CHICAGO, Ill. – There was only one game played on Monday as the Houston Aeros took a commanding lead in their semifinal series three games to none against Peoria with a 5-3 victory. The Aeros have a chance to sweep the Rivermen right back at Carver Arena in Peoria as the league see a full slate of games on Tuesday when every playoff team is playing.
FIRST ROUND
Atlantic Division Semifinals
PORTLAND vs. CONNECTICUT
Portland leads series 2 – 1
Pirate left wing Derek Whitmore ties with the Whales John Mitchell as the leading scorers in the series with three points on two goals each. Whitmore was the star in the second game of the series notching the tying goal in the third and eventually scoring the game-winner in the overtime frame. Mitchell has scored a goal in each of the last two games including a power play notch in their last game win.
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 Portland at Connecticut
Game 5 – Thu Apr 21 7:00 PM Connecticut at Portland
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 2 – 1
This is a very tight matchup where each game was decided by one goal with the last two being decided in overtime. Manchester forwards Bud Holloway and Justin Azevedo lead the series in scoring with five points apiece. Holloway in the last game got the hattrick with the overtime winner at 1:43 into the final frame.
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 at Binghamton
Game 5 – Wed Apr 20 7:05 PM Manchester at Binghamton
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
Norfolk leads series 2 – 0
Norfolk netminder Dustin Tokarski is so far the top goaltender in the playoffs with two wins, allowing only one goal in two games with a .983 save percentage. The Admirals are making waves as they are leading the league’s regular season champions two games to none in the East Division Semifinals.
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 at Norfolk
Game 4 – Wed Apr 20 7:15 PM W-B/Scranton at Norfolk
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 1 – 1
Charlotte rookie Zac Delpe is second in scoring in the 2011 AHL Playoffs at five points with three coming off goals. The Checkers center had a goal and two assists in the first game win of the series but had 2 goals in a losing cause in the second game.
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 at Charlotte
Game 4 – Wed Apr 20 7:00 PM Hershey at Charlotte
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
Hamilton leads series 2 – 0
Two players who were with the Chicago Wolves earlier in the season are making waves with the Hamilton Bulldogs. Left wing Nigel Dawes has two goals and an assist in the first two playoff games, while his netminder Drew MacIntyre is 2-0 stopping 62 shots and only allowing three to get past him.
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 Hamilton at Oklahoma City
Game 4 – Wed Apr 20 7:05 PM Hamilton at Oklahoma City
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
series tied 1 – 1
This is the first appearance in the Calder Cup Playoff for the Lake Erie Monsters while the Manitoba Moose are making their seventh straight. Lake Erie was one of the hottest teams in the second half of the season as they finished one point behind Hamilton for the North Division lead.
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 at Manitoba
Game 4 – Thu Apr 21 7:30 PM Lake Erie at Manitoba
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 1 – 1
The Milwaukee Admirals were the top team in the west finishing at 102 points for the season. Admirals rookie left wing Gabriel Bourque leads all scorers in the playoffs with six points in two games.
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 Milwaukee at Texas
Game 4 – Wed Apr 20 7:30 PM Milwaukee at Texas
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 leads series 3 – 0
With the only game on Monday’s schedule, the Houston Aeros took it to the Peoria Rivermen with a 503 victory. They can sweep the Rivermen out with a win on Tuesday in Peoria. The game started hard as Peoria came out quick as right wing Akim Aliu scored 19 seconds into the game. T.J. Hensick added to the lead to give his team a 2-0 lead after the second.
But then the Aeros came out hard themselves on the power play in the second frame with center Casey Wellman scoring 49 seconds in. Hensick got that one back with his second goal of the game on the man-advantage at the 3:41 mark.
And that was all she wrote as Houston scored for unanswered goals to complete the comeback. Forwards Jon DiSalvatore and Chad Rau scored the two goals that tied the game. Left wing Colton Gilles scored the game-winner along with the insurance goal to give rookie goaltender Matt Hackett his third win of the playoffs.
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 at Peoria
Game 5 – Wed Apr 20 7:05 PM * Houston at Peoria
Game 6 – Fri Apr 22 7:35 PM * Peoria at Houston
Game 7 – Sun Apr 24 4:05 PM * Peoria at Houston
(* if necessary)
Contact the author at matt.chin@prohockeynews.com
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