Avalanche Farm Report: April 26

Heading into Tuesday night’s Game 7, the Lake Erie Monsters and Manitoba Moose are tied, 3-3, in their North Division Semifinal series. Game 1: Lake Erie 6, Manitoba  4 Boxscore I Recap I Video Highlights Game 2: Manitoba 3, Lake Erie 2 (OT) Boxscore I Recap I Video Highlights Game 3: Lake Erie 2, Manitoba 1 Boxscore I Recap I Video Highlights Game 4: Lake Erie 6, Manitoba 3 Boxscore I Recap I Video Highlights Game 5: Manitoba 2, Lake Erie 0 Boxscore I Recap I Video Highlights Game 6: Manitoba 3, Lake Erie 1 Boxscore I Recap I Video Highlights Game 7: Tue, Apr. 26 - 7:00 p.m. @ Lake Erie

Lake Erie Monsters
The Monsters are currently tied with the Manitoba Moose, 3-3, in their North Division Semifinal series, with the decisive Game 7 slated for Tuesday night at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.

The two clubs were tied at a game apiece in the series heading into this past week.

Lake Erie won Game 3 last Tuesday (2-1) and Game 4 on Thursday (6-3) in Manitoba to jump out to a 3-1 series lead. David van der Gulik and Ben Walter scored for the Monsters during Game 3 and John Grahame turned in a stellar 39-save performance in the victory. In Game 4 it was Justin Mercier who led the way offensively with a three-point effort (2g/1a) while Walter and Mark Olver chipped in with a goal and an assist apiece. Grahame made 36 saves to pick up his second playoff victory of the season.

With their backs against the wall, the Moose won Game 5 in Manitoba and Game 6 in Cleveland to even the series.

Manitoba blanked Lake Erie on Friday, 2-0, in Game 5. Jason Bacashihua got the starting nod in goal for the Monsters and turned away 29 of the 30 shots he faced.

The Moose then topped the Monsters by a 3-1 count in Game 6 Monday night (Julian Talbot scored for Lake Erie and Grahame made 17 stops), setting up a pivotal Game 7 on Tuesday.

Tulsa Oilers
Tulsa saw its most successful playoff run in 17 years come to an end this weekend, as the Oilers fell in their Berry Conference Semifinal series to Bossier-Shreveport, three games to two.

With the series tied at 1-1 heading into this past week, Tulsa picked up a 3-2 win on Tuesday to take a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-five semifinals. However, the Oilers dropped Game 4 by a 3-2 count on Friday and Game 5 by a 5-4 score on Saturday.

Avalanche prospect Trevor Cann came on in relief of starting goaltender Ian Keserich during Game 5 and stopped 10 of the 11 shots he faced during the third period, but was saddled with a loss. Cann appeared in seven postseason games for the Oilers, posting a 4-3 record with a 2.89 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage.

WHL
-Troy Rutkowski and the Portland Winterhawks find themselves tied, 1-1, in their Western Conference Final series with the Spokane Chiefs after splitting a pair of games in Portland.

Spokane jumped out to a 1-0 lead after taking the opener by a 2-1 count on Friday night. Rutkowski was held without a point, but posted a +1 plus/minus rating.

Portland flipped the tables during Game 2 and earned a 2-1 victory of their own. Rutkowski was again held off the score sheet, but he continues to rank second among team defensemen in scoring with seven points (2g/5a) in 12 postseason games.

Game 3 of the series is set for Wednesday night in Spokane.

OHL
-Joey Hishon and the Owen Sound Attack currently have a 3-1 series lead over the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL Western Conference Finals.

Hishon scored twice – once short-handed and once on the power play – in an 8-1 Owen Sound victory last Tuesday in Game 1 of the series. After being held without a point Thursday night in Game 2 (a 4-2 Windsor win), Hishon recorded a pair of assists on Saturday as the Attack won Game 3 by a 6-4 count. Hishon then assisted on all three Owen Sound goals as the Attack earned a 3-2 win on Monday night to take a 3-1 series lead.

The center has seven points (2g/5a) through the first four games of the series and owns 14 points (3g/11a) in 14 contests overall this postseason. Owen Sound will look to close out the series with a win in Game 5 on Wednesday night.