Calder Cup Finals Game 5 Gameday

After 4 games in this year's Calder Cup Final, the Texas Stars & Hershey Bears have traded blows on the road so far in this year's championship series.

After a great start in this series, the Hershey Bears have been able to respond very well to the Stars winning the first 2 games. In addition to the 1st 2 games, it looked like Game 3 would look more of the same as the Stars were looking to go up 3-0. Now with Hershey and Texas tied at 2-2, the series is up for grabs as we are going to have a best-of-3 series for the League Championship.

John Carlson put the team ahead on the PP which was also his first goal of the playoffs, while Cladue Giroux scored his 13th of the playoffs to come within 1 of Jamie Benn's 14 which leads the playoffs.

If the Stars are going to win Game 5 and regain the series lead. Jamie Benn must find a way to fight off the defense that's been sworming and focusing on him in this series as he only has 2 points in the Final (Both Assists). Can Jamie Benn produce one more big game like he did so many times during the regular season with the Dallas Stars?

Also players like Aaron Gagnon and Perttu Lindgren continue will need to have big games. Jeremy Morin is looking to have another big game after assisting on both goals in the 4-2 loss for the Texas Stars in Game 4 who's looking to take the series lead tonight.

My other big player who needs a big night is Travis Morin who had 2 assists in this game which takes him to 12 for the playoffs, who's tied with Jamie Benn for the team lead for assists in the playoffs this year. He also scored the game winner in Game 2 with under a minute left in the game.

My pick is that the winner of this game will eventually win the Calder Cup as the series will shift to Hershey, Penn. for at least Game 6 on Monday Night, then if necessary, a game 7 would be played for the Championship coming up on Wednesday Night.

For the Texas Stars, this is the final home game of the season regardless of the result so the Stars are looking to end the home schedule on a high and a 3-2 lead heading back to Hershey with a shot of clinching the Cup next week.

Also the injury situation continues to be dicey for Andrew Hutchinson as he wasn't in morning skate this morning and will probably sit again tonight. Expect Trevor Ludwig to get more playing time tonight as he has been paired up with Ethan Graham back in Game 4.

Meanwhile we could have some good news for Texas as Brent Krahn maybe be able to make his first start since Game 6 of the 2nd Round against Chicago back on May 9.

I'm expecting the Texas Stars looking to comeback after losing the momentum like they had in the first 2 games and the first period of Game 3. If they can't find a way to get it back, the Bears maybe on their way to a 2nd straight Calder Cup Title.

Texas Stars Website: www.texasstarshockey.com/news/news/index.html?article_id=330

Hershey Bears Website: www.hersheybears.com/news/detail.php?bp=index.php&id=3258

Austin American Statesman: www.statesman.com/sports/pro/stars-fall-again-to-hershey-738433.html

Penn Live: http://blog.pennlive.com/patriotnewssports/2010/06/hershey_bears_looking_for_road.html

AHL Website: http://theahl.com/morning-skate-pivotal-game-5-in-texas-p142985

Jamie Benn Chat: http://theahl.com/chat-wrap-texas-jamie-benn-p142959

Karl Alnzer Chat: http://theahl.com/chat-transcript-karl-alzner-p142905

Hundred Degree Hockey: http://hundreddegreehockey.blogspot.com/2010/06/gameday-preview-stars-v-hershey-bears_11.html


Rest of the AHL Calder Cup Final to be on the NHL Network

It was announced by both the American Hockey League & NHL Network that the rest of the Calder Cup Finals will be televised on NHL Network as the league will televise the last 3 games starting tonight.

All 3 games will have a short pregame show before the game gets going. Game 5 will be only on the USA while Games 6 & 7 would be both on the USA & Canada.

Calder Cup Final on NHL Network: http://theahl.com/nhl-network-to-air-remainder-of-finals-p142993