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This is Michael Russo's 17th year covering the National Hockey League. He's covered the Minnesota Wild for the Star Tribune since 2005 following 10 years of covering the Florida Panthers for the Sun-Sentinel. Michael uses “Russo’s Rants” to feed a wide-ranging hockey-centric discussion with readers, and can be heard weekly on KFAN (100.3 FM) radio.
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Posts about Stanley Cup
First-round highlights
Posted by: Michael Russo Updated: April 27, 2012 - 1:37 PM
From the NHL:
NEW YORK (April 27, 2012) -- From opening night, when the
Philadelphia Flyers engineered a stunning three-goal comeback victory at
Pittsburgh, to the trio of overtime games on Night 2, to the thrilling
triplet of Game 7s over the past 48 hours, the first round of the 2012
Stanley Cup Playoffs featured a record 16 overtimes in 16 days, razor-thin
margins of victory, frantic comebacks, standout individual performances and
unpredictable results.
Record Overtimes
Sixteen of the 48 opening-round games (33.3%) required overtime, breaking
the mark of 15 set in 2001. In addition, three games featured go-ahead
goals in the final five minutes of regulation. Seven of the eight series
had at least one overtime game.
Three games went to overtime on the second night of competition (Thursday,
April 12), the highest single-day total since 2001. Road teams went 12-4
(.750) in the extra sessions, adding to their dominance of the first round.
It didn't take long to settle most of the 16 overtimes. The average
overtime length was just 8:17, well below the corresponding figure for the
14 OTs during the first round of the 2011 post-season (11:46).
One-Goal Games
Thirty-two of the 48 first-round games (66.7%) had one-goal margins. Teams
were either tied or separated by one goal for 82.8% of total playing time.
Momentum Swings
There were 12 games in which both clubs held the lead, more than double the
total from the corresponding period in 2011 (five).
Historic Road Dominance
Road teams finished the opening round with a 30-18 (.625) record, the
highest winning percentage since the NHL switched to the 16-team playoff
format in 1979-80.
Series Highlights
Capitals-Bruins: As Close As It Gets
For the first time in NHL history, each game in a seven-game series was
decided by one goal. The Washington Capitals and Boston Bruins played seven
one-goal games in their first-round series; including four overtime games.
No postseason series had ever had as many as six one-goal games. The
game-winning goals in six of the seven games were scored with fewer than
two minutes remaining in regulation or in overtime.
Flyers-Penguins: Goals, Goals, Goals
The Philadelphia Flyers (23) and Pittsburgh Penguins (22) combined for 45
goals through the first four games of their series, the most in League
history through the opening four contests of a best-of-seven series. The
previous record was 44, set by Edmonton (26) and Chicago (18) in the 1985
Campbell Conference Final. Of the 17 players who recorded six points or
more in the first round, 13 were Flyers or Penguins players. The Flyers
were an eye-popping 52.2% on the power-play, converting on 12 of 23
chances.
The Flyers became the first team since the 1993 Los Angeles Kings to score
eight or more goals in consecutive postseason games (Games 2 and 3), while
the Penguins scored eight unanswered goals to stave off elimination in Game
4, becoming the first team in more than 22 years to score 10 goals in a
playoff game (Los Angeles – April 10, 1990).
Philadelphia’s Claude Giroux and Sean Couturier each recorded hat tricks in
Game 2, becoming the ninth set of teammates, and first since 2006, to post
hat tricks in the same playoff game.
Giroux added three assists in Game 2 for six total points; the last time a
player had six or more points in a playoff game was May 6, 2010, when
Detroit’s Johan Franzen recorded 4-2--6 against San Jose. Giroux led all
scorers in the first round with 14 points (six goals, eight assists),
becoming the second NHL player since 1993 to score at least 14 points in a
playoff series of fewer than seven games. Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby
registered 14 points in the Penguins' six-game first-round series win
against Ottawa in 2010.
Coyotes-Blackhawks: Frantic Finishes, Milestone Victory
The Phoenix Coyotes and Chicago Blackhawks became the first teams in more
than 60 years to open their playoff series with five consecutive overtime
games. The 1951 Stanley Cup Final between the Toronto Maple Leafs and
Montreal Canadiens featured overtime in each of series' five games,
captured by Toronto 4-1.
Phoenix forward Mikkel Boedker scored the overtime winner in Games 3 and 4,
becoming the first player to do so in back-to-back playoff contests since
Colorado's Joe Sakic in 2004.
The Coyotes franchise won its first playoff series in 25 years and first
since relocating to Phoenix in 1996. Phoenix captain Shane Doan advanced to
the second round of the postseason for the first time in his 16-year NHL
career, all of which has been with the Coyotes franchise. Doan had played
1,242 career games (regular season and playoffs) before experiencing the
winning side of the traditional handshake line.
The Blackhawks became the first team in NHL history to score tying goals
with less than 15 seconds remaining in regulation in consecutive postseason
games of one series. They evened the score in Game 1 with 14.2 seconds left
in the third period and tied Game 2 with 5.5 seconds on the clock. The
Blackhawks then staged yet another late-game rescue, pulling their
goaltender and tying Game 4 of the series with 1:26 remaining -- the third
time in the series they forced overtime by scoring with the goaltender off
the ice for a sixth attacker.
Kings-Canucks: Top Seed Eliminated
The Los Angeles Kings' first-round series win over Vancouver marked the
10th time in NHL history that a No. 8 seed defeated a No. 1 seed and was
the club's first postseason series win since 2001. It also marked the first
time a No. 8 has defeated a No. 1 in five games. Los Angeles’ Dustin Brown
tied a Stanley Cup Playoff record by scoring two shorthanded goals in Game
2.
Devils-Panthers: Playoff Legend Brodeur Meets Resilient Foe
New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur, who turns 40 on May 6, became
the second goaltender in NHL history to post 100 career playoff wins in
Game 1 vs. Florida, joining Hall of Famer Patrick Roy. He bounced back from
his shortest playoff start in Game 3 by posting his 24th career postseason
shutout in Game 4, moving him past Roy into sole possession of first place
all-time. He also assisted on Steve Bernier’s third-period score, marking
the third time in Brodeur’s postseason career that he notched a shutout and
assist in the same game. Brodeur concluded the series by making 43 saves to
record his sixth career Game 7 victory, tying Roy for the most all-time.
The Panthers proved a valiant and resilient foe in defeat. They trailed
Game 3 3-0 after 6:16 at a raucous Prudential Center, but stunned the
Devils by scoring four unanswered goals for their first playoff road
victory since June 1, 1996. New Jersey hadn’t yielded a three-goal lead in
the postseason since April 10, 1988. In Game 7, the Panthers erased a
two-goal deficit in the third period to force overtime, but fell just shy
of becoming the second team in NHL history – and first since Montreal in
1979 – to win a Game 7 when trailing by two goals in the third period.
Blues-Sharks: St. Louis Goaltenders Shut The Door
The St. Louis goaltending tandem of Brian Elliott and Jaroslav Halak, who
recorded 15 shutouts in the regular season to tie a modern NHL record for
one team, combined to shut out the Sharks in Game 2, marking just the third
shared shutout in playoff history. The duo teamed to capture the William
Jennings Trophy as the goaltenders on the club allowing the fewest goals
during the regular season and stayed stingy in the opening round of the
playoffs, recording the NHL's lowest cumulative goals-against average
(1.48).
Rookie Heroics
* New Jersey Devils forward Adam Henrique became the second rookie in NHL
history – and first since Montreal’s Claude Lemieux in 1986 – to score an
overtime winner in a Game 7.
* The Washington Capitals' Braden Holtby became the third rookie netminder
to defeat the defending Stanley Cup champions in a playoff series. The
other two: Montreal's Ken Dryden (1971, also against Boston) and Calgary's
Mike Vernon (1986, against Edmonton). Holtby also is the seventh rookie
goaltender to post an overtime win in Game 7 of a playoff series and the
first since the Buffalo's Steve Shields defeated Ottawa in 1997.
* Rangers forward Chris Kreider skated in his first NHL game in Game 3 of
the first-round series vs. Ottawa and tallied the game-winning goal in Game
6 as New Yorks staved off elimination. Kreider, who signed with the Rangers
April 10 after winning his second NCAA title with Boston College April 7,
is the first player to win the NCAAs and make his NHL debut in that year’s
playoffs since Tony Hrkac in 1987 (University of North Dakota, St. Louis).
* Four Philadelphia Flyers rookies scored goals and combined for 15 points
in their first-round victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins: Brayden Schenn
(2-4--6), Sean Couturier (3-1--4), Matt Read (2-2--4) and Erik Gustafsson
(1-0--1). Philadelphia rookies were prominent in staking the Flyers to a
3-0 series lead: Schenn had a goal and two assists in Game 1, Couturier
recorded a hat trick and added an assist in Game 2 and Read potted two
goals, including the winner, in Game 3. The only player younger than
Couturier (19 years, 128 days) to record a postseason hat trick was
Toronto's Hall of Fame center Ted 'Teeder' Kennedy (19 years, 123 days).
* Nashville forward Gabriel Bourque notched the game-winning goal in the
Predators' playoff opener and was the club's leading goal-scorer (three) in
the first-round series win over Detroit. Bourque also tied for the club
lead and for third in the League overall with a +5 rating.
Stanley Cup playoff first-round matchups and schedule
Posted by: Michael Russo Updated: April 8, 2012 - 2:29 PMThe only Wild news today is Marco Scandella and Nate Prosser have been officially reassigned and will be in Houston's lineup tonight vs. Milwaukee.
2012 EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTER-FINALS
SERIES A TIME (ET) #1 NY Rangers vs. #8 Ottawa Networks
Thursday, April 12, 2012 7 p.m. Ottawa at NY Rangers NHL Network, CBC
Saturday, April 14, 2012 7 p.m. Ottawa at NY Rangers NBC Sports Network, CBC
Monday, April 16, 2012 7:30 p.m. NY Rangers at Ottawa CBC, CNBC
Wednesday, April 18, 2012 7:30 p.m. NY Rangers at Ottawa CBC, CNBC
*Saturday, April 21, 2012 7 p.m. Ottawa at NY Rangers NBC Sports Network, CBC
*Monday, April 23, 2012 TBD NY Rangers at Ottawa TBD
*Thursday, April 26, 2012 TBD Ottawa at NY Rangers TBD
SERIES B TIME (ET) #2 Boston vs. #7 Washington Networks
Thursday, April 12, 2012 7:30 p.m. Washington at Boston NBC Sports Network, CBC
Saturday, April 14, 2012 3 p.m. Washington at Boston NBC, CBC
Monday, April 16, 2012 7:30 p.m. Boston at Washington NBC Sports Network, CBC
Thursday, April 19, 2012 7:30 p.m. Boston at Washington NBC Sports Network, CBC
*Saturday, April 21, 2012 3 p.m. Washington at Boston NBC, CBC
*Sunday, April 22, 2012 TBD Boston at Washington TBD
*Wednesday, April 25, 2012 TBD Washington at Boston TBD
SERIES C TIME (ET) #3 Florida vs. #6 New Jersey Networks
Friday, April 13, 2012 7 p.m. New Jersey at Florida NHL Network, TSN
Sunday, April 15, 2012 7:30 p.m. New Jersey at Florida NBC Sports Network, TSN
Tuesday, April 17, 2012 7 p.m. Florida at New Jersey NHL Network, TSN
Thursday, April 19, 2012 7 p.m. Florida at New Jersey NHL Network, TSN
*Saturday, April 21, 2012 6:30 p.m. New Jersey at Florida NHL Network, TSN
*Tuesday, April 24, 2012 TBD Florida at New Jersey TBD
*Thursday, April 26, 2012 TBD New Jersey at Florida TBD
SERIES D TIME (ET) #4 Pittsburgh vs. #5 Philadelphia Networks
Wednesday, April 11, 2012 7:30 p.m. Philadelphia at Pittsburgh NBC Sports Network, TSN
Friday, April 13, 2012 7:30 p.m. Philadelphia at Pittsburgh NBC Sports Network, TSN
Sunday, April 15, 2012 3 p.m. Pittsburgh at Philadelphia NBC, TSN
Wednesday, April 18, 2012 7:30 p.m. Pittsburgh at Philadelphia NBC Sports Network, TSN
*Friday, April 20, 2012 7:30 p.m. Philadelphia at Pittsburgh NBC Sports Network, TSN
*Sunday, April 22, 2012 TBD Pittsburgh at Philadelphia TBD
*Tuesday, April 24, 2012 TBD Philadelphia at Pittsburgh TBD
2012 WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTER-FINALS
SERIES E TIME (ET) #1 Vancouver vs. #8 Los Angeles Networks
Wednesday, April 11, 2012 10:30 p.m. Los Angeles at Vancouver CBC, NBC Sports Network
Friday, April 13, 2012 10 p.m. Los Angeles at Vancouver CBC, NBC Sports Network
Sunday, April 15, 2012 10:30 p.m. Vancouver at Los Angeles NBC Sports Network, CBC
Wednesday, April 18, 2012 10 p.m. Vancouver at Los Angeles NBC Sports Network, CBC
*Sunday, April 22, 2012 TBD Los Angeles at Vancouver TBD
*Tuesday, April 24, 2012 TBD Vancouver at Los Angeles TBD
*Thursday, April 26, 2012 TBD Los Angeles at Vancouver TBD
SERIES F TIME (ET) #2 St. Louis vs. #7 San Jose Networks
Thursday, April 12, 2012 7:30 p.m. San Jose at St. Louis CNBC, TSN
Saturday, April 14, 2012 7:30 p.m. San Jose at St. Louis CNBC, TSN
Monday, April 16, 2012 10 p.m. St. Louis at San Jose NBC Sports Network, TSN
Thursday, April 19, 2012 10:30 p.m. St. Louis at San Jose NBC Sports Network, TSN
*Saturday, April 21, 2012 7:30 p.m. San Jose at St. Louis CNBC, TSN
*Monday, April 23, 2012 TBD St. Louis at San Jose TBD
*Wednesday, April 25, 2012 TBD San Jose at St. Louis TBD
SERIES G TIME (ET) #3 Phoenix vs. #6 Chicago Networks
Thursday, April 12, 2012 10 p.m. Chicago at Phoenix NBC Sports Network, TSN
Saturday, April 14, 2012 10 p.m. Chicago at Phoenix NBC Sports Network, TSN
Tuesday, April 17, 2012 9 p.m. Phoenix at Chicago CNBC, TSN
Thursday, April 19, 2012 8 p.m. Phoenix at Chicago CNBC, TSN
*Saturday, April 21, 2012 10 p.m. Chicago at Phoenix NBC Sports Network, TSN
*Monday, April 23, 2012 TBD Phoenix at Chicago TBD
*Wednesday, April 25, 2012 TBD Chicago at Phoenix TBD
SERIES H TIME (ET) #4 Nashville vs. #5 Detroit Networks
Wednesday, April 11, 2012 8 p.m. Detroit at Nashville CNBC, CBC
Friday, April 13, 2012 7:30 p.m. Detroit at Nashville CNBC, CBC
Sunday, April 15, 2012 Noon Nashville at Detroit NBC, CBC
Tuesday, April 17, 2012 7:30 p.m. Nashville at Detroit NBC Sports Network, CBC
*Friday, April 20, 2012 8 p.m. Detroit at Nashville CNBC, CBC
*Sunday, April 22, 2012 TBD Nashville at Detroit TBD
*Tuesday, April 24, 2012 TBD Detroit at Nashville TBD
* if necessary
TBD – To Be Determined
Stanley Cup Final schedule
Posted by: Michael Russo Updated: May 26, 2011 - 1:18 PM
2011 STANLEY CUP FINAL TO START WEDNESDAY
NEW YORK (May 26, 2011) – The National Hockey League announced today the schedule for the 2011 Stanley Cup Final between the Western Conference champion Vancouver Canucks and the eventual Eastern Conference champion. The Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning are tied 3-3 in the Eastern Conference Final. Game 7 is Friday at 7 p.m. CT (VERSUS, CBC, RDS) at TD Garden in Boston to determine which team will face the Canucks for the Stanley Cup.
Based on their superior regular-season performance, the Canucks will host Games One and Two of the Stanley Cup Final, as well as Games Five and Seven, if necessary. Games Three and Four will be hosted by the Eastern Conference champion, as well as game Six, if necessary.
NBC will telecast Games One and Two and, if necessary, Games Five through Seven of the best-of-seven series in the U.S., while VERSUS will broadcast Games Three and Four. In Canada, CBC and RDS will provide coverage for the entire series. All games also will be carried on Sirius XM Satellite Radio.
NHL Network, the League's 24-hour, all-access pass to the most comprehensive hockey coverage, will feature special programming surrounding the Stanley Cup Final. NHL.com will continue to provide extensive digital coverage.
2011 Stanley Cup Final Schedule
Game Date Time (CT) Vancouver vs. Eastern Conference Champ. Networks
Game 1 Wed., June 1 7:00 p.m. Eastern Conference Champ. at Vancouver CBC, NBC, RDS
Game 2 Sat., June 4 7:00 p.m. Eastern Conference Champ. at Vancouver CBC, NBC, RDS
Game 3 Mon., June 6 7:00 p.m. Vancouver at Eastern Conference Champ. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Game 4 Wed., June 8 7:00 p.m. Vancouver at Eastern Conference Champ. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
*Game 5 Fri., June 10 7:00 p.m. Eastern Conference Champ. at Vancouver CBC, NBC, RDS
*Game 6 Mon., June 13 7:00 p.m. Vancouver at Eastern Conference Champ. NBC, CBC, RDS
*Game 7 Wed., June 15 7:00 p.m. Eastern Conference Champ. at Vancouver CBC, NBC, RDS
"MacT" emerges as Wild coaching candidate; Aeros' OT win evens series
Posted by: Michael Russo Updated: May 5, 2011 - 11:12 PMEvening from Minneapolis.
Craig MacTavish has emerged as a strong contender for the Wild coaching job. This is just one name of what could be a number of candidates as of now, but according to multiple sources, he has been interviewed by GM Chuck Fletcher and makes a lot of sense for many reasons.
The biggest is MacTavish brings a pedigree of experience and winning, both as a player (4 Stanley Cups) and coach (took Edmonton to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2006).
I do believe we're still in the early stages of the search, but I'd be shocked if MacTavish won't ultimately become a short-list candidate. For the story on MacTavish and an update on the coaching search, click this link.
As for your Houston Aeros, huge overtime win tonight in Houston on Carson McMillan's winner. The victory, which came after the Aeros blew a 2-0 lead, evens the best-of-seven series at 2 games apiece. Game 5 is Friday night in Houston with Game 6 Sunday in Milwaukee (I-94 trek) at 5 p.m. and Game 7 Tuesday night in Milwaukee (if necessary). Colton Gillies scored his team-leading fifth goal and Patrick O'Sullivan also scored.
As for the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, how about Ryan Kesler's sensational winning goal tonight? Remember my blog going loco on how great a first round it was? As I mentioned on that blog, the second round always seems to take a step back. While the games have been good, the series deficits have been remarkable.
Dwayne Roloson, Dominic Moore, Adam Hall, Marc-Andre Bergeron and the Tampa Bay Lightning swept Washington. Boston's got a 3-0 lead on Philly, San Jose a 3-0 lead on Detroit and now Vancouver's got a 3-1 lead on Nashville.
The conference finals may have to be moved up dramatically by the league.
I just went to the IIHF web site to give you a world championships update, and look what I found:A Pavol Demitra feature!!!!
AS for the worlds, Dennis Endras and Germany takes on Mikko Koivu, Mikael Granlund and Finland on Friday, Brent Burns, Cal Clutterbuck and Canada takes on the U.S. on Friday and Martin Havlat, Marek Zidlicky and the Czech Republic takes on Marian Gaborik and Slovakia on Friday.
Burns has one goal in three games and is averaging 20 minutes, 46 seconds a game. Clutterbuck has one assist in three games and hammered Swiss defenseman Goran Bezina right out of the worlds apparently with a clean hit. Koivu has one assist in three games and is averaging 20:38. Granlund has one goal and two assists in three games and is averaging 17:25. Zidlicky has two assists in three games, is plus-3 and is averaging 25:10 a game. Havlat has one goal and two assists in three games. Endras is 1-0 in two games with a 0.96 goals against average, .965 save percentage and one shutout (won the second game in a shootout, but I guess he doesn't get the W according to the stats).
AS for the Aeros, here's the game report from Houston PR:
HOUSTON --- Carson McMillan scored 3:35 into overtime to lift the Houston Aeros to a 3-2 victory over the Milwaukee Admirals in Game 4 of the American Hockey League’s West Division Finals on Thursday night at Toyota Center. The win evened the best-of-seven series at two games apiece.
The Aeros opened up a 2-0 lead by the 9:53 mark of the first period on goals by Colton Gillies and Patrick O’Sullivan. Gillies swept home a rebound off a Jed Ortmeyer shot for his team-leading fifth playoff goal 1:58 into the game. O’Sullivan followed up on the power play at 9:53, snapping a backboards rebound past Admirals goaltender Jeremy Smith.
Milwaukee’s Andreas Thuresson answered with 5:32 left in the opening stanza to make it a 2-1 game on his third goal of the postseason. Aaron Johnson tied it for the Admirals with a power play tally at 13:12 of the middle period.
The 2-3-2 series continues with Game 5 at Toyota Center on Friday at 7:35 p.m. The series shifts back to Milwaukee with Game 6 on Sunday at 5 p.m. Game 7, if necessary, will be on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Milwaukee.
Aeros tickets are available via aeros.com, the Toyota Center Box Office, by calling 1-866-GO-AEROS and at select area Randalls locations. For groups or packages, please call 713-974-PUCK.
BOMB DROPPINGS
Nine of the 10 games this season between the Aeros and Admirals have been decided by one or two goals… The Aeros scored first for the third game in a row… The Aeros are 2-2 all-time in Game 4 situations versus Milwaukee… Houston outshot the Admirals 32-12 in regulation including margins of 14-4 in the first period, 11-5 in the second and 7-3 in the third… The Aeros are 18-10 all-time in overtime playoff games, 14-5 in Calder Cup Playoff action and have won 11-in-a-row.
AEROS STARTERS
F – DiSalvatore, O’Sullivan, Rau
D – Spurgeon, Bagnall
G - Hackett
AEROS SCRATCHES
Fraser, Penner, Lofquist, Foucault, Campbell, Fredheim, Morency, Buck, Kassian, Broda, Cuma, Daoust
NEXT GAME
West Division Finals, Game 5
Friday, May 6 (7:35 p.m.)
Toyota Center
DECIDING GOAL
McMillan (3:35, OT)
POWER PLAYS
HOU: 1/4
MIL: 1/3
GOALIES
HOU: Hackett (11/13, W)
MIL: Smith (30/33, L)
SERIES
Tied 2-2
Aeros open second round tonight in Milwaukee
Posted by: Michael Russo Updated: April 29, 2011 - 10:09 AMMorning.
The Buffalo Sabres just announced Lindy Ruff signed a multi-year contract, but the reality is that's been sitting in his desk drawer for weeks. The big coach free agent was never really a free agent. He adores owner Terry Pegula, and I've been told for awhile he just didn't want any announcements to create distractions as the Sabres tries to First) Get into the playoffs; Then) Compete in the playoffs.
So there goes that Wild fantasy. Onward.
The Houston Aeros open their second-round series against the Milwaukee Admirals, who won the West, tonight in Milwaukee. Here's a preview from the Aeros. Also, below that, are some cool first-round tidbits from the NHL.
HOUSTON AEROS (2nd seed, West Division)
at MILWAUKEE ADMIRALS (1st seed, West Division)
BEST-OF-7
BRADLEY CENTER (7:00 p.m. CST)
OVERVIEW
The Houston Aeros and Milwaukee Admirals battle in a best-of-seven series in the second round of the 2011 Calder Cup Playoffs. The series is a 2-3-2 format. Houston swept its opening round series versus the Peoria Rivermen by a 4-0 count while the Admirals edged the Texas Stars in seven games.
AEROS REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS
The Aeros finished the regular season with a 46-28-1-5 (98 pts.) record for the No. 2 spot in the West Division. The Aeros had the most wins in both the division and the Western Conference. Only two other teams finished with more wins (WBS – 58, Portland -47). Milwaukee won the West Division title for the fourth time in eight years and topped 100 points for the fifth time since 2003-04. They finished with a 44-22-6-8 record.
NHL AFFILIATES
Houston Aeros (Minnesota Wild)
Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville Predators)
SECOND ROUND PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
West Division Final – Series “L” (best-of-7)
W1-Milwaukee Admirals vs. W2-Houston Aeros
Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 29 – Houston at Milwaukee, 7:00
Game 2 – Sun., May 1 – Houston at Milwaukee, 5:00
Game 3 – Tue., May 3 – Milwaukee at Houston, 7:05
Game 4 – Thu., May 5 – Milwaukee at Houston, 7:05
*Game 5 – Fri., May 6 – Milwaukee at Houston, 7:35
*Game 6 – Sun., May 8 – Houston at Milwaukee, 5:00
*Game 7 – Tue., May 10 – Houston at Milwaukee, 7:00
REGULAR SEASON SERIES NOTES
--- The Aeros went 2-3-0-1 (2-1-0-0 at home, 0-2-0-1 on the road).
--- HOU went 5/30 on the PP while MIL went 7/26.
--- MIL won three games in regulation while wins for HOU came in extra time (one OT, one SO)
--- MIL scored five goals against the Aeros twice while HOU scored four goals once.
--- Five of the six games were decided by one goal, with the lone exception being a 5-2 win by MIL on April 1.
--- Patrick O’Sullivan led the Aeros (5-2-7) in scoring while Chris Mueller (3-4-7) led the Admirals.
--- MIL scored the first goal in four of the six games. HOU was 1-1-0-0 when scoring first.
PLAYOFF NUGGETS
--- The Aeros allowed the first goal in each of the first four games in the opening round of the 2011 Calder Cup Playoffs (versus PEO).
--- HOU outscored PEO 6-2 in the second period and 4-0 in the third.
--- Two of the four games in the first round were decided by one goal.
--- In AHL playoff action, Houston is 10-6 in Game 1 with a 3-5 record on the road.
--- Patrick O’Sullivan notched a point in each of the four games versus PEO (2-2-4).
--- Colton Gillies scored twice in Game 3 and became the 29th Aeros player to record two goals in a playoff game. No Aero has ever scored a hat trick in postseason play.
LAST GAME QUICK RECAP
Patrick O’Sullivan scored the game-winning goal and Matt Hackett made 23 saves in net as the Houston Aeros took a 2-1 victory in Game 4 and swept their best-of-seven series over the Peoria Rivermen in the American Hockey League’s West Division Semifinals at Carver Arena. O’Sullivan’s breakaway goal came just 2:42 after Houston’s Drew Bagnall knotted the game at 1-1 at the 8:22 mark of the middle period.
BROADCAST INFO
Follow the Aeros on News Talk 1070 KNTH and online at AEROS.COM with Joe O’Donnell providing the play-by-play call. Watch every game at www.ahllive.com.
AEROS GOALIES
--- Matt Hackett has a 4-0 playoff record with a 1.68 GAA and .932 SV%.
--- Hackett won a personal season-high four in a row from March 13-20.
--- Hackett went 1-1-1 against the Admirals (2-1 SOL, 3-2 OTW, 5-1 L
--- Josh Tordjman was 4-1-0 in six overall appearances during the regular season.
REGULAR SEASON OVERALL LEADERS
Jon DiSalvatore led Houston in scoring with 61 points (28-33-61) in 80 games. Matt Hackett posted team-bests in wins (23), goals against average (2.37) and save percentage (.916).
AEROS SPECIAL TEAMS
POWER PLAY --- Went 3/24 in the opening round… Ranked 6th (20.2%) in the regular season… Jon DiSalvatore led the team with 14 PPG… Finished the season with goals in six-straight to set a season-high streak (18/45)…Also had goals in six-straight from Feb. 22-Mar. 4… Had multiple PPG in 16 games and was 12-2-0-2 in those games.
PENALTY KILL --- PEO went 3/12 on the PP in the first round… Ranked 22nd (81.0%) in the regular season… Carson McMillan led the team with three SHG… Opponents were 16/46 on the PP in the final eight games of the season… Allowed at least a goal in a season-high seven straight (Mar. 22 – Apr. 2)… Held opponents to one or no PPG in 15 straight games until TOR went 2-for-5 on Jan. 23.
FIRST-ROUND FLASHBACK
WILD COMEBACKS, OVERTIMES, GAME 7 DRAMA HIGHLIGHT
EXCITING AND UNPREDICTABLE OPENING ROUND
NEW YORK (April 28, 2011) -- Fifteen days, 14 overtimes and several
dramatic comebacks and nail-biting finishes later, the 16 teams that began
the post-season quest for the Stanley Cup have been narrowed to eight. Here
are some highlights from an exciting and unpredictable Conference
Quarter-Final round:
EXCITING AND UNPREDICTABLE
* The four Game 7s were the most in the first round of the Stanley Cup
Playoffs since 1995.
* Each of the final nine days of the first round featured an overtime game,
an unprecedented streak. There were 12 OTs in that span.
* The 14 total overtimes were the most since the record 15 in 2001.
* The 49 total games matched the most ever in the first round.
* There were two Game 7 overtimes, tying the pair in 1997 as the most ever
in the first round.
* Seven of the eight series had a game decided in overtime.
* Three of the eight series ended with an overtime goal.
* Road teams posted a winning record (26-23), one victory short of the most
ever in the first round.
* Following a 2010 first round in which each of the top three seeds in the
Eastern Conference were toppled, the top three seeds in both the East and
West survived the first round for the first time since 1996.
HISTORY WAS MADE
* The Boston Bruins came back from an 0-2 series deficit to win a
best-of-seven series for the first time in franchise history. The Bruins
also became the first team in playoff history to win a seven-game series
without tallying a power-play goal (0/21).
* The Chicago Blackhawks forced a Game 7 after trailing the series 0-3 for
the first time in franchise history.
* The Detroit Red Wings reached the final eight for the 13th time in the
past 16 seasons.
* The Nashville Predators won the first playoff series in franchise
history.
* The Philadelphia Flyers became the first team since 1988 to win a playoff
series with three starting goaltenders.
* The San Jose Sharks became the fourth team in NHL history to win a
playoff game they trailed by four goals (Apr. 19 at Los Angeles).
* The Tampa Bay Lightning came back from a 1-3 series deficit to win a
best-of-seven series for the first time in franchise history.
* The Vancouver Canucks became the fourth team in NHL history and the first
since 1975 to win a playoff series after winning the first three games and
losing the next three.
* The Washington Capitals became the first team in nine years to win a
playoff game after trailing by three goals in the third period (Apr. 20 at
NY Rangers).
Not Too Small
The top three scorers in the first round were Michael Cammalleri of the
Montreal Canadiens (3-7--10 in seven games), Martin St. Louis of the Tampa
Bay Lightning (1-8--9 in seven games) and Claude Giroux of the Philadelphia
Flyers (4-4--8 in seven games). The average height and weight of this trio
is 5-9, 177 lbs.
Michael Cammalleri (Montreal): 5-9, 182
Martin St. Louis (Tampa Bay): 5-8, 176
Claude Giroux (Philadelphia): 5-11, 172
Not Too Old
41-year-old Tampa Bay goaltender Dwayne Roloson backstopped the Lightning
to their series win over Pittsburgh by posting a 1.77 goals-against average
and .945 save percentage.
43-year-old Boston right wing Mark Recchi tallied four points, including a
crucial goal in Game 7, and a +4 rating in the Bruins' seven-game series
win over Montreal.
Detroit defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom, who is celebrating his 41st birthday
today, tallied a pair of assists and a +3 rating in the Red Wings'
four-game sweep over Phoenix. Lidstrom has appeared in 251 career Stanley
Cup Playoff games, second on the all-time list behind Chris Chelios (266).
Anaheim right wing Teemu Selanne, 40, shared the League goal-scoring lead
in the first round, tallying six in the Ducks' six-game series loss to
Nashville.
Not Too Inexperienced
Boston right wing Nathan Horton entered the Bruins' showdown against
Montreal with 502 career regular-season appearances, the most among all
players making their playoff debut. Horton became only the third player in
the past decade to score two overtime goals in the same series, winning
Games 5 and 7.
Rookie Washington goaltender Michal Neuvirth, who excelled in a pair of
deep playoff runs in the American Hockey League but had no previous NHL
playoff experience, led all goaltenders in goals-against average (1.38) and
ranked second in save percentage (.946) as the Capitals eliminated the New
York Rangers in five games.
Chicago rookie goaltender Corey Crawford, whose previous Stanley Cup
Playoff experience was in a brief mop-up role two years ago, sparkled for
the Blackhawks in their seven-game series loss to Vancouver, posting a 2.21
goals-against average and .927 save percentage.
Buffalo Sabres rookie defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani, a late-season call-up
from the AHL, entered the playoffs with just 15 career NHL regular-season
appearances but led all defensemen in scoring during the first round with
seven points (one goal, six assists).
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