Semifinal Game No. 2

First Period: The Bucks' superb penalty killing from last night seems to have carried over into this one, as Shawn Snider has given them a 1-0 lead on a shorthanded goal scored at 1:51 during a Rick Kozak hooking penalty. ... Alexandre Vincent is in net again for the Jackalopes, while, as promised, Andrew Martin is getting the start for the Bucks. ... A Mike Ramsay slashing call at 8:32 has given the Bucks their first power play of the game. ... Darryl Smith is at it again, scoring his third goal of the playoffs on an assist from Jason Dixon, who was a healthy scratch last night. James Hiebert is the scratch tonight. Adam Rivet has the secondary helper on the goal, which came 15:29 into the period. ... Russ Moyer has been called for slashing at 17:59 to put the Bucks on the power play for pretty much the rest of the period. ... There never seemed to be any doubt that Smith was the best choice for Rookie of the Year, but just in case, he tacked on a power-play goal at 19:33 to give the Bucks a 3-0. Serge Dube and Dixon get the assists. ... And 3-0 is the way it'll go to intermission, in spite of the Bucks being outshot 10-5, at least according to Pointstreak currently. What's up with Vincent? ... Shots have been changed to 10-8, but still. ... The Texas Brahmas lead the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees 2-1 at the end of the first period of Game 1 of their semifinal series.

Second Period: I guess Paul Gillis was wandering the same thing I was, because Vincent has been pulled and replaced by All-Rookie netminder Juha Toivonen. ... Jeff Pierce has put the Bucks on an early power play this period with a hooking penalty at 2:07. ... Nothing doing on that, then Devin Featherstone went off for holding at 6:33, but no go for the Jackalopes on the power play, either. ... Two penalties and no scoring later, the Bucks are taking the 3-0 lead into the second intermission. Colin Circelli took a holding call at 13:41, then Kozak got a high-sticking double minor at 17:31. The Bucks killed off the first 2:29 of that penalty, but the Jackalopes will be on the power play for 1:31 to start the third. ... That was the first period the Bucks have outshot the Jackalopes so far in the series, but Toivonen stopped all 12 shots, while Martin stopped all eight from the Jacks. Bucks lead the game in shots 20-18 now. ... The Brahmas have upped their lead to 3-1 at the second intermission.

Third Period: Ryan Salvis has tacked on another for the Bucks at 4:05 during some 4-on-4 play created by simultaneous penalties against Dave Van Drunen and Matt Miller. They went off at 3:03 for high sticking and slashing, respectively. Bobby Russell and Steve Weidlich get the assists. ... Weidlich took an interference call at 7:08, but Jarad Bourassa decided it was time for some more 4-on-4 and took a hooking call 13 seconds later. Both teams killed the others' brief power-play chances. ... It took the Jackalopes 33 shots, but they are finally on the board with a goal by Dominic Leveille, assisted by Kory Karlander and Garrett Gruenke. Bucks lead 4-1. ... Karlander and Smith took a more normal pair of simultaneous penalties at 14:19 with diving and tripping their respective calls. ... Igor Agarunov has been called for hooking at 15:53 to give the Jackalopes 26 seconds of a 4-on-3, then 1:34 of a 5-on-4 power play. ... Russell added an empty netter at 18:57 on assists from Kozak and Salvis to make it 5-1, which is how this one will end.

Game Over: Bucks win 5-1, take a 2-0 series lead. Not too shabby. ... The Brahmas defeated the Killer Bees 4-2 to take a 1-0 lead in their series.

Today's NHL Scores: Penguins 4, Rangers 3; Nashville 4, Los Angeles 3 (OT); Atlanta 6, Ottawa 3; Boston 7, Toronto 5; Buffalo 4, Montreal 3 (SO); Carolina 2, New Jersey 1; Philadelphia 4, N.Y. Islanders 3 (SO); Florida 6, Dallas 3; St. Louis 4, Columbus 3 (SO); Flames 3, Wild 2; Sharks 3, Coyotes 2.