(5g 8a) returned to the lineup for the first time since March 29 and was in the right spot
in front of the crease to scoop up a loosie which he put into the net. That was at 9:10 of the first, the Swarm were up 4-0
and looking to run away, but the Shamrox came fast from the outside. It started when Scott Self got the ball in their defensive
zone and looped a nice pass to Thomas Montour on the break. Montour caught it as it flew over his shoulder and waltzed in to
score. Mat Giles and Jason Clark added a goal each before the end of the quarter and the Swarm only had an one goal lead at 4-3.
Chicago continued to run in the second quarter. Brad Self, back from playing hockey in Germany, tied it 3:01 of the second.
Bill McGlone gave the Shamrox the lead with a controversial Air Gait goal. Replays showed he stepped in the crease and also made
contact with Swarm goaltender Nick Patterson (9-4 12.06 GAA .766 Save%) both of which are illegal,
but even with Patterson and the Swarm pleading their case, the goal stood. After B. Self scored again, Jason Clark put the
Shamrox up 7-4 at 13:36 which caused the Swarm to switch goaltenders as Patterson was pulled and replaced by
Kevin Croswell (0-2 11.26 GAA .789 Save %). It was almost 8-4 at half but Kevin Ross's was called
for a crease violation just before the whistle blew.
Chad Culp (22g 29a) broke the Swarm's drought as he drove the net to cut the lead to 7-5. After Cody
Jacobs put the Shamrox back up three, Sean Pollock (22g 33a) quickly answered with shot a laser
from top center. The Shamrox though countered with Ross coming off the bench and catching and shooting in stride to put the
Shamrox up 9-6. The Swarm got the last goal of the quarter on a 3 on 2 breakaway started by Ian Rubel
(0g 2a) who stole a pass and passed it up to Jon Sullivan (3g 6a) who put it through Roik's five
hole. Tensions finally erupted late in the third when Ward went hard to the net but ran into Roik. The Shamrox retailated and the
Swarm jumped in with the highlight being Travis Hill (3g 10a) taking down Mike Kirk up against the
boards. AFter all that mess, Hill and Kirk were serving five minute majors, Ward and Eric Pacey
(2g 8a) were also in the box for the Swarm as was the Shamrox's Drew Candy.
After Thomas Montour was called for a illegal cross check a minute into the last quarter, Marohl scored on the power play to
cut the Shamrox lead to one at 9-8. The Shamrox answered with a power play goal of their own when B. Self scored on a shot to the
left of Croswell. Cromwell got his second goal of the night after he came off the bench to complement a Swarm breakaway. As usual
on this night, the Shamrox had the answer and Jacobs got the game winner as he dumped in a goal as he crossed the crease. B. Self
got the last goal for the Shamrox on an empty netter with 28 seconds left. Achenbach cut the eventual final score to two at 12-10
with eight seconds left on a breakaway.
Cromwell led the Swarm with two goals and an assist. Eight other Swarm players got a goal and Ward, Marohl and Secore each had
three points. Patterson started the game and made 14 saves on 21 shots before being pulled for the Swarm's MVP of the night,
Croswell, who made 21 saves on 25 shots and gave the Swarm a chance to comeback and win. Croswell rose to the challenge on Friday
night but the offense was giving Roik many easy shots to snatch up. Brad Self led the Shamrox with four goals and an assist and
Swarm killer Cody Jacobs got two goals and three assists. The Swarm put 63 shots on goal against Matt Roik but Roik came up the
winner on 53 of them.
A win tonight in Chicago, will give the Swarm a home playoff game. If that happens and Portland beats Buffalo, the
Swarm will miracously win the East and have home field throughout after San Jose beat Colorado for the West title earlier today.
If the Swarm have a home playoff game next weekend, it was announced at the game that it will be on Saturday, May 3 at 7:00 pm
Central.
Game Statistics
Box Score
Minnesota Swarm Game Center
Minnesota Swarm (9-6) 10
Chicago Shamrox (6-9) 12