It's on to the next round for the top-seeded Indiana Ice, who meet up with the third-seeded Dubuque Fighting Saints in the USHL Eastern Conference Final. Both teams won their opening-round best-of-5 series in four games -- the Ice beating fourth-seeded Green Bay behind three shutouts from goaltenders Hayden Stewart and Jason Pawloski, and the Fighting Saints upending second-seeded Cedar Rapids.
The schedule is as follows -- as has been the norm, stacked with weekend games (all times EDT):
Friday, April 25: at Pan Am Pavilion, Indianapolis, 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, April 26: at Pan Am Pavilion, Indianapolis, 7:05 p.m.
Friday, May 2: at Mystique Ice Center, Dubuque, 8:35 p.m.
Saturday, May 3: at Mystique Ice Center, Dubuque, 8:05 p.m. (if necessary)
Tuesday, May 6: at Pan Am Pavilion, Indianapolis, 7:05 p.m. (if necessary)
Series preview follows after the jump.
Showing posts with label USHL Playoffs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USHL Playoffs. Show all posts
Monday, April 21, 2014
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Ice shut out way to series win
Stop us if you've read this before. Denis Smirnov scored a first-period goal, Matt Roy assisted on it, Jason Pawloski and the Indiana Ice defense made it stand up, and the Ice won 1-0 in Green Bay.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Dubuque wins Clark Cup
After the Fargo Force came close as an expansion team against the Ice two years ago, an expansion team has won the Clark Cup, as the Dubuque Fighting Saints beat the Green Bay Gamblers 3 games to 1 to clinch the championship.
Dubuque scored four goals in the third period to win 6-1 against a Green Bay team that had been airtight defensively throughout the first three rounds of the postseason and during the regular season.
Congrats to the Fighting Saints and the Clark Cup champs.
Dubuque Fighting Saints website
Dubuque scored four goals in the third period to win 6-1 against a Green Bay team that had been airtight defensively throughout the first three rounds of the postseason and during the regular season.
Congrats to the Fighting Saints and the Clark Cup champs.
Dubuque Fighting Saints website
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Fighting Saints take Game 3 in OT, on cusp of Cup
The Dubuque Fighting Saints came into the Clark Cup Finals as underdogs, but their Game 3 win on Friday night puts them in position to win the championship tonight.
Tony Larson and Joakim Ryan scored twice within 29 seconds to give the Saints a 3-1 lead, and they would go on to win 4-2.
Dubuque leads the best-of-5 series 2 games to 1.
Game 4 of the series is tonight at 8 p.m. Indianapolis time.
USHL.com game story
Boxscore
Tony Larson and Joakim Ryan scored twice within 29 seconds to give the Saints a 3-1 lead, and they would go on to win 4-2.
Dubuque leads the best-of-5 series 2 games to 1.
Game 4 of the series is tonight at 8 p.m. Indianapolis time.
USHL.com game story
Boxscore
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Gamblers take Game 1
Green Bay took the opening game of the USHL's Clark Cup Finals by beating Dubuque 3-0 Friday. Ryan McKay had the shutout in goal for the Gamblers. Game 2 is Saturday night.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Clark Cup Finals to begin Friday
Green Bay -- the defending Clark Cup champion -- and expansion club Dubuque will open the Clark Cup Finals on Friday in Green Bay's Resch Center.
Green Bay swept the Ice in three games in the division semifinal, then ousted Anderson Cup champion Cedar Rapids in four games in the division final. Dubuque won the West Division in the regular season, and recently defeated Sioux Falls in four games to advance.
The first four games will take place on successive weekends. Games 1 & 2 will be this Friday and Saturday, May 13-14 in Green Bay. Games 3 & 4 will be the following weekend, May 20-21, in Dubuque. A potential Game 5 would return to Green Bay on Tuesday, May 24. The series is a best-of-5.
Green Bay won the title in 2010, rallying from a 2-0 deficit to beat Fargo in five games. The Ice defeated Fargo in four games to win the Clark Cup in 2009.
Green Bay swept the Ice in three games in the division semifinal, then ousted Anderson Cup champion Cedar Rapids in four games in the division final. Dubuque won the West Division in the regular season, and recently defeated Sioux Falls in four games to advance.
The first four games will take place on successive weekends. Games 1 & 2 will be this Friday and Saturday, May 13-14 in Green Bay. Games 3 & 4 will be the following weekend, May 20-21, in Dubuque. A potential Game 5 would return to Green Bay on Tuesday, May 24. The series is a best-of-5.
Green Bay won the title in 2010, rallying from a 2-0 deficit to beat Fargo in five games. The Ice defeated Fargo in four games to win the Clark Cup in 2009.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
USHL conference finals: Game 2
The USHL's Eastern Conference final between Cedar Rapids and Green Bay is headed to the Resch Center tied at 1-1.
Cedar Rapids won Game 2 by a 2-1 score, with Sam Warning's power play goal with 3:05 left in the second period standing up. Brady Hjelle made 19 saves to outduel Green Bay's Ryan McKay in a goaltending matchup of the USHL's top two netminders.
In the West, the expansion Dubuque Fighting Saints hold a 2-0 lead in their series over Sioux Falls, winning 2-1 in Game 2 on Saturday night in Dubuque. SF scored first midway through the second, but John Gaudreau -- the USHL's second-leading goal scorer behind the Ice's Daniil Tarasov -- tied it up by the end of the period, and added what would become the game-winner with 4:10 left.
Game 3 in each best-of-5 series will be Friday night, with the Game 4s scheduled for Sunday, May 8.
Cedar Rapids won Game 2 by a 2-1 score, with Sam Warning's power play goal with 3:05 left in the second period standing up. Brady Hjelle made 19 saves to outduel Green Bay's Ryan McKay in a goaltending matchup of the USHL's top two netminders.
In the West, the expansion Dubuque Fighting Saints hold a 2-0 lead in their series over Sioux Falls, winning 2-1 in Game 2 on Saturday night in Dubuque. SF scored first midway through the second, but John Gaudreau -- the USHL's second-leading goal scorer behind the Ice's Daniil Tarasov -- tied it up by the end of the period, and added what would become the game-winner with 4:10 left.
Game 3 in each best-of-5 series will be Friday night, with the Game 4s scheduled for Sunday, May 8.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
USHL Conference Finals: Game 1
Green Bay and Dubuque won the opening games of their conference final series.
Green Bay -- the team that eliminated the Ice last week -- posted a 3-2 victory over Cedar Rapids behind Nolan LaPorte's two first-period goals. Dubuque beat Sioux Falls 5-2 in the Western Division final game, with Vinny Saponari scoring twice, including the game-winner in the second period.
Game 2 in each series is tonight in Cedar Rapids and Sioux Falls before shifting to the lower-seeded venue for Games 3 and 4 next weekend.
Green Bay -- the team that eliminated the Ice last week -- posted a 3-2 victory over Cedar Rapids behind Nolan LaPorte's two first-period goals. Dubuque beat Sioux Falls 5-2 in the Western Division final game, with Vinny Saponari scoring twice, including the game-winner in the second period.
Game 2 in each series is tonight in Cedar Rapids and Sioux Falls before shifting to the lower-seeded venue for Games 3 and 4 next weekend.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Game 2: Two third-period goals down Ice
The Ice's second-round series against Green Bay has been one of the irresistable force vs. the immovable object-- the USHL's highest-scoring offense against its most airtight defense.
So far, it's been the immovable object's series.
Despite Peter Schneider putting the Ice ahead with a goal 2:44 into the game Friday night, Green Bay used two goals in the final 10 minutes to hand the Ice a 3-1 defeat and take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-5 series as it shifts to the Pepsi Coliseum tonight.
David Goodwin scored the tiebreaking goal with 9:24 left, and defenseman Aaron Harstad netted the game-winner on a power play with 3:33 showing on the clock to ice it.
Much of the game saw a 1-1 score, as Green Bay's Andrew Welinski tied the game up at 6:09 of the first. The Ice outshot the Gamblers 9-3 in the second period, but Green Bay goaltender Ryan McKay stood firm, posting his second straight game with only one goal allowed. McKay turned aside 20 of the Ice's 21 shots. McKay was the USHL's top goaltender during the season. Jon Gillies earned his first playoff start for the Ice and made 28 saves.
As as been the case every time the Ice and Gamblers have met, Green Bay's offense has come from throughout its lines. Goodwin, who scored the game-winner, tallied just nine goals during the regular season. Harstad scored seven and Welinski six. Eight different Gamblers registered a point, with Markus Lauridsen posting two assists.
David Johnstone and Ryan Obuchowski assisted on Schneider's goal.
The Ice were 0-for-3 on the power play. Green Bay was 1-for-6.
The Ice are in a do-or-die situation now. Game 3 is at the Pepsi Coliseum tonight, with Game 4 (if necessary) Monday in Indianapolis. However, it's not the first time the Ice have faced such a predicament. Last year, they dropped two games in Cedar Rapids, and then rallied to win the last three to win the series in five games, taking the final game in overtime.
Three stars
1. David Goodwin (GB), game-winning goal
2. Ryan McKay (GB), 20 saves, 1 GA, win in net
3. Aaron Harstad (GB), third-period goal
Game boxscore
IndianaIce.com coverage
Green Bay Press-Gazette coverage
All four USHL series sit 2-0
Last night, in the East, top-seeded Cedar Rapids thumped Muskegon 6-1 -- the Riders have a 10-2 edge in goals in that series.
In the West, top-seeded Dubuque posted its second straight 2-1 victory over Fargo to take a 2-0 lead in their series. Third-seeded Sioux Falls beat second-seeded Omaha 4-3 and now has a 2-0 lead and a chance to clinch tonight. All four series are on the same schedule -- Game 3 is tonight and Game 4, if necessary, is Monday.
So far, it's been the immovable object's series.
Despite Peter Schneider putting the Ice ahead with a goal 2:44 into the game Friday night, Green Bay used two goals in the final 10 minutes to hand the Ice a 3-1 defeat and take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-5 series as it shifts to the Pepsi Coliseum tonight.
David Goodwin scored the tiebreaking goal with 9:24 left, and defenseman Aaron Harstad netted the game-winner on a power play with 3:33 showing on the clock to ice it.
Much of the game saw a 1-1 score, as Green Bay's Andrew Welinski tied the game up at 6:09 of the first. The Ice outshot the Gamblers 9-3 in the second period, but Green Bay goaltender Ryan McKay stood firm, posting his second straight game with only one goal allowed. McKay turned aside 20 of the Ice's 21 shots. McKay was the USHL's top goaltender during the season. Jon Gillies earned his first playoff start for the Ice and made 28 saves.
As as been the case every time the Ice and Gamblers have met, Green Bay's offense has come from throughout its lines. Goodwin, who scored the game-winner, tallied just nine goals during the regular season. Harstad scored seven and Welinski six. Eight different Gamblers registered a point, with Markus Lauridsen posting two assists.
David Johnstone and Ryan Obuchowski assisted on Schneider's goal.
The Ice were 0-for-3 on the power play. Green Bay was 1-for-6.
The Ice are in a do-or-die situation now. Game 3 is at the Pepsi Coliseum tonight, with Game 4 (if necessary) Monday in Indianapolis. However, it's not the first time the Ice have faced such a predicament. Last year, they dropped two games in Cedar Rapids, and then rallied to win the last three to win the series in five games, taking the final game in overtime.
Three stars
1. David Goodwin (GB), game-winning goal
2. Ryan McKay (GB), 20 saves, 1 GA, win in net
3. Aaron Harstad (GB), third-period goal
Game boxscore
IndianaIce.com coverage
Green Bay Press-Gazette coverage
All four USHL series sit 2-0
Last night, in the East, top-seeded Cedar Rapids thumped Muskegon 6-1 -- the Riders have a 10-2 edge in goals in that series.
In the West, top-seeded Dubuque posted its second straight 2-1 victory over Fargo to take a 2-0 lead in their series. Third-seeded Sioux Falls beat second-seeded Omaha 4-3 and now has a 2-0 lead and a chance to clinch tonight. All four series are on the same schedule -- Game 3 is tonight and Game 4, if necessary, is Monday.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Game 1: Gamblers 5, Ice 1
The Ice fell behind quickly and dropped Game 1 of the Eastern Division Semifinal series to Green Bay by a 5-1 score.
Game 2 is Friday night at the Resch Center at 8:05 p.m.. The series heads to Indiana Saturday night for Game 3, and if necessary, Monday for Game 4. Both games will be at 7:05 p.m.
While the game pitted the USHL's most potent offense against its stingiest defense, Green Bay was the team providing the offensive fireworks early, showing no rust after a 10-day layoff. It took just 5:09 for the Gamblers to build a two-goal lead. Sam Herr scored at 2:58, and then Austin Czarnik added an unassisted goal just 2:11 later.
Daniil Tarasov had a quick tally for the Ice on assists from Brian Ferlin and Nick Mattson just 45 seconds after Czarnik's goal, but that would be the Ice's offensive output. Green Bay's William Kessel pushed the lead back to two goals at 13:34 of the first. Czarnik opened the second period with a shorthanded goal just 34 seconds in, and Andrew Welinski's goal at 18:18 of the second chased Ice starter Casey DeSmith.
Czarnik was a 20-goal scorer during the season, and was one of GB's top goal scorers.
At 5-1, the Ice had a tough road to hoe. Green Bay's defense suffocated the Ice in the third period, allowing goaltender Ryan McKay to see only two shots on goal in the period and 16 for the game.
Green Bay dominated the shots, building a 44-16 advantage for the game. It started early, as the Gamblers held a 19-6 shot advantage in the first period.
The silver lining? This is the third straight year the Ice and Gamblers have met in the postseason. In each of the last two, the team that won Game 1 lost the series in four games. The Ice hope that trend holds again.
Three stars
1. Austin Czarnik (GB), 2 goals (including SHG), GWG, 5 shots, +3
2. Sam Herr (GB), goal, 6 shots, +2
3. Ryan McKay (GB), 15 saves, 1 GA, win in net
In the east's other series, Anderson Cup champ Cedar Rapids beat Muskegon 4-1.
In the west, top-seeded Dubuque beat Fargo 2-1 on a power-play goal in OT. Sioux Falls won on the road at Omaha 5-2 to take a 1-0 lead in their series.
Game 2 is Friday night at the Resch Center at 8:05 p.m.. The series heads to Indiana Saturday night for Game 3, and if necessary, Monday for Game 4. Both games will be at 7:05 p.m.
While the game pitted the USHL's most potent offense against its stingiest defense, Green Bay was the team providing the offensive fireworks early, showing no rust after a 10-day layoff. It took just 5:09 for the Gamblers to build a two-goal lead. Sam Herr scored at 2:58, and then Austin Czarnik added an unassisted goal just 2:11 later.
Daniil Tarasov had a quick tally for the Ice on assists from Brian Ferlin and Nick Mattson just 45 seconds after Czarnik's goal, but that would be the Ice's offensive output. Green Bay's William Kessel pushed the lead back to two goals at 13:34 of the first. Czarnik opened the second period with a shorthanded goal just 34 seconds in, and Andrew Welinski's goal at 18:18 of the second chased Ice starter Casey DeSmith.
Czarnik was a 20-goal scorer during the season, and was one of GB's top goal scorers.
At 5-1, the Ice had a tough road to hoe. Green Bay's defense suffocated the Ice in the third period, allowing goaltender Ryan McKay to see only two shots on goal in the period and 16 for the game.
Green Bay dominated the shots, building a 44-16 advantage for the game. It started early, as the Gamblers held a 19-6 shot advantage in the first period.
The silver lining? This is the third straight year the Ice and Gamblers have met in the postseason. In each of the last two, the team that won Game 1 lost the series in four games. The Ice hope that trend holds again.
Three stars
1. Austin Czarnik (GB), 2 goals (including SHG), GWG, 5 shots, +3
2. Sam Herr (GB), goal, 6 shots, +2
3. Ryan McKay (GB), 15 saves, 1 GA, win in net
In the east's other series, Anderson Cup champ Cedar Rapids beat Muskegon 4-1.
In the west, top-seeded Dubuque beat Fargo 2-1 on a power-play goal in OT. Sioux Falls won on the road at Omaha 5-2 to take a 1-0 lead in their series.
Follow tonight's Game 1
Listen live (Green Bay audio): mms://208.67.186.169/indiana
Watch live (subscription required): America One Network
Twitter: www.twitter.com/indianaice
Watch live (subscription required): America One Network
Twitter: www.twitter.com/indianaice
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Ice vs. Green Bay preview
USHL East Division Semifinal
(3E) Indiana Ice (37-19-4, 3rd USHL East)
vs.
(2E) Green Bay Gamblers (41-15-4, 2nd USHL East)
Series schedule (best-of-5)
Wednesday, April 20: at Green Bay, 8:05 p.m.
Friday, April 22: at Green Bay, 8:05 p.m.
Saturday, April 23: at Pepsi Coliseum, 7:05 p.m.
Monday, April 25: at Pepsi Coliseum, 7:05 p.m.*
Wednesday, April 27: at Green Bay, 8:05 p.m.*
Playoff history
2010: Green Bay 3, Ice 1, division final (Green Bay went on to win Clark Cup)
2009: Ice 3, Green Bay 1, division final (Indiana went on to win Clark Cup)
2007: Ice 4, Green Bay 0, 1st round (Indiana went on to USHL final four, lost to Sioux Falls).
Head to head (Gamblers 3, Ice 1).
Oct. 15: Green Bay 4, Ice 2 (at Pepsi Coliseum). GB: Four different goal scorers, William Kessel 2A, Ryan McKay 38sv. Ice: Christian Hilbrich, Daniil Tarasov goals, Casey DeSmith 35 saves.
Dec. 8: Ice 2, Green Bay 1 (at Pepsi Coliseum). Ice: Alex Wideman, Brian Ferlin goals. Casey DeSmith 33 saves. GB: Adam Wilcox 38 saves.
Feb. 24: Green Bay 5, Ice 1 (at Resch Center). GB: Robert Francis, Ludwig Karlsson G/A each. 5 different goal scorers. Ryan McKay 29 saves. Ice: Cody Bradley goal, Casey DeSmith 26 saves.
March 5: Green Bay 3, Ice 1 (at Resch Center). GB: David Goodwin, Andrew Welinski, William Kessel goals. Ryan McKay 21 saves. Ice: Dan Cesarz goal, Jon Gillies 28 saves.
Goals: Ice 2-4-0 -- 6; GB 3-3-6 -- 12
Shots: Ice 38-51-43 -- 132 (avg. 33); GB 36-46-53 -- 135 (avg. 33.75)
Power Play: Ice 1-13 (7.6%), GB 2-15 (13.3%)
Top scorers H2H
Ice: Daniil Tarasov G, A; Sean Kuraly 2A. Alex Wideman, Christian Hilbrich, Dan Cesarz, Brian Ferlin, Cody Bradley goals.
Green Bay: William Kessel 2G/3A, +4, Austin Czarnik G, 3A, +3, Andrew Welinski 3G (scored 6 in regular season), Robert Francis G/2A, Jean-Paul LaFontaine 3A, Ludwig Karlsson 2G. Aaron Harstad, David Goodwin, Nolan LaPorte goals.
Goaltenders H2H
Ice: Casey DeSmith 1-2-0, 3.01, 91.2sv%; Jon Gillies 0-1-0, 3.00, 90.3sv%
Green Bay: Ryan McKay 3-0-0, 1.33, 95.7sv%; Adam Wilcox 0-1-0, 2.00, 95.0sv%
Tale of the Tape
Ice
GF: 237 (1st) / GA: 166 (6th)
PP: 21.7% (1st) / PK: 85.8% (7th) / PIM: 897 (4th)
Home record: 19-9-2 /Road: 18-10-2
Last 5: 2-3-0 Last 10: 7-3-0 (regular season)
Leading scorers: Blake Coleman (34-58*-92*), Daniil Tarasov (37*-38-75), Brian Ferlin (25-48-73)
Leading goaltender: Casey DeSmith (22-13-2, 2.54), Jon Gillies (15-6-2, 2.82)
Leading +/-: Blake Coleman (+52)*
Leading PIM: Will Aide (142)
Gamblers
GF: 189 (6th) / GA: 131 (1st)
PP: 17.1% (8th) / PK: 92.6% (1st) / PIM: 790 (2nd)
Home record: 24-4-2/Road: 17-11-2
Last 5: 3-2-0 Last 10: 4-5-1
Leading scorers: William Kessel (21-36-57), Jean-Paul LaFontaine (15-33-48), Robert Francis (14-31-45), William Lynch (20-24-44), Austin Czarnik (20-14-34).
Leading goaltender: Ryan McKay (25-9-3, 2.00*), Adam Wilcox (16-6-1, 2.20)
Leading +/-: Aaron Harstad (+17)
Leading PIM: Matt Stewart (84).
It's the last two Clark Cup champions meeting each other in the postseason for the third straight year. The Ice, Green Bay and Cedar Rapids have been the top three teams in the USHL East for the third straight year. By finishing second in the division, Green Bay received a bye, so the Gamblers haven't played in a week and a half. Game 1 might be telling, as the Ice are coming in having played on Thursday and Friday last week, beating Waterloo in two games by a combined score of 10-3. The Daniil Tarasov (1-4-5)-Blake Coleman (2-2-4)-Brian Ferlin (2-1-3) line combined for 5 goals and 12 total points. The trio comprised the USHL's top three scorers during the regular season. Dan Cesarz and David Johnstone scored two goals each for the Ice during the series, too. During the regular season, the Ice had three 30-goal scorers (Tarasov, Coleman, Alex Wideman) and two more 20-goal scorers (Ferlin, Johnstone). Casey DeSmith posted a 1.50 GAA in net, posting a shutout in Game 1.
This series matches the USHL's top offensive team -- an Ice squad that totaled 3.95 goals per game -- against the league's stingiest defensive team. Green Bay allowed just a shade over 2 goals per game. While the Ice have the league's top three scorers, Green Bay's Ryan McKay was the league's top goaltender in terms of GAA. Backup Adam Wilcox was third in GAA. Green Bay won three of the four regular season games, and defensively, the Gamblers held the Ice's top scorers. Coleman managed 0-1-1, Ferlin 1-0-1 and Tarasov 1-1-2 in the four regular-season games. Wideman had a goal. Johnstone didn't register a point in those four games. This matchup also features the league's strongest power play against a Green Bay team that has put up an amazing penalty kill percentage. If the Ice can solve McKay and put some goals on the board, they'll win, but it's instructive that the one win they had in the regular season was a 2-1 victory. Expect this to be a tight-checking, low-scoring series. The winner will face either Muskegon or Cedar Rapids in the Eastern Conference finals. Cedar Rapids, the Anderson Cup champion as the regular season champ, is the prohibitive favorite in that series.
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