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Game Summary: April 8, 2006- RoughRiders 6 Indiana 2
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Game Summary: April 8, 2006- RoughRiders 6 Indiana 2
<DIV style="FLOAT: right"><IMG src="/content/portals/5/images/purcellt.jpg">
<CENTER>#26 Ted Purcell</CENTER><BR><IMG src="/content/portals/5/images/stalocka.jpg">
<CENTER>#32 Al Stalock</CENTER></DIV>
<P>April 8, 2006- The host Cedar Rapids RoughRiders scored four unanswered third period goals on the way to a series-clinching 6-2 win over the Indiana Ice in game 5 of the East Division semi-finals Saturday night and will now face the Des Moines Buccaneers in the division finals.</P>
<P>The Riders will open their best-of-five series against the Bucs next Tuesday night at 7:05 in Cedar Rapids. The series will shift to Des Moines for game two next Wednesday evening at 7:05. The Riders will host game three next Friday night at 7:05. If a fourth game is necessary, it will be played in Des Moines next Saturday evening at 7:35. If the series goes the distance, the Riders will be on home ice for the fifth and deciding game Tuesday night, April 18 at 7:05.</P>
<P>The Riders’ earned a berth in the second round Saturday evening thanks to a third period onslaught sparked by Ted Purcell. Purcell snapped a wrist shot home from the top of the right wing circle to snap a 2-2 tie at 7:04 of the third. Just two minutes and 22 seconds later, Ray Kaunisto buried an Ian Slater centering pass for a huge insurance goal.</P>
<P>The 4-2 Cedar Rapids lead looked far from safe after the Riders found themselves on a 5-on-3 disadvantage just past the past the twelve minute mark of the third. The Riders, however, were somehow able to survive being down two skaters against the most potent power play unit in the United States Hockey League for one minute and 27 seconds. </P>
<P>With their season on the line, the Ice pulled goaltender Steve Jakiel (42 saves) with better than two and a half minutes remaining in regulation. After a series of near misses, Chad Costello drove a rebound into the empty net with just 1:03 left after Purcell hit the goal post.</P>
<P>Evan Stephens put the exclamation point on the win when he blistered a one timer past Jakiel from the high slot just 44 seconds before the final horn.</P>
<P>Rider goaltender Al Stalock set the stage for his teammates’ third period outburst by turning in a sterling 44-save effort in the Cedar Rapids net.</P>
<P>The game was deadlocked heading into the third after Indiana’s Mike Hull scored the only goal the second period. The Ice was on the power play when Hull tipped in a Todd McIlrath shot at the 7:46 mark of the middle frame.</P>
<P>The Riders battled from behind in the first period after Garrett Roe’s breakaway goal gave Indiana a 1-0 lead 7:37 into the game.</P>
<P>Cedar Rapids was on the power play when Steven Kaunisto crashed the next to tie the score at one at 10:56 of the opening period.</P>
<P>Just over a minute later, the Riders took a 2-1 lead when Phil Axtell finished off a 2-on-1 rush by one timing a Gary Steffes centering pass into the back of the net from the slot.</P>
<P>The Riders have now advanced at least as far as the Clark Cup semi-finals/East Division finals four of the last five years. The Riders won the Clark Cup for the first time in team history last spring. The Riders are, along with the Omaha Lancers, one of just two USHL teams to have qualified for the post-season each of the last six years. </P>
<P>The Clark Cup is symbolic of supremacy in American junior hockey and is presented annually to the playoff champions of the USHL, the nation’s only Tier I junior league. </P>
<P>Tickets for Riders East Division semi-finals home games go on sale at the Cedar Rapids Ice Arena ticket office Monday at noon. Tickets can be purchased over the phone at (319) 261-4625, in person at the ice arena or on line at www.roughridershockey.com. The ticket office is open from noon to 5:00PM on weekdays and from noon through the end of the second period on game days. Playoff ticket prices range from $8 to $18 including a 50-cent facility fee. </P>
<P>Tickets for game one of the East Division finals are included in season ticket holders’ ticket books. Tickets for playoff game “D” can be used for Tuesday’s series opener. No further playoff games are included in season ticket packages. Season ticket holders can purchase seats for game three of the division finals and for any potential further Rider playoff games through the ice arena ticket office.</P>
<P><A href="http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/boxscore.html?gameid=301627" target=_blank>Box Score</A></P> |
Posted on Saturday, April 08, 2006 (Archive on Saturday, April 08, 2006)
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