Anticipation surges high

again.
And not only because Bin Laden is - reportedly - finally brought down so maybe the wars in Afghanistan and elsewhere will also wear down.



Matt Hackett (AHL photos)

But also, that the Aeros will face the Admirals at home and bring home the - well not the bacon, but something more exciting - the chance to move up a notch in the Battle for the Calder Cup.As of today the pairings in the West show that
Aeros and Admirals are 1-1, Bulls and Moose 2-0.

And the 'cousins' out East:
Baby Sens 2 and Pirates 1, Baby Pens and Checkers 1-1.

And in the IIHF

Here is some news about 'short and light' Wild Prospect Mikael Granlund:

http://www.iihf.com/nc/home-of-hockey/championships/news-singleview-championchips/article/the-iceman-cometh.html

and if anyone is interested an article about an ageless (ha ageless - at 38 - double ha) Austrian Skater:

http://www.iihf.com/nc/home-of-hockey/championships/news-singleview-championchips/article/ageless-austrian-enjoys-ride.html
Results from Sunday games:
Russia - Slovenia 5-4; Canada - France 9-; Germany - Slovakia 4-3
and Switzerland - Belarus 4-1.

Latvia's Arturs Kulda suspended for only 3 games for his 'intended' check on Radek Martinek of Czech Republic, who sustained a major concussion with large hematoma and will be out indefinitely.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0acsN5A2djc&feature=player_detailpage

Today's games: Cze vs Den; USA vs Nor; Lat vs Fin
and Swe vs Aut.

Crystal Balls are busy..

as the quest for a spot in the Play Offs for Stanley, Calder, Kelly, Miron, Chynoweth, Clark Cups and other awards in the world of Ice Hockey is heating up. Just a few tit bits FYI!

WHL season has ended, their Play Offs start March 25, 2011.
CHL season will end March 27, 2011
ECHL season will end April 2, 2011
NHL Season will end April 10, 2011, Play Offs on April 13, 2011
AHL Season ends April 10/11.
11 games are scheduled on that last day of the regular season.
As of now WB/Scranton Penguins is first team clinching a spot.
If the Play Offs were to begin today:
Aeros would be facing the Texas Stars.
Admirals the Oklahoma City Barons.

Only one team in 74 years has been able to win the Calder Cup in three consecutive seasons.  The Springfield Indians, under the leadership of Hockey & AHL Hall of Famers Shore and Butterfield, did it in 1960, 1961 and 1962. Can Hershey Bears do it in 2011?

F.Y.I:
Here is a compilation (odds) of possible Stanley Cup 2011 Winners.
Just perhaps, some educated guesses by expert hockey followers!
The see-saw will continue until the season is truly over.
Anaheim Ducks 40/1
Atlanta Thrashers 50/1
Boston Bruins 20/1
Buffalo Sabres 18/1Calgary Flames 25/1
Carolina Hurricanes 50/1
Chicago Blackhawks 11/2
Colorado Avalanche 30/1
Columbus Blue Jackets 40/1
Dallas Stars 40/1
Detroit Red Wings 12/1
Edmonton Oilers 75/1
Florida Panthers 50/1
Los Angeles Kings 25/1
Minnesota Wild 40/1
Montreal Canadiens 30/1
Nashville Predators 28/1
New Jersey Devils 20/1
New York Islanders 75/1
New York Rangers 28/1
Ottawa Senators 22/1
Philadelphia Flyers 15/1
Phoenix Coyotes 25/1
Pittsburgh Penguins 6/1
San Jose Sharks 9/1
St. Louis Blues 45/1
Tampa Bay Lightning 60/1
Toronto Maple Leafs 75/1
Vancouver Canucks 15/1
Washington Capitals 13/2

Both Penguins and Sharks look favorably poised .
But all is conjecture at this stage!

And the Stars Trekking begins anew...

Photo: AHL.
Texas Stars won the second road game in Hershey.

The scorers for the Stars per AHL: Gagnon, Stafford, Beaudoin, and Morin.

Now for three games at home in Austin,
and The Calder Cup?
Hockey (Stars or not) fans will trek to Cedar Park for games 3, 4 and 5, if needed ;-)!
What an incredible inaugural season for this 3. AHL team in Texas.
And a little number scrunching for ex Aero and current Stars Mathieu Beaudoin
(y'all know he's our soft spot! And if you didn't - now, you do - LOL):
he played 41 regular season games (did not start till December)
with 11 goals/8 assists = 19 points, but really made his mark in the truncated playoffs with 20 games and 8 goals, 9 assists = 17 points.
And no, we never thought he is the 'second coming of Gretzky' :-) - just a sturdy, reliable, non-flashy, intelligent player!
For the Stars: regular season 72 games played: 44 points (19 goals, 25 assists) and in the play offs: 18 games, so far, with 4 goals, 3 assists = 7 points.

Now, if 'my other' team keeps on winning, too... my heart will runneth over ;-)! Tonight!

Spent the afternoon...

switching back and forth between
Stars vs. Bulldogs game (photo Chris Jerina)
in the race for the

Calder Cup (second oldest cup establ.1936)
ALAS: Bulldogs beat Stars 3-1.
Now Stars head back to Cedar Park for 3 games there starting Wednesday May 19, 21 and 22 and if needed 2 more at Hamilton ;-).

And Sharks vs. Blackhawks in the race for the

Stanley Cup (1893)
Nabokov in goal-photo-artandhockey

Alas, Sharks : 1 loose to Blackhawks : 2 in regulation at the "Sharktank"

(Video shows the OTHER goalie - ;-) - not Niemi) despite the pulling of Nabokov, and a last minute powerplay of 6 vs 4 due to a penalty on the Hawks.

In all, Niemi with 45 saves of 46 held the Sharks at bay. Nabokov had 38 saves of 40. Blackhawks seemed to start slow, warmed up in 2. which was the best period for the Sharks re shots on goal, but then really outskated and outshot the Sharks in the 3. Their speed was greater and their defense (say Niemi) rather effective. Byfuglien and Sharp the scorers for Hawks and Demers for the Sharks on a PP.

Today am not betting 100%.

Stars lost their 2. game vs Bulldogs.

Sharks their 1. vs Blackhawks.

Tonight it's Flyers vs. Canadiens. GO HABS for me!