AHL Quick Hits is now the Morning Skate… Every morning, take a spin around the AHL ice with recaps and previews, news and notes, facts and figures, and the top headlines from around the American Hockey League.
TUESDAY’S SCORES:
Game 4 – PROVIDENCE 5, Hartford 1 (Series tied, 2-2
Game 4 – Rochester 4, HAMILTON 3 (Series tied, 2-2)
Game 3 – Chicago 3, MILWAUKEE 2 (CHI leads, 3-0
TUESDAY’S THREE STARS:
1. Defenseman Jeremy Swanson records three assists – one more than he had the entire regular season – in Rochester’s win over Hamilton.
2. Anthony Stewart‘s first career two-goal game sparks the Americans to a Game 4 victory.
3. Two more points from Darren Haydar helps Chicago take a 3-0 series lead.
WEDNESDAY’S SCHEDULE (all times ET):
Game 5 – Hershey vs. Albany, 7:00 (at Glens Falls, N.Y.; HER leads, 3-1)
Game 4 – Manitoba at Grand Rapids, 7:00 (GRA leads, 2-1)
Game 4 – Manchester at Worcester, 7:00 (MCH leads, 3-0)
Game 4 – W-B/Scranton at Norfolk, 7:15 (WBS leads, 2-1)
Game 4 – Omaha at Iowa, 8:05 (IOW leads, 2-1)
Game 4 – Chicago at Milwaukee, 8:00 (CHI leads, 3-0)
2007 CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS:
Atlantic Division Semifinal — Series "A" (best-of-7)
A1-Manchester Monarchs vs. A4-Worcester Sharks || Preview
Game 1 – Wed., Apr. 18 – MANCHESTER 5, Worcester 2
Game 2 – Fri., Apr. 20 – MANCHESTER 4, Worcester 3 (2OT)
Game 3 – Sat., Apr. 21 – Manchester 5, WORCESTER 0
Game 4 – Wed., Apr. 25 – Manchester at Worcester, 7:00
*Game 5 – Fri., Apr. 27 – Worcester at Manchester, 7:35
*Game 6 – Sat., Apr. 28 – Manchester at Worcester, 7:00
*Game 7 – Mon., Apr. 30 – Worcester at Manchester, 7:05
Atlantic Division Semifinal — Series "B" (best-of-7)
A2-Hartford Wolf Pack vs. A3-Providence Bruins || Preview
Game 1 – Wed., Apr. 18 – HARTFORD 5, Providence 1
Game 2 – Fri., Apr. 20 – Providence 4, HARTFORD 2
Game 3 – Sat., Apr. 21 – Hartford 5, PROVIDENCE 2
Game 4 – Tue., Apr. 24 – PROVIDENCE 5, Hartford 1
Game 5 – Thu., Apr. 26 – Hartford at Providence, 7:05
Game 6 – Sat., Apr. 28 – Providence at Hartford, 7:00
*Game 7 – Sun., Apr. 29 – Providence at Hartford, 7:00
East Division Semifinal — Series "C" (best-of-7)
E1-Hershey Bears vs. E4-Albany River Rats || Preview
Game 1 – Wed., Apr. 18 – HERSHEY 3, Albany 2
Game 2 – Thu., Apr. 19 – Albany 3, HERSHEY 2 (OT)
Game 3 – Sun., Apr. 22 – Hershey 6, ALBANY 5 (GF)
Game 4 – Mon., Apr. 23 – Hershey 3, ALBANY 1 (GF)
Game 5 – Wed., Apr. 25 – Hershey vs. Albany, 7:00 (GF)
*Game 6 – Sat., Apr. 28 – Albany at Hershey, 7:00
*Game 7 – Sun., Apr. 29 – Albany at Hershey, 5:00
East Division Semifinal — Series "D" (best-of-7)
E2-W-B/Scranton Penguins vs. E3-Norfolk Admirals || Preview
Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 20 – Norfolk 5, W-B/SCRANTON 2
Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 21 – W-B/SCRANTON 5, Norfolk 2
Game 3 – Mon., Apr. 23 – W-B/Scranton 3, NORFOLK 2 (OT)
Game 4 – Wed., Apr. 25 – W-B/Scranton at Norfolk, 7:15
Game 5 – Fri., Apr. 27 – W-B/Scranton at Norfolk, 7:15
*Game 6 – Sun., Apr. 29 – Norfolk at W-B/Scranton, 5:05
*Game 7 – Tue., May 1 – Norfolk at W-B/Scranton, 7:05
North Division Semifinal — Series "E" (best-of-7)
N1-Manitoba Moose vs. N4-Grand Rapids Griffins || Preview
Game 1 – Thu., Apr. 19 – MANITOBA 1, Grand Rapids 0
Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 21 – Grand Rapids 4, MANITOBA 1
Game 3 – Mon., Apr. 23 – GRAND RAPIDS 2, Manitoba 1 (OT)
Game 4 – Wed., Apr. 25 – Manitoba at Grand Rapids, 7:00
Game 5 – Fri., Apr. 27 – Manitoba at Grand Rapids, 7:00
*Game 6 – Sun., Apr. 29 – Grand Rapids at Manitoba, 8:30
*Game 7 – Tue., May 1 – Grand Rapids at Manitoba, 8:30
North Division Semifinal — Series "F" (best-of-7)
N2-Rochester Americans vs. N3-Hamilton Bulldogs || Preview
Game 1 – Thu., Apr. 19 – Hamilton 2, ROCHESTER 0
Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 21 – ROCHESTER 3, Hamilton 1
Game 3 – Sun., Apr. 22 – HAMILTON 5, Rochester 4 (2OT)
Game 4 – Tue., Apr. 24 – Rochester 4, HAMILTON 3
Game 5 – Thu., Apr. 26 – Hamilton at Rochester, 7:05
Game 6 – Sat., Apr. 28 – Rochester at Hamilton, 7:00
*Game 7 – Mon., Apr. 30 – Hamilton at Rochester, 7:05
West Division Semifinal — Series "G" (best-of-7)
W1-Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights vs. W4-Iowa Stars || Preview
Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 20 – OMAHA 4, Iowa 2
Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 21 – Iowa 2, OMAHA 1 (OT)
Game 3 – Mon., Apr. 23 – IOWA 2, Omaha 1
Game 4 – Wed., Apr. 25 – Omaha at Iowa, 8:05
Game 5 – Fri., Apr. 27 – Iowa at Omaha, 8:00
*Game 6 – Sat., Apr. 28 – Omaha at Iowa, 8:05
*Game 7 – Tue., May 1 – Iowa at Omaha, 8:00
West Division Semifinal — Series "H" (best-of-7)
W2-Chicago Wolves vs. W3-Milwaukee Admirals || Preview
Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 20 – CHICAGO 3, Milwaukee 2
Game 2 – Sun., Apr. 22 – CHICAGO 4, Milwaukee 1
Game 3 – Tue., Apr. 24 – Chicago 3, MILWAUKEE 2
Game 4 – Wed., Apr. 25 – Chicago at Milwaukee, 8:00
*Game 5 – Fri., Apr. 27 – Milwaukee at Chicago, 8:30
*Game 6 – Sat., Apr. 28 – Chicago at Milwaukee, 8:30
*Game 7 – Tue., May 1 – Milwaukee at Chicago, 8:00
*if necessary… All times Eastern
GAME NOTES (all times ET):
Game 5 – Hershey vs. Albany, 7:00 (at Glens Falls, N.Y.; HER leads, 3-1)
Hershey is one win away from eliminating Albany and winning its fifth straight Calder Cup Playoff series… The Bears were 4-2 last spring with a chance to win a series… Hershey went 2-for-4 on the power play on Monday, and is now 7-for-25 (28.0 percent) in the four games vs. Albany… Frederic Cassivi has improved his record to 26-9 in 35 career playoff games in a Bears uniform… Matt Murley leads the River Rats with five assists and six points in the series… Albany is 6-6 all-time when facing elimination.
Game 4 – Manitoba at Grand Rapids, 7:00 (GRA leads, 2-1)
A total of nine goals have been scored through the first three games of this series… Grand Rapids’ Jimmy Howard (2-1, 0.94, .964) has outdueled former stablemate Drew MacIntyre (1-2, 1.57, .941) thus far… Matt Ellis has scored four of the Griffins’ six goals, including a hat trick in Game 2 and the shorthanded overtime winner in Game 3… Manitoba has lost defenseman Alex Edler to recall by the parent Vancouver Canucks.
Game 4 – Manchester at Worcester, 7:00 (MCH leads, 3-0)
Manchester goes for the sweep of Worcester and its first-ever postseason series victory tonight… The Monarchs are 0-4 all-time when playing with a chance to win a series… Defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky, a two-time Stanley Cup champion with New Jersey (2003) and Carolina (2006), leads Manchester with six points… Ten different Monarchs have scored at least one goal in the series… The Sharks have just five goals on 102 shots through the first three games, and have been held scoreless over the last 111:58 entering Game 4.
Game 4 – W-B/Scranton at Norfolk, 7:15 (WBS leads, 2-1)
Jonathan Filewich’s second straight game-winning goal came at the 7:03 mark of overtime in Game 3, giving Wilkes-Barre/Scranton a 2-1 series lead… Filewich now has 15 goals and 18 points in 22 career games vs. Norfolk… Rookie defenseman Tom Gilbert assisted on all three Penguins goals on Monday night… Norfolk, which led the AHL with 32 home wins in the regular season, has dropped three in a row at Scope, all to the Pens… The teams are a combined 10-for-35 on the power play in the series (28.6 percent)… Cam Barker has points in all three games for Norfolk (1g, 3a)… The Penguins are 4-0 all-time in playoff games played on April 25, the birthday of former fan favorite goaltender Andy Chiodo.
Game 4 – Omaha at Iowa, 8:05 (IOW leads, 2-1)
Consecutive 2-1 wins have given Iowa a 2-1 lead in the series heading into tonight’s Game 4 in Des Moines… Iowa’s roster has been bolstered by the return of Joel Lundqvist, Loui Eriksson and Nicklas Grossman following Dallas’s Game 7 loss to Vancouver on Monday… Calgary returned Mark Giordano to Omaha after the Flames’ season ended on Sunday… Defensemen Chris Lee, Adam Pardy and Brett Palin, who have seven goals in 272 career regular-season AHL games among them, have accounted for four of the Knights’ six goals in the series… Knights goaltender Curtis McElhinney has not allowed more than two goals in any of his last 10 starts.
Game 4 – Chicago at Milwaukee, 8:00 (CHI leads, 3-0)
Chicago can close out the defending Western Conference champion Admirals with another win at the Bradley Center tonight… The Wolves are looking for their third four-game sweep in the last four years (vs. Grand Rapids in 2004, vs. Manitoba in 2005)… In Calder Cup play, Milwaukee is 4-3 when facing elimination, while Chicago is 10-4 with a chance to win a series… The Admirals are stuck in a six-game postseason losing streak… Chicago’s Michael Garnett is now 5-0 in five career Calder Cup Playoff decisions… Brett Sterling has two game-winning goals in the series, including the decisive marker in last night’s 3-2 victory… Darren Haydar is now up to 11th in goals (36) and tied for 12th in points (79) on the AHL’s all-time playoff scoring lists.
MORNING HEADLINES:
GOALIE HOWARD NOT DUCKING PRESSURE
Joe Conklin, Grand Rapids Press
Jimmy Howard‘s introduction to pro hockey’s playoff grind in 2006 was a whirlwind. A rookie goalie, he started the postseason with the Grand Rapids Griffins, but left them in a series with Toronto when the Detroit Red Wings needed a backup. Howard watched from the bench as the Red Wings lost in the first round to Edmonton and returned to the Griffins with rust on his game. He was thrown back into the fire in a tough series against Manitoba, got pulled in the deciding seventh game, and was back in the net when the Griffins were swept by Milwaukee. Howard called the experience "an education." He learned his lessons well because the former No. 1 draft pick for the Red Wings has emerged as the American Hockey League’s hottest goalie in the first round.
PADDOCK GIVES DEVILS THEIR DUE
Chris Stevenson, Ottawa Sun
The New Jersey Devils were awful in 1983-84, having moved the season before from Colorado, where they had the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop, to the swamps where they were now in the shadow of Manhattan’s skyline. Bill MacMillan, who had taken over from Don Cherry with the Rockies, was fired as the Devils’ coach partway through that season, which included a 2-18 start, and the Devils turned to their AHL farm team in Maine for a replacement. They promoted the gravelly voiced Tom McVie, who, if he needed to moonlight, could have doubled as a foghorn in the moonlight on the Maine coast. So now Maine needed a new coach and team president Ed Anderson remembered the club’s 29-year-old captain had said he was interested in becoming a coach when his playing days were done. The captain had about five minutes to decide to make the jump.
ON COLLISION COURSE
Paul Friesen, Winnipeg Sun
It’s the battle of the Left Coast, Canadian vs. American — with a distinct prairie feel to it. The second-round, NHL playoff matchup between Anaheim and Vancouver may as well be called the Manitoba Moose alumni series. This one will be juicy, pitting the last two Moose head coaches — not to mention the two most successful — against each other in what should be almost as entertaining behind the benches as it is on the ice. Quacking like only he can from his Ducks perch will be adopted Winnipegger Randy Carlyle, the former Jet who willed the Moose to a 98-point season and a conference final two years ago. Barking orders for the Canucks will be Alain Vigneault, who upped the ante to 100 points here last year, before his Moose fell in Round 2 of the AHL playoffs.
BY THE NUMBERS:
4 – Players with two game-winning goals already this postseason: Manchester’s John Zeiler, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s Jonathan Filewich, Grand Rapids’ Matt Ellis and Chicago’s Brett Sterling… The AHL record is six, set by Darren Haydar for Milwaukee last spring.
ON THIS DATE:
April 25, 2005 – Colby Armstrong‘s goal at 12:26 of the third overtime lifts Wilkes-Barre/Scranton past Binghamton, 3-2, in Game 3 of their first-round series.
April 25, 2004 – Konstantin Koltsov scores 11:44 into overtime to give Wilkes-Barre/Scranton a 3-2 win at Bridgeport in Game 7 of their East Division semifinal… Five of the seven games in the series required OT.
April 25, 1992 – Bruce Boudreau scores what would be the last goal of his professional career, helping Adirondack to a 5-3 win at Springfield in Game 1 of their second-round series.
April 25, 1964 – The Cleveland Barons capped a perfect 9-0 playoff run with a 5-2 win over the Quebec Aces, capturing the franchise’s ninth and final Calder Cup championship.
ON THE AIR:
B2 Networks brings AHL action to your computer, web-enabled cell phone or PDA throughout the Calder Cup Playoffs with live video webcasts of nearly every AHL game… Visit caldercup.com for details.
