The Anchorage Wolverines

[onlybygrace]

Re: The Anchorage Wolverines

Prucha Carries Wolves To Victory; Wolves Take Charge Of Series

Petr Prucha signs autographs for fans after a tremendous performance in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals.

By Stephen Holley
Anchorage Daily News

The Anchorage Wolverines are for real.

After falling down 2-0 in their series with the top-seeded Calgary Flames, the Wolves have reeled off three straight wins to put themselves on the brink of winning themselves a birth into the Conference Finals.

Tonights affair got off to a tight start, with the Flames outshooting the Wolves 6-5 although it would be the Wolverines who would strike first when Scott Gomez would bang home a loose puck in the crease while Miikka Kiprusoff was down after a previous save.

"I just saw the puck and was lucky to beat everyone else to it", said Gomez who has struggled to get it going offensively this postseason.

The Flames would battle back tying the score at 1-1 in the 2nd period when Rene Bourque would tally, despite the Wolves holding a 9-7 shot advantage in the frame.

Then Peter Prucha would take over.

In the third period with the score tied 1-1, Petr Prucha would bang home a rebound on the PP, giving the Wolverines the smell of blood. Prucha would make no mistake about it as he would score once more in the period, giving the Wolves a 3-1 lead as they outshot Calgary 12-4 in the 3rd.

"I feel awesome right now. We are so happy after how the series started to be in the position we are in", said Prucha of his late game heroics.

Prucha leads the Wolverines in playoff scoring notching 4 goals and 6 assists in 9 post season games.

With the Wolves heading back to Anchorage, where they typically win, it seems the Flames may be finished.

Stay Tuned.

3 AKW (3)
1 CAL (1)

Shots
AKW 26
CAL 17

PP
AKW 1/2
CAL 0/1

Other Scores

2 San Jose
3 Vancouver
Van leads series 3-2

2 Buffalo
6 Rangers
Rags lead series 3-2

4 Pittsburgh
3 Philly
Pens lead series 3-2

[onlybygrace]

Re: The Anchorage Wolverines

Iginla and Co. Push Series To A Game Seven

Jarome Iginla led his squad into the tough confines of the Exxon Center in Anchorage, where the Wolverines feast on NHL competition. He put up 4 points in tonights blowout victory over the Wolves.

By Stephen Holley
Anchorage Daily News

As the Wolves took a 3-2 series lead into their own building, where they forged the NHL's best home record, many were shocked at the results of tonights contest.

Instead of the Wolverines earning a birth into the Western Conference Finals, they would be forced to go back to Calgary for a Game Seven as the Flames would paste the Wolves by a 5-1 count.

The Flames would start to kindle quickly, mounting a 2-0 lead in the 1st despite being outshot 8-7. Bourque (5th) would score again just before Kiprusoff would unleash a flurry of amazing saves on a Wolverines PP that ended with Jarome Iginla (4th) scoring a shorthanded goal to push the Flames up by two.

The 2nd period wouldn't be much different. The two teams would manage just 12 shots (6-6) as the Flames would still score twice, getting markers from Iginla (5th) and Moss (7th) after which the Wolves would pull Labarbera after allowing 4 goals on just 11 shots.

Pollock (2nd) would score toward the end of the 2nd, pulling the Wolves to within three but the Flames wouldn't budge, holding onto the lead and tying the series at three games apiece as the series shifts back to Alberta for what should be an epic Game Seven.

Get ready Anchorage, your Wolverines will lace up for their first Game Seven in franchise history in less than 48 hours.

Lets. Go. Wolves.

5 CAL (3)
1 AKW (3)
Series Tied 3-3

Shots
CAL 18
AKW 20

PP
CAL 1/2
AKW 0/4

Other Scores

3 San Jose
2 Vancouver
Series Tied 3-3

4 Buffalo
5 New York
Rangers Win Series 4-2

3 Pittsburgh
4 Philladelphia
Series Tied 3-3

[GoldenJet]

Re: The Anchorage Wolverines

Lets go Anchorage and Pittsburgh.

[Axeshun]

Re: The Anchorage Wolverines

* Go Prucha! Go Prucha! Go Prucha! LOL

Sounds like he may have a bad case of a clutch'isitis, haha. Doesn't it feel so rewarding when the game is tight like that and then you just come out of nowhere and put it away? I love that.

* A 5-1 beatdown in game six? Yikes! That is going to be one hell of a task to try and come back from a loss like that, but I have faith in the Wolves! Let's go guys! Get it together! It's crunchtime!

[bthomp05]

Re: The Anchorage Wolverines

Ouch, 5 to 1. Thats got to be painful. Now get your **** together and take them down in game 7. Go Wolverines Go.

[onlybygrace]

Re: The Anchorage Wolverines

Redemption: Foppa Clutch In Game Seven

Peter Forsberg, who suffered much critism this season, came up large for the Wolves in Game Seven against the Flames.

By Stephen Holley
Anchorage Daily News

The energy in the building for Game Seven between the Wolverines and the Flames was much the same as it is for any Game Seven...

dynamic and explosive.

As the Flames took the ice the Calgary Faithful rocked the building with intense fervor and electricity.

However, when the puck dropped, it was all Wolves. Anchorage came out on top after the 1st, leading 1-0 after a narrow 8-7 shot advantage over the Flames. Scott Upshall recorded his 2nd goal of the post season in the frame.

The decisive moments of the game would occur in the 2nd period, where the Wolverines would outshoot the Flames 12-4 while Peter Forsberg would score two goals in two minutes.

The strikes did a lot to erase some negative energy which had followed Peter the Great at times over the 2009-2010 season, despite the winger topping the 30 goal and 60 point plateau's.

"Of course its wonderful...but its about team right now. Thats why we are playing so well on the road...we play for the guy next to us...we play for Alaska", said the inspiring Swede.

The Flames would push hard in the 3rd, outshooting the Wolves 17-4, but Jason Labarbera would not budge finishing the night with 29 saves on 30 Calgary shots.

The season in the eyes of many seems a success, but it is in the eyes of the Wolverines just one more step on their journey to Glory.

Just ask Forsberg, he knows.

4 AKW (4)
1 CAL (3)

Shots
AKW 24
CAL 30

PP
AKW 1/7
CAL 0/3

*Scott Gomez left the game with what looked to be a knee injury. He would not return.

Other Scores

The Vancouver Canucks won thier Game Seven by a final of 3-0 over the San Jose Sharks. The Wolverines are relieved to see the rival Sharks eliminated despite the fact that many fans think it would have been the best series.

The Vancouver Canucks will play the Anchorage Wolverines, the closest NHL team to Anchorage.

The reigning Stanley Cup Penguins won their Game Seven in the Battle of Pennsylvania by a 2-0 count. The Pens will take on the Rangers in the Eastern Conference Finals.

[takeshi1191]

Re: The Anchorage Wolverines

Wow! Forsberg has been so inconsistent and suddenly he scores two in game seven! Awsome! Your dynasty is one of the besy I've ever read! Go for the Cup!

[onlybygrace]

Re: The Anchorage Wolverines

* Go Prucha! Go Prucha! Go Prucha! LOL

Sounds like he may have a bad case of a clutch'isitis, haha. Doesn't it feel so rewarding when the game is tight like that and then you just come out of nowhere and put it away? I love that.

* A 5-1 beatdown in game six? Yikes! That is going to be one hell of a task to try and come back from a loss like that, but I have faith in the Wolves! Let's go guys! Get it together! It's crunchtime!

Yeah Prucha has been a good contributor all season, happy to see him come up big. And yes...it does feel satisfying to battle it out...and then outta nowhere seal the deal with a couple quick strikes.

I swear this game has momentum built in as the arena goes quiet and the home team just loses heart!!!

Ouch, 5 to 1. Thats got to be painful. Now get your **** together and take them down in game 7. Go Wolverines Go.

LOL...thanks for the push man.

Wow! Forsberg has been so inconsistent and suddenly he scores two in game seven! Awsome! Your dynasty is one of the besy I've ever read! Go for the Cup!

It's funning how that one little performance really does a lot for me wanting to keep him around next year. lol Its not over yet, but he has been really productive of the third line lately. Not a bad third line center either...Peter Forsberg.

Thats probably my teams biggest strength...great centers.

And thanks for the compliments.

[bthomp05]

Re: The Anchorage Wolverines

What a game 7 and on the road no less. I know this wasn't the stanley cup final but man you should be proud. Forsy 2 goals, what a story book ending to a great series.

Now the question is, after 420 minutes of play do the Wolverines have enough left in the tank to take on the Twins and Lou?. I hope so.

[psymin1]

Re: The Anchorage Wolverines

Awesome, awesome win. I am really pulling for you man. We are entering the conference finals now, correct? Good luck, and Go Wolverines!

[GoldenJet]

Re: The Anchorage Wolverines

Good luck against the Canucks OBG, I know you can do it.

[Axeshun]

Re: The Anchorage Wolverines

Good luck in the Conference finals, if I don't manage to pull something out of my *** against Pittsburgh, the Wolverines are our only hope! Lmao.

[Bure10Beezer34]

Re: The Anchorage Wolverines

Nice job OBG! What an exciting series! I'm not sure I've ever gone to a game seven but that has got to be one of the coolest feelings ever to come out on top! It's nice that the Wolverines don't have to travel to far but Luongo is a stud and will be hard to beat. Gonna need that grit and determination that your team plays with for sure!

[onlybygrace]

Re: The Anchorage Wolverines

Gomez Injured; Might Miss Remainder Of Playoffs


Scott Gomez suffered a 'lower body injury' in the 2nd period of Anchorages Game Seven win against the Flames. The Wolverines, despite Gomez's slow post season production, will miss the wingers speed and puck retrieval while playing the point on the power play. Gomez has just 2 goals and 3 assists in 11 playoff games this season.

Turning It Around On The Road

Perhaps the Wolverines biggest challenge throughout the regular season was winning games with any regularity on the road. The Wolves, going back into the last week of the regular season have won 5 of their last 7 road games. A turn around that many see as putting the Wolverines over the top as far as Cup contention is concerned.

Will it continue??? Games One and Two against the Canucks should tell.

[onlybygrace]

Re: The Anchorage Wolverines

The Battle Of the Great Northwest

Jason Labarbera leads the Wolverines into the Western Conference Finals with a league leading GAA of 1.81 and a save percentage of .927.

By Stephen Holley
Anchorage Daily News

Its safe to say that the collective mass of Alaska is having a difficult time sleeping with all the excitement the Anchorage Wolverines have brought this spring.

The Wolverines, after a 93 point season, have marched in convincing fashion right into the Western Conference Finals where they will face the Vancouver Canucks...the closest NHL team to the Wolverines in the Great Northwest.

The Wolverines, having won 5 of their last 7 games on the road, come into the series as the favorites over the Canucks as they have won 8 of their 11 post season games after sweeping the Blue Jackets and handling the Flames in seven.

Vancouver comes into the Western Conference Finals with an 8-5 post season record having just defeated the Wolverines most hated rivals, the San Jose Sharks.

Many fans would have picked the Sharks to duke it out with the Wolves, but considering the dominance the Sharks had over Anchorage this season, its safe to say the Wolves got the more favorable matchup in the Canucks.

Wolverines Offensive Leaders
G---A---Pts (11 Games)
4----7----11-Prucha
6----4----10-Malkin
1----6-----7--Jovanovski
5----2-----7--Forsberg
2----5-----7--Pollock
4----3-----7--Doan
2----4-----6--Lombardi
2----4-----6--Upshall

The Wolves offense has not been as potent this post season. The charge has been led by Petr Prucha with 11 points in 11 games.

Rocket Richard Winner Evgeni Malkin's goal production has dropped from .68 goals per game to .55 goals per game while he has also averaged less than a point per game after reached 95 in 82 regular season games.

The Wolves will be without forward Scott Gomez who despite his low production, is one of the fastest Wolverines skaters and will be missed on the PK and PP, where he mans the point.

Canucks Offense (13 Games)
G----A----Pts
6-----5-----11--Sundin
1----10----11--Sedin
3-----7-----10--Demitra
2-----7------9--Salo
2-----4------6--Bieksa
3-----3------6--Raymond

Vancouver has the 3rd best PP in the post season at 24.1% while Mats Sundin has led the offensive attack with 11 points along with Daniel Sedin.

The Canucks are a fast team who can explode up the middle of the ice and beat tired d-men to rebounds. The Wolves will need to contain this fast group of forwards.

Team Playoff Stat Comparison
(6) AKW vs. CAL (4)
8-3 Rec. 8-5
2.64 (6th) GPG (12th) 2.46
1.91 (1st) GAA (3rd) 2.31
21.7% (6th) PP (3rd) 24.1%
83.9% (7th) PK (3rd) 86.2%

Players To Watch

Coming into the series Anchorage goaltender Jason Labarbera, who's earned the nickname "The Barber" here in Anchorage, leads the NHL with a GAA of just 1.81 and is second in save percentage to only Roberto Luongo of Vancouver.

Who outshines the other will probably determine the Western Conference's Stanley Cup Finals representative.

Keys To Victory

*Anchorage needs to slow down the speedy Canuck forwards. Mason Raymond is fast as all get out and will need to be contained.

*Get traffic in front of Luongo. Like Kiprusoff, Luongo will stop just about everything he sees.

*Keep up Road Success. The Wolverines, while winning on the road, are probably the favorited team heading into the Conference Finals.