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.
THURSDAY’S SCORES:
Portland 3, W-B/SCRANTON 2 (Series tied, 1-1)
THURSDAY’S THREE STARS:
1. 2008 AHL All-Rookie forward Bobby Ryan scored twice, including the game-winning goal in the third period, as
2. Penguins captain Nathan Smith netted a pair of goals in the defeat.
3. Pirates defenseman Brian Salcido chipped in two assists, including one on the game-winner.
FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE (all times ET):
Game 1 –
2008 CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS:
Complete Results || Scoring Leaders || Goaltending Leaders
Eastern Conference Finals – Series “M” (best-of-7)
E1-Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. A3-Portland Pirates || Preview
Game 1 – Wed., May 14 – W-B/SCRANTON 2, Portland 0
Game 2 – Thu., May 15 – Portland 3, W-B/SCRANTON 2
Game 3 – Sun., May 18 – W-B/Scranton at
Game 4 – Tue., May 20 – W-B/Scranton at
Game 5 – Wed., May 21 – W-B/Scranton at
*Game 6 – Fri., May 23 –
*Game 7 – Sat., May 24 –
Western Conference Finals – Series “N” (best-of-7)
W1-Chicago Wolves vs. N1-Toronto Marlies || Preview
Game 1 – Fri., May 16 –
Game 2 – Sun., May 18 –
Game 3 – Tue., May 20 –
Game 4 – Wed., May 21 –
*Game 5 – Fri., May 23 –
*Game 6 – Sun., May 25 –
*Game 7 – Tue., May 27 –
*if necessary… All times Eastern
GAME NOTES (all times ET):
Game 1 –
TV: Leafs TV, Comcast Cable Chicago
The two division champions out of the Western Conference face off in the conference finals beginning tonight as
MORNING HEADLINES:
GRAPES’ PRAISE A BIG BOOST FOR MARLIE
Mark Zwolinski,
Marlies defenseman Jay Harrison watched the Penguins-Flyers playoff game at home the other night with defensive partner Jaime Sifers. Fellow defenders Chris Harrington and Patrick Wellar provided a little company.
http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/426007
AFTER SURVIVING SCARE, WOLVES NOW LOOK AHEAD
Chris Kuc,
The Wolves are at full attention after receiving a wake-up call courtesy of the Rockford IceHogs. After the IceHogs extended their playoff series to seven games, the Wolves have turned their focus to the AHL’s Western Conference finals Friday night against the Toronto Marlies at Allstate Arena. The winner of the best-of-seven series will go to the Calder Cup finals. “It was a pretty good scare when we were down three [games] to two and we had to pull the last two out,” the Wolves’ Jason Krog said. “I think everyone’s a little bit hungrier and knows that you can’t afford to make mistakes or give a game away here and there and get behind … because your season is over. We’re playing a little bit safer and a little bit hungrier, focusing on every shift and every little play you have and every one-on-one battle.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-16-wolves-chicagomay16,0,5514294.story
MOM WILL HAVE TO WAIT
Lance Hornby,
Forgive Tove Kronwall if she is not 100% thrilled that sons Niklas and Staffan are still playing hockey this late in May. Niklas is a win away from going to his first Stanley Cup final with the Detroit Red Wings and Staffan opens the AHL Western Conference final tonight in
http://torontosun.com/Sports/Hockey/2008/05/16/5584771-sun.html
Paul Betit,
Bobby Ryan got to go one-on-one twice Thursday night against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton goalie John Curry. It was two times too many for Curry and the Penguins. Ryan beat the rookie netminder both times to lead the Portland Pirates to a 3-2 win in Game 2 of the American Hockey League’s Eastern Conference finals. Ryan’s second goal, on a breakaway set up by defenseman Brian Salcido’s long outlet pass, gave the Pirates a 3-1 lead with less than five minutes to play. Nathan Smith scored his second goal of the game on a power play with less than three minutes left as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton fought hard to get back into the game. “It was a typical
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=188061&ac=PHspt
PIRATE ATTACK TIES UP SERIES
Tom Venesky,
Game 2 between the Portland Pirates and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins was an evolution. The first period was lackluster by both teams, by the second period the offenses opened up and in the third it looked like things would explode. But the Pirates, led by two goals from Bobby Ryan and another steady effort in net from J.S. Aubin, weathered a third-period barrage from the Penguins to win 3-2 and tie the Eastern Conference Finals series 1-1. The series shifts to
http://www.timesleader.com/sports/20080516_16_penguins_spt_ART0.html
PIRATES’
Jonathan Bombulie, Times-Shamrock Newspapers
On June 23, the Pittsburgh Penguins traded center Stephen Dixon to the Anaheim Ducks for center Tim Brent. Eleven months later, all it took was one look at the Wachovia Arena ice to determine the trade, from an AHL perspective at least, worked out great for both sides. Brent is the top-line center for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, leading the AHL in scoring.
http://www.citizensvoice.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19695242&BRD=2259&PAG=461&dept_id=460522&rfi=6
BY THE NUMBERS:
9-0 –
0-4 –
ALUMNI WATCH:
Joffrey Lupul netted a pair of goals and 2005 Calder Cup champion Jeff Carter and 1998 AHL All-Star Daniel Briere also scored as
ON THIS DATE:
May 16, 1999 – Richard Park picks up five points (2g, 3a) and Dennis Bonvie adds a goal and two assists as the Philadelphia Phantoms rout Evgeni Nabokov and the Kentucky Thoroughblades, 9-3, in Game 7 of the Mid-Atlantic Division final.
May 16, 1998 – Martin St. Louis scores twice as Saint John downs Hartford, 5-4, in their conference final Game 1.
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