LOOKING BACK:
On Thursday, Brian Willsie posted a goal and an assist as Lake Erie took a 3-1 win at Peoria… Cedrick Desjardins made 23 saves in Hamilton’s 3-2 victory over Toronto… In Wednesday’s action, Tyler Plante posted a 37-save shutout as Rochester clinched a playoff spot with a 3-0 win at Grand Rapids… Matt Lopes came on to make 42 saves in relief as Manchester rallied past Lowell, 4-3… John McCarthy had three points (2-1-3) in Worcester’s 5-3 triumph at Hartford.
Wed 3/31
Rochester 3, GRAND RAPIDS 0
Manchester 4, LOWELL 3
Hershey 5, SYRACUSE 2
Worcester 5, HARTFORD 3
W-B/SCRANTON 3, Adirondack 2
Texas 3, MILWAUKEE 2 (SO)
Chicago 4, HOUSTON 0
Thu 4/1
HAMILTON 3, Toronto 2
Lake Erie 3, PEORIA 1
LOOKING AHEAD:
It’s a make-or-break weekend for Toronto’s postseason hopes, as the Marlies sit five points back of Manitoba for the North Division’s final entry but host the Moose on Friday and Saturday… The Marlies have won three straight over the Moose – including two at Ricoh Coliseum – since dropping the teams’ first three clashes of the season… Kyle Calder paces the Marlies with three goals and five points in just four games vs. Manitoba on the year, and Calder has a goal in three of his last five games overall (3-2-5)… Jeff Hamilton is riding a three-game scoring streak (2-1-3) for Toronto and shows a point in seven of eight (6-2-8)… Tim Brent has put up 10-14-24 in 29 games since returning to Toronto’s lineup from injury… Moose leading scorer Marco Rosa (22-30-52) boasts a team-high nine points (4-5-9) in six meetings with Toronto… Former first-round draft pick Jordan Schroeder has six points (3-3-6) in his first five pro games for Manitoba.
A pivotal West Division showdown on Friday pits Peoria against Milwaukee at the Bradley Center… The Rivermen enter the contest four points back of the Admirals for the West’s fourth and final playoff spot, and Milwaukee has played one fewer game… Peoria’s Cam Paddock has netted a goal in four straight games (4-1-5) and has a point in six of his last seven (4-3-7), and Adam Cracknell has found the scoresheet in four of his last five contests (4-1-5)… Rivermen defenseman Daryl Boyle is on a four-game scoring streak (1-5-6) after totaling 2-0-2 in his first 11 games with Peoria… Mike Santorelli paces the Admirals in both goals (23) and points (52) in 51 contests and shows a point in five straight outings (2-5-7) and 10 of his last 11 (4-9-13)… Hugh Jessiman has recorded six points (2-4-6) in eight meetings with Peoria this season… Peoria has the AHL’s top-ranked power play on the road (21.5 percent) and ranks fifth overall (20.1 percent)… Milwaukee is just 2-4-0-2 on home ice since the beginning of March.
Manchester puts its five-game winning streak on the line Friday against Bridgeport and can clinch a playoff spot with a victory… The Monarchs, who are 4-1-1-0 vs. the Sound Tigers this season, are looking to return to postseason play following their first-ever miss in 2009… Manchester defenseman Alec Martinez is on a four-game scoring streak (1-6-7) and has racked up a team-high six points (1-5-6) vs. Bridgeport this season… John Zeiler is coming off a two-goal showing at Lowell on Wednesday and has 3-1-0 in his last four outings on the heels of a 10-game points drought… Bridgeport is 9-2-1-0 in its last 12 games and tied for fourth place in the Atlantic Division… Matt Martin has a point in four of his last five (1-5-6) for the Sound Tigers, and Mike Radja shows 4-5-9 in 12 games since joining Bridgeport.
(all times Eastern)
Fri 4/2
Norfolk @ Albany, 7:00
Lowell @ Hartford, 7:00
Manitoba @ Toronto, 7:00 
W-B/Scranton @ Binghamton, 7:05
Worcester @ Providence, 7:05
Hershey @ Rochester, 7:05
Syracuse @ Adirondack, 7:30
Bridgeport @ Manchester, 7:30
Portland @ Springfield, 7:30
Peoria @ Milwaukee, 8:00
Lake Erie @ Rockford, 8:05
San Antonio @ Texas, 8:30
Chicago @ Houston, 8:35
Grand Rapids @ Abbotsford, 10:30
Sat 4/3
Manitoba @ Toronto, 4:00
Adirondack @ Albany, 7:00
Portland @ Bridgeport, 7:00
Rochester @ Hamilton, 7:00
Syracuse @ Hershey, 7:00
Worcester @ Lowell, 7:00
Providence @ Manchester, 7:00
Hartford @ Springfield, 7:00
Norfolk @ Binghamton, 7:05
Lake Erie @ Peoria, 8:00
Chicago @ San Antonio, 8:00
Houston @ Texas, 8:00
Milwaukee @ Rockford, 8:05
Grand Rapids @ Abbotsford, 9:00
Sun 4/4
Manitoba @ Hamilton, 4:00
Providence @ Portland, 4:00
Norfolk @ Hershey, 6:00
Mon 4/5
No games scheduled
Tue 4/6
Peoria @ Milwaukee, 2:00
Hershey @ Syracuse, 7:00
Manitoba @ Hamilton, 7:30
Rockford @ Houston, 8:05
San Antonio @ Texas, 8:30
ALUMNI WATCH:
Tim Stapleton, who shows 29-29-58 in 71 games for AHL Chicago, scored his first NHL goal of the year in Atlanta’s 2-1 loss to Washington on Thursday… Viktor Stalberg netted a goal to help Toronto double up Buffalo, 4-2… Jamie McBain, who ranks third among AHL rookie defensemen with 40 points for Albany, registered a goal in Carolina’s 4-3 shootout loss at Ottawa.
BY THE NUMBERS:
438 — All-time regular season meetings between Hershey and Rochester, including tonight’s season-series finale at the Blue Cross Arena… The Amerks (0-3-0-0) are looking for their first win over Hershey in 2009-10.
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