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.
FRIDAY’S SCORES:
W-B/SCRANTON 7, Hershey 3 (WBS wins, 4-1)
Rockford 5, HOUSTON 2 (RFD wins, 4-1)
Toronto 2, SAN ANTONIO 1 (TOR leads, 3-2)
MANITOBA 5, Syracuse 2 (Series tied, 2-2)
FRIDAY’S THREE STARS:
1. AHL All-Rookie defenseman Alex Goligoski scored twice and added an assist as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton moved on to the division finals with a 7-3 win over Hershey.
2. Jason Jaffray posted a goal and an assist to help
3. Rockford goaltender Corey Crawford stopped 28 of 30 shots as the IceHogs posted a 5-2 win at Houston and captured their opening-round series, 4-1.
SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE (all times ET):
Game 6 –
Game 1 –
Game 5 –
Game 6 – Chicago at
2008 CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS:
Atlantic Division Finals – Series “I” (best-of-7)
A1-Providence Bruins vs. A3-Portland Pirates || Preview
Game 1 – Sat., Apr. 26 – Portland at Providence, 7:05
Game 2 – Sun., Apr. 27 – Portland at Providence, 4:05
Game 3 – Fri., May 2 – Providence at Portland, 7:05
Game 4 – Sun., May 4 – Providence at Portland, 4:05
*Game 5 – Tue., May 6 – Providence at Portland, 7:05
*Game 6 – Fri., May 9 – Portland at Providence, 7:05
*Game 7 – Sat., May 10 – Portland at Providence, 7:05
Atlantic Division Semifinal – Series “A” (best-of-7)
A1-Providence Bruins def. A4-Manchester Monarchs, 4-0
Atlantic Division Semifinal – Series “B” (best-of-7)
A3-Portland Pirates def. A2-Hartford Wolf Pack, 4-1
East Division Semifinal – Series “C” (best-of-7)
E1-W-B/Scranton Penguins vs. E4-Hershey Bears || Preview
Game 1 – Wed., Apr. 16 – W-B/Scranton 2, HERSHEY 1 (OT)
Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 19 – W-B/SCRANTON 6, Hershey 2
Game 3 – Sun., Apr. 20 – W-B/SCRANTON 5, Hershey 1
Game 4 – Wed., Apr. 23 – HERSHEY 3, W-B/Scranton 2 (OT)
Game 5 – Fri., Apr. 25 – W-B/SCRANTON 7, Hershey 3
East Division Semifinal – Series “D” (best-of-7)
E2-Philadelphia Phantoms vs. E3-Albany River Rats || Preview
Game 1 – Wed., Apr. 16 – ALBANY 4, Philadelphia 0
Game 2 – Fri., Apr. 18 – PHILADELPHIA 3, Albany 0
Game 3 – Sun., Apr. 20 – Albany 4, PHILADELPHIA 1
Game 4 – Tue., Apr. 22 – Philadelphia 2, ALBANY 1
Game 5 – Thu., Apr. 24 – Philadelphia 3, ALBANY 2 (5OT)
Game 6 – Sat., Apr. 26 – Albany at Philadelphia, 1:05 (WC)
*Game 7 – Tue., Apr. 29 – Albany at Philadelphia, 7:05 (WC)
North Division Semifinal – Series “E” (best-of-7)
N1-Toronto Marlies vs. W5-San Antonio Rampage || Preview
Game 1 – Wed., Apr. 16 – TORONTO 4, San Antonio 3
Game 2 – Fri., Apr. 18 – San Antonio 6, TORONTO 3
Game 3 – Mon., Apr. 21 – SAN ANTONIO 3, Toronto 2
Game 4 – Wed., Apr. 23 – Toronto 3, SAN ANTONIO 2
Game 5 – Fri., Apr. 25 – Toronto 2, SAN ANTONIO 1
Game 6 – Sun., Apr. 27 – San Antonio at Toronto, 4:00
*Game 7 – Mon., Apr. 28 – San Antonio at Toronto, 7:30
North Division Semifinal – Series “F” (best-of-7)
N2-Syracuse Crunch vs. N3-Manitoba Moose || Preview
Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 18 – SYRACUSE 2, Manitoba 1 (OT)
Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 19 – Manitoba 3, SYRACUSE 2 (OT)
Game 3 – Tue., Apr. 22 – Syracuse 2, MANITOBA 1 (OT)
Game 4 – Fri., Apr. 25 – MANITOBA 5, Syracuse 2
Game 5 – Sat., Apr. 26 – Syracuse at Manitoba, 8:30
Game 6 – Mon., Apr. 28 – Manitoba at Syracuse, 7:00
*Game 7 – Tue., Apr. 29 – Manitoba at Syracuse, 7:00
West Division Semifinal – Series “G” (best-of-7)
W1-Chicago Wolves vs. W4-Milwaukee Admirals || Preview
Game 1 – Wed., Apr. 16 – Milwaukee 4, CHICAGO 3 (OT)
Game 2 – Fri., Apr. 18 – CHICAGO 2, Milwaukee 1
Game 3 – Sun., Apr. 20 – Chicago 4, MILWAUKEE 3 (OT)
Game 4 – Wed., Apr. 23 – MILWAUKEE 2, Chicago 0
Game 5 – Thu., Apr. 24 – CHICAGO 4, Milwaukee 1
Game 6 – Sat., Apr. 26 – Chicago at Milwaukee, 8:30
*Game 7 – Mon., Apr. 28 – Milwaukee at Chicago, 8:00
West Division Semifinal – Series “H” (best-of-7)
W2-Rockford IceHogs vs. W3-Houston Aeros || Preview
Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 18 – ROCKFORD 3, Houston 1
Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 19 – Houston 1, ROCKFORD 0 (2OT)
Game 3 – Tue., Apr. 22 – Rockford 2, HOUSTON 1
Game 4 – Thu., Apr. 24 – Rockford 2, HOUSTON 1
Game 5 – Fri., Apr. 25 – Rockford 5, HOUSTON 2
*if necessary… All times Eastern
GAME NOTES (all times ET):
Game 6 –
After posting a five-overtime victory on Thursday in the longest game in American Hockey League history, Philadelphia looks to close out Albany this afternoon as the teams play Game 6 of their East Division semifinal at the Wachovia Center… Ryan Potulny made the first goal of his professional playoff career a memorable one, scoring 2:58 into the fifth overtime to give the Phantoms the win in Game 5…
Game 1 –
The Atlantic Division finals get underway tonight as
Game 5 – Syracuse at Manitoba, 8:30 (Series tied, 2-2)
Syracuse and Manitoba take the MTS Centre ice tonight for a pivotal Game 5 in their North Division semifinal series… The teams have alternated wins thus far, the most recent edition being a 5-2 Moose triumph on Friday night… 2007 AHL All-Star Jason Jaffray, out of the lineup since March 16 due to injury, posted a goal and an assist in his return for Manitoba… Danny Groulx, Alexandre Bolduc, and former first-round pick Michael Grabner also scored as part of four straight Moose goals after the club fell behind 1-0… Grabner has lit the lamp in each of the last three games…
Game 6 –
MORNING HEADLINES:
GRAB THE GATORADE: AHL TEAMS PLAY LONGEST GAME IN HISTORY
Dale Oviatt, Ottawa Citizen
While much of the hockey world was focused on the NHL playoffs on Thursday, it was the fans of the Albany River Rats and Philadelphia Phantoms of the American Hockey League that got more than their money’s worth. River Rats goaltender Michael Leighton stopped 98 of 101 shots in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Phantoms in what proved to the longest game the 72-year history of the AHL. The game ended after 142:58 of play, or 2:58 seconds into the fifth overtime, with
HOCKEY’S
Pete Dougherty,
The pivotal game of the Albany River Rats-Philadelphia Phantoms playoff series morphed into one of the most memorable in American Hockey League history. A game that neither team had to win — the best-of-7 series was tied 2-2 — turned into one neither wanted to lose. As Thursday night transformed into Friday morning, weary players fought for that one break that would end the longest game in the AHL’s 72-year existence.
Andrew Ferraro,
In a game of inches, the Aeros missed playoff success by a mile. Play every game like it’s the last, and don’t leave anything on the ice except blood and sweat. But the Aeros retired early in what was supposed to be long, hard-fought battle to the finish. They fought valiantly Friday night, but they just didn’t have enough offense in the game or the series and dropped a 5-2 decision to the IceHogs at
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/5731926.html
BONVIE GETS IN SCORING ACT AS PENS FINISH OFF HERSHEY
Jonathan Bombulie,
Nearly every man in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins locker room has been stung by the Hershey Bears at some point in the last three seasons. Coach Todd Richards, then with
http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19520678&BRD=2185&PAG=461&dept_id=418214&rfi=6
KEY QUESTIONS TO PONDER PRIOR TO BATTLE NO. 5
The next battle in the war between the Manitoba Moose and Syracuse Crunch will decide who leaves
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/hockey/story/4165479p-4753152c.html
PIRATES KNOW TASK AT HAND
Paul
The Providence Bruins held the upper hand over the Portland Pirates in the regular season, but that dominance won’t mean much when they meet in the Atlantic Division finals. The best-of-seven series starts tonight with Game 1 at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=183921&ac=PHspt
RAMPAGE’S CHANCES SLIP AWAY
John Whisler, Express-News
Just three days ago, the idea that the Rampage would lose two-straight Calder Cup playoff games on their home ice seemed unthinkable. After two consecutive victories, they had the Toronto Marlies on their heels and appeared in control of the series. How quickly things change.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/hockey/rampage/stories/MYSA042608.RampageGm5.en.386cf7f.html
FROM CALDER TO STANLEY:
Ryan Whitney, who made his pro debut during the 2004 Calder Cup Playoffs and reached the Finals with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, assisted on the game-winning goal last night as Pittsburgh rallied past the N.Y. Rangers, 5-4, in the opener of the Eastern Conference semifinal.
2001 AHL All-Star Jonathan Cheechoo tied the game with 3:02 to play in regulation, but San Jose went on to drop Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal to Dallas in overtime, 3-2.
BY THE NUMBERS:
105:44 – Active shutout streak for Philadelphia goaltender Scott Munroe after denying Albany for more than five periods to close out Thursday’s Game 5 marathon win.
ON THIS DATE:
April 26, 2005 – Derek Roy records two goals and an assist and Ryan Miller makes 28 saves as
April 26, 1996 – An AHL playoff record five overtime games are played on one day, including
