Portland can advance to the Eastern Conference final with a win over Hartford in Game 6 this evening. Game time at the Cumberland County Civic Center is 7:05 p.m. ET.
A Pirates victory tonight would send them to the conference championship series against the Hershey Bears, with Game 1 set for Wednesday night in Portland. A Wolf Pack victory would send the series back to Hartford for the deciding Game 7 on Wednesday.
The Pirates grabbed the series lead with a 4-1 win in Thursday’s Game 5, with Zenon Konopka again leading the way with two goals and an assist. Konopka’s 11-game playoff scoring streak is the longest since Raffi Torres picked up a point in 11 straight postseason games for Bridgeport in 2002, and his current 23-game streak overall is the longest since Peter White’s 28-game run during the 1993-94 regular season.
Geoff Peters picked up a goal and an assist in Game 5, and Ryan Shannon added his sixth goal of the series.
Alexandre Giroux’s 10-game scoring streak came to an end for Hartford, which enters Game 6 with a 5-0 record in even-numbered series games this postseason.
Portland is 9-11 all-time with a chance to clinch a series, including 3-7 in its last 10 tries.
Three times in its history, Hartford has won Games 6 and 7 to come from behind and capture a series, accomplishing the feat against Worcester in 1998, Providence in 2000 and Manchester in the first round this spring.
Don’t miss the live video webcast of tonight’s Game 6 as B2 Networks brings all the action of the 2006 Calder Cup Playoffs to your computer. Click here for details.
Atlantic Division Final — Series "I" (best-of-7)
A1-Portland Pirates vs. A2-Hartford Wolf Pack
Game 1 – Tue., May 2 – Portland 6, HARTFORD 2
Game 2 – Thu., May 4 – HARTFORD 3, Portland 2 (OT)
Game 3 – Sat., May 6 – PORTLAND 4, Hartford 3 (OT)
Game 4 – Sun., May 7 – Hartford 4, PORTLAND 2
Game 5 – Thu., May 11 – PORTLAND 4, Hartford 1
Game 6 – Sun., May 14 – at Portland, 7:05
*Game 7 – Wed., May 17 – at Hartford, 7:00
East Division Final — Series "J" (best-of-7)
E1-Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. E2-Hershey Bears
Game 1 – Thu., May 4 – Hershey 5, WILKES-BARRE 4
Game 2 – Sat., May 6 – Hershey 5, WILKES-BARRE 0
Game 3 – Sun., May 7 – HERSHEY 4, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 1
Game 4 – Tue., May 9 – HERSHEY 1, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 0
North Division Final — Series "K" (best-of-7)
N1-Grand Rapids Griffins vs. N3-Manitoba Moose
Game 1 – Fri., May 5 – Manitoba 3, GRAND RAPIDS 1
Game 2 – Sat., May 6 – GRAND RAPIDS 3, Manitoba 2
Game 3 – Tue., May 9 – Grand Rapids 5, MANITOBA 4 (OT)
Game 4 – Thu., May 11 – MANITOBA 5, Grand Rapids 1
Game 5 – Sat., May 13 – Grand Rapids 3, MANITOBA 2
Game 6 – Mon., May 15 – at Grand Rapids, 7:00
*Game 7 – Tue., May 16 – at Grand Rapids, 7:00
West Division Final — Series "L" (best-of-7)
W1-Milwaukee Admirals vs. W2-Houston Aeros
Game 1 – Thu., May 4 – MILWAUKEE 5, Houston 4
Game 2 – Sat., May 6 – MILWAUKEE 7, Houston 0
Game 3 – Sun., May 7 – Milwaukee 7, HOUSTON 4
Game 4 – Tue., May 9 – Milwaukee 4, HOUSTON 2
Complete Calder Cup Playoff schedules and results
All times Eastern… *if necessary
