Ice release: Clark Cup Final preview

 The official weekly release from the Indiana Ice previewing the Clark Cup Final.

Schedule (all times EDT)
Friday, May 9: at Waterloo, 8:05 p.m.
Saturday, May 10: at Waterloo, 8:05 p.m.
Friday, May 16: at Pan Am Pavilion, 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, May 17: at Pan Am Pavilion, 7:05 p.m.*
Tuesday, May 20: at Waterloo, 8:05 p.m.*
*-if necessary

GAMES WILL BE AIRED ON FASTHOCKEY.COM.

 BROOMBALL:  A new king will be crowned this season as the Indiana Ice swept the defending champion Dubuque Fighting Saints 3-0 in Friday’s 3-2 win at the Mystique Community Ice Center.  Dubuque’s Seamus Malone gave the host Saints a 1-0 lead in the first period on the power play, but Scott Conway and Alex Talcott turned the tides in the second period with a pair of goals just under three minutes.  Joe Sullivan finished off the Ice end of the scoresheet with his first postseason goal, which proved to be the game-winner.  Jason Pawloski continued his impressive playoff run with 22 saves on 24 shots for his fifth consecutive win in net.

SERIES HISTORY:  Both Indy and Waterloo will be making a bid for their second Clark Cup Championship as the teams faceoff in Friday’s game one at Young Arena.  The Black Hawks first hoisted the cup ten years ago as they topped the Tri-City Storm 3-1 in the best of five series in 2004.  Indy would do so five years later as the Ice topped the Fargo Force 3-1 in the 2009 Clark Cup Playoffs.

YIN AND YANG:  The USHL’s top offense squares off against the league’s top defense as Waterloo leads all postseason squads in goals per game (4.86) and shots per game (41.14) while Indy leads the playoffs in shots against (21.71) and goals against (1.57) per game.

“PILLOWS:” HARD AS A ROCK:  Jason Pawloski continues his impressive postseason streak as the Minnesota State-Mankato logged his fifth consecutive playoff win with Friday’s 3-2 series-clinching victory over Dubuque.  Pawloski tops all postseason goaltenders in several key categories including GAA (1.13), save percentage (.947) and shutouts (2).  His six wins currently sits second among playoff netminders, only trailing Waterloo netminder Cal Peterson.

PLAYER PEEPS:  Scott Conway is riding a three-game point streak and has four points (2G, 2A) in the stretch…Matt Roy has three assists in his past five games and is third among playoff defensemen in points (5)…Sam Kurker has two goals in his past two games…Denis Smirnov (2G, A) and Austin Kosack (3A) are riding three-game point streaks.

TEAM TYKES:  Indy has outshot opponents 74-45 in the first period…The Ice is 4-1 when outshooting opponents in the postseason…Indy is the least penalized team in the playoffs (8.14 PIMS per game)…The Ice is a perfect 4-0 when scoring first in the postseason…Indy is second in the playoffs in goals allowed (9).

PLAYOFFS ABROAD:  NHL: Torey Krug leads all Boston Bruins and NHL rookie defensemen with seven points (2G, 5A) as Boston (#1 seed-Eastern) and is tied with the Montreal Canadiens (#3 seed-Eastern) in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.  AHL:  The Grand Rapids Griffins, under former Ice coach Jeff Blashill, advanced to the second round of the Calder Cup finals.