PROSPECTS: Conference Final Preview

OVERVIEW
The Rockford IceHogs will take an undefeated playoff run into the Calder Cup Western Conference Final against the Texas Stars.
The IceHogs are a perfect 7-0-0 heading into the third round of postseason play, while the Stars sit at 7-2-0. The clubs faced each other four times in the 2017-18 American Hockey League season. Rockford walked away with two wins in regulation and one in a shootout, while Texas won one of the matchups.
The conference final will be a best-of-seven series that begins on Friday, May 18, at 7 p.m. CT, in Cedar Park, Texas at the H-E-B Center.

ROCKFORD KEYS TO THE MATCHUP
Spectacular Special Teams:
Since the puck has dropped in the playoffs, the IceHogs have looked unstoppable when their special teams hit the ice. Rockford has scored on 15 of their 40 opportunities with the man advantage, giving them a 37.5 power-play percentage, with the next closest playoff team at 21.1 percent. On the opposite end of special teams, they may be performing even better. The IceHogs have been down a man 28 times in their first seven playoff games, only allowing two goals to register a 92.9 penalty-kill percentage.
RELATED: IceHogs success on special teams
DiDomenico's Production:
IceHogs center Chris DiDomenico has been on a mission in the Calder Cup Playoffs and has the numbers to prove it. He leads all skaters with 11 points (7G, 4A) in seven playoff games. DiDomenico, who skated for three different AHL teams this year, put up 23 points in 22 games of regular-season action with Rockford.
RELATED: DiDomenico producing at high level
Dependable Delia:
Rookie goaltender Collin Delia has been the centerpiece of Rockford's postseason run. Delia remains not just the only rookie still minding a net in the playoffs, but also the only goalie that has yet to lose a game. He is only giving up a mere 1.64 goals per game and has saved just under 95 percent of the 252 shots he has faced through seven games.
RELATED: Delia Q&A
Blueline Offense:
Three of the top-five point scorers for Rockford in the playoffs are defenseman. Adam Clendening, Cody Franson and Carl Dahlstrom have all not only done their part to stop opposing offenses, but also have put up an array of scores themselves. Clendening sits just behind DiDomenico with nine points 9 (1G, 8A) and is +3 through seven games. Franson, who has done a lot damage on the man advantage, with a postseason leading four power-play goals, has eight points (4G, 4A). Dahlstrom, who shares the team lead at +4, has six points (2G, 4A) through the first two rounds.
Efficient Ejdsell:
Victor Ejdsell has been a major bright spot for the IceHog offense following traveling from Sweden to join the team in late March. While the forward only tallied one assist in five regular season games, he has come into his own in the playoffs. His eight points (5G, 3A) are the third most on Rockford and the eighth most amongst postseason skaters. Ejdsell has also posted at least a point in five of the IceHogs seven games, and of those five he has produced multi-point performances in three tilts. He is accounting for an unbelievable shooting percentage, finding the back of the net on five of his seven shots on goal (71.4 percent).
RELATED: Ejdsell contributing offensively
THREE OPPONENTS TO WATCH:
G Mike McKenna: With two shutouts in the Calder Cup Playoffs thus far, McKenna has been special in goal for the Stars. He also has the second-highest save percentage amongst remaining goalies, saving over 95 percent of the 335 shots he has faced through nine games. McKenna sits at 7-2-0 in playoff action.
RW Brian Flynn: Through nine games of postseason play, Flynn has the second most points amongst all skaters with 10 (6G, 4A). He sits slightly behind DiDomenico with 1.11 points per game, and leads Texas with two power-play goals.
D Brent Regner: Regner, with five points, leads all Stars defenseman in production on the offensive end. He has made his mark as a facilitator, scoring all of his points with assists. The defenseman backs a blueline that has given up two or fewer goals in six of the last seven games.