LOOKING BACK:
Chris Bourque rang in the new year with a pair of goals on Friday as Hershey edged Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 3-2… In other action, Jordan Knackstedt registered three points (1-2-3) in Providence’s 4-2 win over Bridgeport… Six different Houston skaters found the back of the net as the Aeros dropped Milwaukee, 6-2… Brett MacLean scored twice to help San Antonio to its fourth straight win, a 3-1 decision over Abbotsford.
Fri 1/1
Houston 6, MILWAUKEE 2
PROVIDENCE 4, Bridgeport 2
Hershey 3, W-B/SCRANTON 2
SAN ANTONIO 3, Abbotsford 1
LOOKING AHEAD:
Worcester takes its four-game winning streak into Lowell on Saturday for a clash with the Devils… The Sharks are 12-2-0-1 since suffering a seven-game losing skid from Nov. 7-20… 2010 AHL All-Star Logan Couture is riding a seven-game scoring streak (3-8-11) for Worcester and has 10 points (4-6-10) in four meetings with Lowell on the year… Fellow Sharks rookies Benn Ferriero (3-7-10) and John McCarthy (4-3-7) each shows a point in six straight tilts, as does Steven Zalewski (4-5-9)… Sharks goaltender Alex Stalock paces the league with 18 wins in 27 appearances (18-8-1, 2.32, .909)… Devils defenseman Matt Taormina has four goals (4-2-6) in five games vs. Worcester and three goals (3-13-16) in 31 other contests… Ben Walter (3-1-4) and rookie Nick Palmieri (2-2-4) both have four-game scoring streaks for Lowell… The Devils boast the AHL’s top power play both overal (24.1 percent) and at home (27.9 percent).
Rochester looks to turn its fortunes around on Saturday with its first visit of the season to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton… The Americans have lost two straight and 10 of 14 (4-9-1-0) since Dec. 2… Jamie Johnson paces the Amerks’ offense with 33 points (13-20-33) in 36 games… Amerks defenseman Keaton Ellerby, a 2010 AHL All-Star and former first-round draft pick, has recorded six points (2-4-6) in his last four contests… Second-year forward Michal Repik shows a point in five of his last six games (1-6-7) for Rochester… The Penguins, who dropped a 4-3 road decision on Nov. 27 in these teams’ first meeting of the season, are 2-1-0-0 thus far on a season-high seven-game homestand… 2010 AHL All-Star Dustin Jeffrey is tied for third in the AHL with 36 points (10-26-36) in 33 games for the Pens… Mark Letestu has a point in four straight games (4-3-7) and seven of his last 10 (5-8-13), while rookies Eric Tangradi (2-2-4) and Joe Vitale (1-2-3) each show three-game scoring streaks.
Grand Rapids travels to the Rockford MetroCentre on Saturday for a battle with the IceHogs… The Griffins, who have already fallen in a pair of home games to Rockford this year, have lost five straight contests overall and been outscored 29-13 during that stretch… It marks Grand Rapids’ longest regulation losing skid since dropping five in a row from Mar. 15-22, 2008… Patrick Rissmiller leads the Griffins with 26 points (9-17-26) in 36 games, but the 2010 AHL All-Star is scoreless in three straight outings for the first time all season… Cory Emmerton shows a point in three of his last four games (1-3-4) for Grand Rapids, who are 1-1-1-1 in four all-time trips to the MetroCentre… Rockford is coming off a 5-4 overtime win vs. Houston on Thursday, and a 4-3 triumph at Grand Rapids on Nov. 27 kicked off a stretch that has seen the IceHogs post a 10-5-0-0 mark in their last 15 games… 2010 AHL All-Star Jack Skille notched the game-winning goal on Thursday and has 4-5-9 in his last six outings… Pete MacArthur has registered an assist in four straight games (0-6-6) for the IceHogs.
(all times Eastern)
Sat 1/2
Milwaukee @ Toronto, 4:00
Norfolk @ Adirondack, 7:00 
Lake Erie @ Hamilton, 7:00
Bridgeport @ Hartford, 7:00
Binghamton @ Hershey, 7:00
Worcester @ Lowell, 7:00
Portland @ Manchester, 7:00
Rochester @ W-B/Scranton, 7:05
Providence @ Springfield, 7:30
Albany @ Syracuse, 7:30
Abbotsford @ San Antonio, 8:00
Peoria @ Chicago, 8:00
Grand Rapids @ Rockford, 8:05
Texas @ Manitoba, 8:30
Sun 1/3
Syracuse @ Hartford, 3:00
Bridgeport @ Worcester, 3:05
Lake Erie @ Grand Rapids, 4:00
Milwaukee @ Hamilton, 4:00
Springfield @ Lowell, 4:00
Portland @ Providence, 4:05
Adirondack @ Hershey, 5:00
Abbotsford @ Houston, 5:05
ALUMNI WATCH:
Former AHL All-Stars Patrice Bergeron (2005) and Zdeno Chara (1998) assisted on the overtime game-winning goal Friday as Boston rallied for a 2-1 win over Philadelphia in the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park… 2009 AHL All-Star Danny Syvret tallied his first career NHL goal for the Flyers.
BY THE NUMBERS:
22 — Current NHL head coaches who previously served as head coach in the American Hockey League, more than 73 percent of the NHL’s coaching field… Davis Payne joined the list Saturday when he was promoted from Peoria to guide the St. Louis Blues.
AHL LIVE:
Watch live games, highlights and features, get video on demand and more all season long with AHL Live. Visit ahllive.com for more information.
