 7 7:05 PM Charlotte 4, W-B/SCRANTON 3 FIRST ROUND RECAP 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 North Division Semifinals LAKE ERIE vs. MANITOBA Manitoba wins series 4 – 3 West Division Semifinals MILWAUKEE vs. TEXAS Milwaukee wins series 4 – 2 West Division Semifinals HOUSTON vs. PEORIA Houston wins series 4 – 0 (* if necessary)
Contact the writer at matt.chin@prohockeynews.com
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