We start the Calder Cup Preview here at Chirps from Center Ice in the Western Conference. Tomorrow we break down the Eastern Conference.
A full schedule of dates and times of all games can be found here.
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Hamilton Bulldogs
Record: 44-27-2-7 97 pts., 1st place North Division
Power Play: 14th // 18.7%
Penalty Kill: 12th // 83%
Top 3 Scorers: Nigel Dawes* (66 GP, 41-31-72, +15), Aaron Palushaj (68 GP, 22-35-57, +22), David Desharnais** (35 GP, 10-35-45, +14)
Overview: Despite losing David Desharnais, Max Pacioretty and Ben Maxwell to recall to parent Montreal, the Bulldogs still managed to win the North Division and home ice throughout the first two rounds of the playoffs.
First Round Matchup: Oklahoma City (West Division Crossover)
Record against the Barons: 1-0-1-0
Head to Head: October 24: OKC 3 @ HAM 2 (OT) — December 17: HAM 3 @ OKC 0
Odds to win the Calder Cup: 14:1
*- Dawes played 47 games for the Chicago Wolves and went 27-17-44 and +2
** – Desharnais not on active roster
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Houston Aeros
Record: 46-28-1-5 98 pts., 2nd place West Division
Power Play: 6th // 20.2%
Penalty Kill: 22nd // 81%
Top 3 scorers: Jon DiSalvatore (80 GP, 28-33-61, -7), Robbie Earl (69 GP 24-31-55, +13), Maxim Noreau (76 GP, 10-44-54, -5)
Overview: First year head coach Mike Yeo has the Aeros back in the playoffs this year. Houston seemed to struggle with Division winner Milwaukee but other than that had good success this year.
First Round Matchup: Peoria Rivermen
Record against the Rivermen: 2-3-1-0
Head to Head: October 16: PEO 3 @ HOU 2 – October 22: PEO 1 @ HOU 0 (OT) – November 13: HOU 0 @ PEO 3 – November 14: HOU 5 @ PEO 2 – February 11 HOU 4 @ PEO 3 (SO) – PEO 3 @ HOU 1
Odds to win the Calder Cup: 12:1
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Lake Erie Monsters
Record: 44-28-3-5 96 pts., 2nd place North Division
Power Play: 23rd // 15.8%
Penalty Kill: 5th // 84.9 %
Top 3 Scorers: Ben Walter (77 GP, 23-47-70, +26), Julian Talbot (77 GP, 13-32-45, +6), Matthew Ford (76 GP, 26-16-42, +1)
Overview: Lake Erie’s first Calder Cup Playoff appearance. The Monsters were backstopped by league veteran Jason Bacashihua who played 42 games for the Monsters and posted a 23-16-3 record with a 2.29 GAA and a 0.917 SV%
First Round Matchup: Manitoba Moose
Record against the Moose: 2-2
Head to Head: October 29: MTB 6 @ LE 3 – October 31: MTB 0 @ LE 2 – February 18: LE 5 @ MTB 1 – February 19: LE 2 @ MTB 4
Odds to win the Calder Cup: 16:1
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Manitoba Moose
Record: 43-30-1-6 93 pts., 3rd place North Divison
Power Play: 26th // 14.7%
Penalty Kill: 2nd // 85.6%
Top 3 Scorers: Sergei Shirokov (76 GP, 22-36-58, +7), Bill Sweatt (80 GP, 19-27-46, -9), Mark Flood (63 GP, 11-29-40, Even)
Overview: The Moose made the playoffs but disappointed a few people in not taking the North Division or the Western Conference in whole. Rookie Goaltender Eddie Lack went 28-21-4 with a 2.26 GAA and a 0.926 SV%.
First Round Matchup: Lake Erie Monsters
Record against the Monsters: 2-2
Head to Head: October 29: MTB 6 @ LE 3 – October 31: MTB 0 @ LE 2 – February 18: LE 5 @ MTB 1 – February 19: LE 2 @ MTB 4
Odds to win the Calder Cup: 30:1
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Milwaukee Admirals
Record: 44-22-6-8 102 pts., 1st place West Division
Power Play: 7th // 19.7%
Penalty Kill: 25th // 80.6%
Top 3 Scorers: Chris Mueller (67 GP, 24-26-50, +7), Linus Klasen (47 GP, 22-23-45, +6), Ryan Thang (78 GP, 14-27-41, +17)
Overview: Milwaukee won the West by 4 points over the Houston Aeros but it really wasn’t close all year as the Admirals won the season series versus the Aeros 4-0-1-1
First Round Matchup: Texas Stars
Record against the Stars: 1-3-1-1
Head to Head: November 20: MIL @ TEX 2 – November 26: MIL 1 @ TEX 0 – December 11: TEX 3 @ MIL 2 (OT) – January 22: MIL 1 @ TEX 2 (SO) – February 20: TEX 2 @ MIL 1 – April 8: TEX 3 @ MIL 2
Odds to win the Calder Cup: 8:1
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Oklahoma City Barons
Record: 40-29-2-9 91 pts., 5th place West Division (West’s Crossover team)
Power Play: 15th // 18.7%
Penalty Kill: 13th // 82.5%
Top 3 scorers: Alexandre Giroux (70 GP, 32-46-78, +1), Brad Moran (79 GP, 20-52-72, +1), Colin McDonald (80 GP, 42-16-58, -2)
Overview: Expansion team Oklahoma City makes the playoffs in its first year. Alexandre Giroux shuttled between parent Edmonton and Oklahoma City all year. Edmonton missed the playoffs so the Barons got back five players from the NHL on Sunday.
First Round Matchup: Hamilton Bulldogs
Record against the Bulldogs: 1-1
Head to Head: October 24: OKC 3 @ HAM 2 (OT) — December 17: HAM 3 @ OKC 0
Odds to win the Calder Cup: 40:1
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Peoria Rivermen
Record: 42-30-3-5 92 pts., 3rd place North Division
Power Play: 8th // 19.5%
Penalty Kill: 6th // 84.8%
Top 3 scorers: T.J. Hensick (59 GP, 21-48-69, +8), Graham Mink (70 GP, 24-26-50, -12), Nicholas Drazenovic (75 GP, 23-23-46, +1)
Overview: In a tight race in the West Division, the Rivermen managed to finish third guided by veterans Graham Mink and Dean Arsene, both former Calder Cup winners with the Hershey Bears.
First Round Matchup: Houston Aeros
Record against the Aeros: 4-1-0-1
Head to Head: October 16: PEO 3 @ HOU 2 – October 22: PEO 1 @ HOU 0 (OT) – November 13: HOU 0 @ PEO 3 – November 14: HOU 5 @ PEO 2 – February 11 HOU 4 @ PEO 3 (SO) – PEO 3 @ HOU 1
Odds to win the Calder Cup: 15:1
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Texas Stars
Record: 41-29-4-6 92 pts., 4th place West Division
Power Play: 20th // 17.1%
Penalty Kill: 23rd // 80.9%
Top 3 scorers: Greg Rallo (78 GP, 26-28-54), Travis Morin (64 GP, 21-24-45, +9), Colton Sceviour (77 GP, 16-25-41, +4)
Overview: The defending Western Conference Champions are back in the playoffs the second year in franchise history. Much of the core which lost to the Hershey Bears in 6 games return for another chance at the Calder Cup.
First Round Matchup: Milwaukee Admirals
Record against the Admirals: 5-1
Head to Head: November 20: MIL @ TEX 2 – November 26: MIL 1 @ TEX 0 – December 11: TEX 3 @ MIL 2 (OT) – January 22: MIL 1 @ TEX 2 (SO) – February 20: TEX 2 @ MIL 1 – April 8: TEX 3 @ MIL 2
Odds to win the Calder Cup: 20:1
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Eastern Conference Calder Cup Preview will be up tomorrow! Check it out!
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