Every game day from now until the end of the Calder Cup Playoffs, the AHL Morning Skate takes 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.
SATURDAY’S SCORES:
Game 4 – Worcester 3, MANCHESTER 2 (Series tied, 2-2)
SATURDAY’S THREE STARS:
1. Worcester defenseman Derek Joslin scored the game-winning goal late in the third period as the Sharks grabbed a 3-2 win at Manchester to even the Atlantic Division Finals at two games apiece.
2. Monarchs forward Justin Azevedo recorded a goal in the losing effort.
3. Sharks rookie Brandon Mashinter earned an assist on all three of his team’s goals.
TONIGHT’S SCHEDULE (all times ET):
Game 2 – Abbotsford at Hamilton, 2:00 (ABB leads series, 1-0)
Game 2 – Texas at Chicago, 4:00 (TEX leads series, 1-0)
2010 CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS:
Complete Results II Scoring Leaders II Goaltending Leaders
Atlantic Division Finals – Series “I” (best-of-7)
A1-Worcester Sharks vs. A3-Manchester Monarchs
Game 1 – Sun., Apr. 25 – WORCESTER 4, Manchester 3
Game 2 – Wed., Apr. 28 – Manchester 3, WORCESTER 2 (OT)
Game 3 – Fri., Apr. 30 – MANCHESTER 5, Worcester 0
Game 4 – Sat., May 1 – Worcester 3, MANCHESTER 2
Game 5 – Wed., May 5 – Manchester at Worcester, 7:05
Game 6 – Fri., May 7 – Worcester at Manchester, 7:30
*Game 7 – Sat., May 8 – Manchester at Worcester, 7:05
East Division Finals – Series “J” (best-of-7)
E1-Hershey Bears vs. E2-Albany River Rats
Game 1 – Sat., Apr. 24 – HERSHEY 4, Albany 3 (OT)
Game 2 – Sun., Apr. 25 – HERSHEY 6, Albany 3
Game 3 – Tue., Apr. 27 – Hershey 6, ALBANY 5 (OT)
Game 4 – Thu., Apr. 29 – Hershey 5, ALBANY 4 (OT)
North Division Finals – Series “K” (best-of-7)
N1-Hamilton Bulldogs vs. vs. N3-Abbotsford Heat
Game 1 – Thu., Apr. 29 – Abbotsford 3, HAMILTON 2
Game 2 – Sun., May 2 – Abbotsford at Hamilton, 2:00
Game 3 – Tue., May 4 – Hamilton at Abbotsford, 10:00
Game 4 – Thu., May 6 – Hamilton at Abbotsford, 10:00
*Game 5 – Sat., May 8 – Hamilton at Abbotsford, 10:00
*Game 6 – Mon., May 10 – Abbotsford at Hamilton, 7:30
*Game 7 – Tue., May 11 – Abbotsford at Hamilton, 7:30
West Division Finals – Series “L” (best-of-7)
W1-Chicago Wolves vs. W2-Texas Stars
Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 30 – Texas 4, CHICAGO 3 (OT)
Game 2 – Sun., May 2 – Texas at Chicago, 4:00
Game 3 – Tue., May 4 – Chicago at Texas, 8:30
Game 4 – Wed., May 5 – Chicago at Texas, 8:30
*Game 5 – Fri., May 7 – Chicago at Texas, 8:30
*Game 6 – Sun., May 9 – Texas at Chicago, 4:00
*Game 7 – Tue., May 11 – Texas at Chicago, 8:00
*if necessary… All times Eastern
GAME NOTES (all times ET):
Game 2 – Abbotsford at Hamilton, 2:00 (ABB leads series, 1-0)
Abbotsford and Hamilton square off for Game 2 of the North Division Finals this afternoon… The Heat are looking to take a commanding 2-0 series lead on the division-champion Bulldogs before the series shifts to Abbotsford for the next three games… Since falling into a 3-1 series hole to Rochester in the division semifinals, Abbotsford has reeled off four straight wins, and goaltender David Shantz has surrendered just four goals on 98 shots (.959) over that span… The Heat collected a 3-2 win in Game 1 of this series on Thursday night, with David Van der Gulik, Gord Baldwin, and Brett Sutter providing the offense… Sutter scored for the first time since netting two goals in an 8-4 loss to Rochester on Apr. 19, but he now has a point in six straight contests (3-6-9) to become the Heat’s playoff leader in points… Van der Gulik has found the back of the net in three of his last four games (3-1-4) after going without a goal in his first four postseason outings… Rookie Aaron Palushaj scored his first career Calder Cup Playoff goal for the Bulldogs in Game 1, and Brock Trotter also scored in the losing effort… Trotter now shows a point in three of his last four games (2-2-4), and David Desharnais registered an assist on Thursday to run his scoring streak to six games (3-5-8) since going scoreless in the club’s postseason opener vs. Manitoba on Apr. 15… Both Abbotsford (0-for-2) and Hamilton (0-for-6) went scoreless on the power play in Game 1… The Bulldogs are looking to avoid their first two-game losing skid on home ice since losses to Abbotsford and Texas on Feb. 13 and 16… The Heat have outscored opponents 12-4 in the first period this postseason but have been outscored 13-5 in the second frame.
Game 2 – Texas at Chicago, 4:00 (TEX leads series, 1-0)
After collecting a 4-3 overtime win in Game 1 of the West Division Finals on Friday, Texas bids for a 2-0 series lead on Chicago when the teams meet for Game 2 this afternoon… Both teams scored on goal in each regulation period before Stars defenseman Garrett Stafford blasted home a power play goal at 2:22 of overtime for his second goal of the postseason… Rookie Jamie Benn, who notched a goal just 16 seconds into the third period, picked up an assist on the game-winner and now has a team-leading four goals and eight points in the playoffs for Texas… The Stars also got Game 1 goals from rookie Colton Sceviour and Francis Wathier, who each scored for the first time in postseason play… Defenseman Andrew Hutchinson picked up an assist and is now on a three-game scoring streak (2-2-4), while Landon Wilson (1-2-3), Benn (3-4-7), and Stafford (2-1-3) also have points in their last three outings… Stars goaltender Brent Krahn turned aside 32 of 35 shots on Friday and improved to a perfect 5-0 this postseason… Krahn continues to lead all AHL goaltenders in both goals-against average (1.59) and save percentage (.951)… The Stars, who earned a four-game sweep of Rockford in the division semifinals, are the only team yet to suffer a loss this postseason… Texas has scored the game’s first goal in each of its five playoff contests… Chicago lost a playoff series opener for the first time since dropping Game 1 of the 2008 division semifinals to Milwaukee by an identical 4-3 score in overtime; the Wolves went on to win that series in six games en route to the Calder Cup title… Jason Krog, Anthony Stewart, and Joey Crabb notched goals for the Wolves on Thursday… Stewart has now scored in three of his last four games (3-0-3), while Crabb shows a point in four straight outings (3-2-5) and leads the team with five goals and eight points overall… Chicago defenseman Nathan Oystrick has picked up an assist in three of his last four games (0-4-4).
MORNING HEADLINES:
SHARKS EVEN UP SERIES ON ROAD – Worcester Telegram & Gazette
They’ve made the trip here dozens of times, and it’s a long drive with scenery that never really changes, but the Sharks couldn’t be happier knowing that they’ll be visiting the Granite State again next Friday. Worcester, left for dead heading into the third period, beat the Monarchs last night, 3-2, scoring two goals in the final 10 minutes, including the winner with 34 seconds left.
http://www.telegram.com/article/20100502/NEWS/5020647/1149/COLUMN21
SHARKS TAKE BITE OUT OF MONARCHS – Nashua Telegraph
The Manchester Monarchs and Worcester Sharks didn’t switch jerseys between games of their Atlantic Division Finals Friday and Saturday. Had no one known better, it wouldn’t have been hard to believe. After dominating play for most of Friday’s Game 3, the Monarchs were outplayed for long periods of Saturday’s Game 4.
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/sports/localsports/723488-222/sharks-take-bite-out-of-monarchs.html?i=1
WOLVES’ LOSS BRINGS EARLY ‘MUST’ GAME – Chicago Sun-Times
Losing Game 1 in overtime 4-3 to the Texas Stars on Friday at Allstate Arena makes it imperative that the Wolves win Game 2 of their West Division final today because the next three are in Texas. "But even if this had been in the [2-2-1-1-1] format, it’s a must-win game," veteran winger Brett Sterling said after practice Saturday. "We’re not out of it by any means. The series just started."
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/hockey/wolves/2224072,CST-SPT-wolves02.article
SHANTZ BACK FROM AFRICA WITH CLEAR HEAD – Calgary Herald/Canwest News Service
Suffering from burnout, a disillusioned goalie flew across the globe last summer to volunteer in the African archipelago of Zanzibar. Call it a vision quest, of sorts, for a young man in search of a new game plan for life. Ten months later, David Shantz finds himself as the No. 1 goalie in the Calgary Flames’ farm system.
http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/sports/2976520/story.html
SUBBAN HAS WON HEARTS IN MONTREAL – Sun Newspapers/QMI
P.K. Subban is a player whose skill set gets people excited. No more so than in Montreal, where they already chant the 20-year-old’s name. Now, after the injury to Andrei Markov, the Habs and their fans will get a chance to see more of the speedy defenseman. “He’s brought to our club what he expected he would,” said Canadiens coach Jacques Martin. “He has good quickness, good speed and good vision. He’s filled some important minutes for us.”
http://www.torontosun.com/sports/hockey/2010/05/01/13793771-qmi.html
KINNEAR FACE OF FRANCHISE – Albany Times-Union
Jeff Daniels, the Albany River Rats … er, Charlotte Checkers head coach, soon will be able to make the relatively short drive home from the rink to be with his family that never left North Carolina. It’s different for assistant coach Geordie Kinnear. Rather than a homecoming, the franchise’s relocation means the 36-year-old is leaving the home he’s known for much of his adult life.
http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=927217&category=MCGUIRE&TextPage=1
JACKETS COACH MUST BRIDGE GENERATION GAP – Columbus Dispatch
Even a quick look at the six known candidates for the Blue Jackets coaching vacancy reveals elements of what general manager Scott Howson is looking to add with his next hire. One can deduce that Howson prefers a former player and a coach whose star is rising, not a recycle.
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2010/05/02/jackets-coach-must-bridge-generation-gap.html
FROM CALDER TO STANLEY:
In Saturday’s Stanley Cup Playoff action, 1998 AHL All-Star Marc Savard tallied the game-winning goal in overtime and 2005 AHL All-Star Patrice Bergeron also scored as Boston opened its Eastern Conference semifinal with a 5-4 win over Philadelphia… 2005 Calder Cup champion Mike Richards registered a goal and two assists for the Flyers… Mason Raymond and 2005 AHL All-Star Christian Ehrhoff each posted a goal and an assist to help Vancouver to a 5-1 win at Chicago in Game 1 of their Western Conference semifinal.
BY THE NUMBERS:
11 – Consecutive periods (including overtime) entering today’s action in which Texas has scored at least one goal.
7 – Game 1’s played by Chicago in the Calder Cup Playoffs that have gone to overtime… The Wolves are 2-5 in those games.
2-9 – Hamilton’s all-time series record when losing Game 1, as they did to Abbotsford on Thursday night.
15-0 – Hamilton’s all-time series record when winning Game 1.
ON THIS DATE:
May 2, 2008 – Bobby Ryan ties the game with 57 seconds left in regulation and Brendan Mikkelson scores 5:20 into overtime as Portland stuns Providence, 4-3, to cut its series deficit in the Atlantic Division Finals to 2-1.
May 2, 2003 – Trent Hunter scores with 21.4 seconds left in regulation to give Bridgeport a 3-2 win over Binghamton and even their conference semifinal series at 2-2.
May 2, 2000 – Roberto Luongo makes 38 saves in a losing effort as Providence completes a four-game sweep of Lowell with a 6-3 victory.
May 2, 1999 – Evgeni Nabokov’s 19-save shutout propels Kentucky into the second round with a 2-0 victory in a decisive Game 5 vs. Hershey.
May 2, 1995 – Donald Brashear records a hat trick to lead Fredericton to a 7-2 win over the P.E.I. Senators.
AHL LIVE:
Don’t miss a step on the road to the 2010 Calder Cup championship. AHL Live brings AHL action to your computer all season long with live video webcasts and highlights of every AHL game, as well as behind-the-scenes features and interviews in the Video On Demand section… Visit theahl.com or ahllive.com for details.
