The Texas Stars defeated the Grand Rapid Griffins in three game and the Abbotsford Canucks knocked off the defending Western Conference champion Coachella Valley Firebirds in four games.
The Stars are the first team to advance to the Central Division Finals on the back of six points each from Cameron Hughes and 2025 AHL Rookie of the Year Justin Hryckowian in three games, including an overtime winner in the second overtime of game three from Hughes.
Texas goaltender Remi Poirier stopped 64 of 70 shots against before Magnus Hellberg came in in relief in the third period of game three and stopped all 18 shots against.
Dallas’ AHL affiliate will take on the winner of Milwaukee and Rockford in the next round.
The Canucks eliminated the back-to-back defending Western Conference champion Coachella Valley Firebirds in four games after Arturs Silovs made 29 saves and secure a 2-0 game four victory.
Abbotsford were led by Silovs, who has a 5-1 record, two shutouts, and a .935 SP in seven playoff appearances.
Veterans Sammy Blais and Phil Di Giuseppe lead the Canucks in scoring with eight and seven points respectively. Kirill Kudryavtsev and Akito Hirose have been essential to Abbotsford’s solid defensive play and will need to keep it up in the next round.
Vancouver’s AHL affiliate will take on the Colorado Eagles in the next round, with the series set to begin Friday May 16.
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