PAPILLION, NEBRASKA – The USHL has moved on to their Division finals this week as the Green Bay Gamblers will hold home ice advantage over the Indiana Ice in the East, while in the West, the Lincoln Stars will be the top seed as they will match up with the Fargo Force in the best-of-five series. The divisional winners will meet in the Clark Cup Finals with the highest seed holding home ice in the best-of-five series. Green Bay and Fargo made easy work of their first round opponents by dispersing them in three games for the series sweep. The Lincoln Stars made easy work of Sioux Falls in the first round, beating them in four games and averaged less than two goals per game. Indiana had the only exciting series for both franchises going an exciting five games against a gritty Cedar Rapids team that had all of the makings of a potential champion. Today we preview both of the upcoming series beginning with the West Division. #1 Lincoln vs #3 Fargo In the West Division, the top seeded Lincoln Stars will have home ice advantage in the best-of-five series against the third seeded Fargo Force. Both teams should be well rested after making easy work of their first round opponents. The Force swept Omaha in three games to fly through the first round while Lincoln needed just four games to send Sioux Falls to the lake as the Stars dominated the series with very tight goaltending. The Lincoln Stars have been as dominating in the post season as they were during the regular season, a well built team who excels in all avenues on the ice, the Stars have continued to play very well. With the goaltending tandem of Kevin Murdock and Anthony Borelli who have a combined 1.98 goals against average, the Stars have had somewhat easy work thus far in the post-season. With Fargo only averaging 3.18 goals per game, the Force will need to put more shots on net and win the battles in front of the crease if they are to beat the Stars. Lincoln has not been a pushover against Fargo by winning the season series 6-1-0. The Fargo Force will have their work cut out for them in the coming days. With Lincoln holding home ice advantage, the Force are going to have to do something they have not managed to do all season: Win at the IceBox. Fargo has fared only a little better at home against Lincoln winning one game this season and losing two. The Stars have kept a stranglehold on Fargo all season allowing a goal differential of plus 12 in Lincoln’s favor. The Force already have one upset this season over a superior team. Fargo swept Omaha who also held home ice advantage in three straight games. Don’t expect Fargo to lie down for the Stars who will look to continue their dominance in the state of Nebraska. Game 1: Wednesday, April 22nd, 7:05 PM – Fargo at Lincoln Game 2: Friday, April 24th, 7:05 PM – Fargo at Lincoln Game 3: Saturday, April 25th, 7:05 PM – Lincoln at Fargo Game 4: Monday, April 27th, 7:05 PM – Lincoln at Fargo* Game 5: Wednesday, April 29th, 7:05 PM – Fargo at Lincoln* * if necessary #1 Green Bay verse #3 Indiana At the end of the regular season, the Green Bay Gamblers and the Indiana Ice held the league lead for wins with 39. The two teams match up very well against one another with each holding comparable statistics in six separate columns. The Ice have the top power play unit while Green Bay is ranked second. Green Bay led the league with 23 home wins while Indiana had 22. Green Bay has 81 third period goals this season, first in the USHL, while Indiana was third with 74. The Green Bay Gamblers were able to take the regular season series between the two teams convincingly. The Gamblers won five games against the Ice winning two at home and three on the road. Green Bay’s dominance extended beyond the won-loss column outscoring Indiana 14-5 during the season series. In a series that matches up the two highest scoring playoff teams, Green Bay holds the advantage with a half-goal per game edge over the second ranked Ice. Indiana had a very respectable season during the 2008-09 campaign, however, there can be one notation made. The Ice did not fare well against Green Bay in going 2-5-0 this season against their division rivals. The Gamblers have held an honest lead on Indiana all season having a four percent great power play percentage, as well as a four percent greater penalty kill head-to-head against the Ice. Indiana has a great deal to prove in the second round. They have managed to find themselves in the shadow of the Gamblers all season. The Ice will endeavor to win this “Dairy Land Series” over Green Bay. Game 1: Thursday, April 23rd, 7:05 PM – Indiana at Green Bay Game 2: Saturday, April 25th, 7:05 PM – Indiana at Green Bay Game 3: Monday, April 27th, 7:05 PM – Green Bay at Indiana Game 4: Tuesday, April 28th, 7:05 PM – Green Bay at Indiana* Game 5: Thursday, April 30th, 7:05 PM – Indiana at Green Bay* * if necessary You may contact the author at: john.strathman@prohockeynews.com
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