Take a game-day spin around the AHL ice with latest news and notes from the 2017 Calder Cup Playoffs in today’s AHL Morning Skate.
Playoff Brackets | Today’s Scoreboard | League Stats | Series Infographics
Game 1 – 7:00 ET, AHL Live
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The 2017 Calder Cup Playoffs get underway tonight with two games, including the opener between Toronto and Albany at the Times Union Center… It’s a rematch of the teams’ terrific second-round clash from a year ago, in which the Marlies prevailed in a back-and-forth Game 7 to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals… Toronto, which has finished first or second in its division six years in a row, was led in scoring during the regular season by Kerby Rychel (19-33-52)… Rychel won a Calder Cup championship with Lake Erie last spring… Cal O’Reilly (9-41-50) had eight assists in 15 games after joining Toronto from the Buffalo Sabres organization on Mar. 8… Rookie John Quenneville (14-32-46) led the Devils in scoring while also skating in 12 NHL games with New Jersey… Albany forward Carter Camper reached the Calder Cup Finals with Hershey last year, and put up 2-4-6 in the Bears’ five-game victory over Toronto in the conference finals… The Devils won five of eight meetings with the Marlies during the regular season… Five members of last year’s Marlies playoff club have played for the Toronto Maple Leafs in this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs (William Nylander, Kasperi Kapanen, Connor Brown, Zach Hyman, Connor Carrick).
North Division Semifinals – Series “D” (best-of-5)
N2-Toronto Marlies vs. N3-Albany Devils
Game 1 – Thu., Apr. 20 – Toronto at Albany, 7:00
Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 22 – Toronto at Albany, 5:00
Game 3 – Wed., Apr. 26 – Albany at Toronto, 7:00
*Game 4 – Fri., Apr. 28 – Albany at Toronto, 7:00
*Game 5 – Sat., Apr. 29 – Albany at Toronto, 7:00
*if necessary… All times Eastern
Game 1 – 7:00 ET, AHL Live
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Two of the hottest teams in the AHL down the stretch, Chicago and Charlotte return to the postseason tonight with Game 1 of their Central Division semifinal series… The Wolves rallied from two goals down to defeat the Checkers 4-3 in overtime in their regular-season finale on Saturday night; the win gave the Wolves their third division title in the last six years, and the point for the overtime loss allowed the Checkers to clinch their first playoff berth since 2013… Chicago, 16-2-5-2 over its last 25 contests, was led all season by league MVP Kenny Agostino (24-59-83), who paced the AHL in assists and points, and linemate Wade Megan (33-33-66), who ranked first in goals… Agostino is the fourth Wolves player to win the AHL scoring title after Jason Krog (2007-08), Darren Haydar (2006-07) and Steve Maltais (2002-03)… Vince Dunn (13-32-45) tied for the league lead in scoring among rookie defensemen for the Wolves… Charlotte finished the regular season 13-2-3-1 in its last 19 games to edge out fifth-place Cleveland, but both regulation losses in that span were to Chicago… Acquired by the Checkers on loan from the Calgary Flames on Mar. 8, Tom McCollum (12-2-4, 2.08, .927) started 17 of Charlotte’s last 18 games… Andrew Poturalski (19-33-52) led the Checkers and finished third among AHL rookies in scoring this season… Chicago head coach Craig Berube and Charlotte bench boss Ulf Samuelsson combined for 2,355 games played (regular season and playoffs) in their National Hockey League careers… Chicago won six of eight meetings with Charlotte during the 2016-17 regular season.
Central Division Semifinals – Series “E” (best-of-5)
C1-Chicago Wolves vs. C4-Charlotte Checkers
Game 1 – Thu., Apr. 20 – Chicago at Charlotte, 7:00
Game 2 – Fri., Apr. 21 – Chicago at Charlotte, 7:15
Game 3 – Sun., Apr. 23 – Charlotte at Chicago, 3:00
*Game 4 – Tue., Apr. 25 – Charlotte at Chicago, 8:00
*Game 5 – Wed., Apr. 26 – Charlotte at Chicago, 8:00
*if necessary… All times Eastern
Alumni Watch
In last night’s Stanley Cup Playoff action, Tom Wilson scored twice in Washington’s 5-4 win over Toronto in Game 4 of their first-round series… 2008 AHL All-Star Bobby Ryan scored his second consecutive game-winning goal and Craig Anderson made 22 saves as Ottawa beat Boston, 1-0… Charlie Coyle scored and Devan Dubnyk stopped 28 shots in Minnesota’s 2-0 win over St. Louis… Patrick Eaves, Nate Thompson and Ryan Getzlaf scored as Anaheim eliminated Calgary with a 3-1 win.
On This Date
April 20, 2016 – Carter Rowney scores 1:09 into overtime to give Wilkes-Barre/Scranton a 3-2 win over Providence in Game 1 of their first-round series.
April 20, 2010 – Led by two goals from Trevor Lewis and 44 saves from Jonathan Bernier, Manchester completes a four-game sweep of Portland with a 7-2 victory.
April 20, 2000 – Chris Kenady scores four goals and assists on two others as Hartford posts a 7-2 win over Springfield in a winner-take-all Game 5.
April 20, 1994 – Yanic Perreault records four goals and an assist to lead St. John’s to an 8-2 win at Cape Breton in Game 4 of their first-round series.
April 20, 1952 – A sudden-death overtime goal by Ray Hannigan gives the Pittsburgh Hornets the Calder Cup championship with a 3-2 win over the Providence Reds.
AHL Live
Don’t miss a second on the road to the 2017 Calder Cup championship. AHL Live brings AHL action to your desktop, laptop, smartphone or tablet all season long with live video webcasts and free highlights of every AHL game… Visit ahllive.com for details.
