LOOKING BACK:
The home team won all six games on Wednesday’s AHL slate… In his return to Chicago, 2006-07 AHL MVP Darren Haydar notched four points (2-2-4), including the 400th of his AHL career, as the Wolves defeated Peoria, 7-4… David Ling scored the game-winner with 19.2 seconds left to give Toronto a 4-3 win over Syracuse.
Wed 12/19
ALBANY 3, Rochester 2
HERSHEY 5, Binghamton 2
CHICAGO 7, Peoria 4
QUAD CITY 2, Iowa 1 (SO)
BRIDGEPORT 3, Norfolk 0
TORONTO 4, Syracuse 3
Thu 12/20
No games scheduled
LOOKING AHEAD:
Milwaukee takes its three-game winning streak to the I Wireless Center to battle Quad City on Friday… The Admirals come in two points ahead of the fifth-place Flames in the West Division… Goaltender Pekka Rinne has won five straight decisions for Milwaukee and is now tied for the AHL lead with 14 wins on the season… Rookie defenseman Cody Franson has a goal in three straight games after scoring just once in his first 22 outings… Janne Niskala has five goals in five games against the Flames, and three goals in 22 games against the rest of the AHL… Quad City comes in 5-1-0-1 since Dec. 7, with rookie goaltender Matt Keetley posting a 1.92 GAA in those seven starts… Krys Kolanos has four points (1-3-4) in two games against Milwaukee this season… Grant Stevenson has gone three games without a point following his six-game scoring streak.
Worcester travels to Portland for a rare back-to-back set with the Pirates this weekend… The Sharks enter with a four-game winning streak, while Portland’s 11 home wins (11-4-0-0) are tied for second-most in the league… Worcester is 0-4-1-1 at the Cumberland County Civic Center since winning the franchise’s first-ever game there on Oct. 6, 2006… Third-year pro Mike Iggulden leads the Sharks with 13 goals and 27 points, including a team-high five points (3-2-5) against Portland… Lukas Kaspar has a goal in three straight games (4-1-5), and captain Graham Mink has a point in three straight (1-3-4)… Portland defenseman Brian Salcido ranks second among AHL blueliners in assists (20) and points (27).
Grand Rapids is 5-2-0-0 in its last seven home games since an 0-7-0-1 start, and the Griffins host West leaders Rockford and Chicago at Van Andel Arena this weekend… Saturday will mark the first meeting of the season between the Griffins and their long-time rival Wolves; the teams split last year’s four-game series… Mark Hartigan, Carl Corazzini and Mark Cullen share Grand Rapids’ team lead with 24 points apiece… Rockford center Martin St. Pierre has ridden a nine-game scoring streak (4-9-13) to a share of the AHL scoring lead with 37 points… In their first game together this season, Darren Haydar, Brett Sterling and Jason Krog combined for six goals and five assists in the Wolves’ 7-4 win over Peoria on Wednesday.
(all times Eastern)
Fri 12/21
Bridgeport @ Hartford, 7:00
Rockford @ Grand Rapids, 7:00
Worcester @ Portland, 7:05
Lowell @ Providence, 7:05
Manchester @ W-B/Scranton, 7:05
Norfolk @ Binghamton, 7:05
Hershey @ Philadelphia, 7:05
Albany @ Syracuse, 7:30
Peoria @ Lake Erie, 7:30
Toronto @ Rochester, 7:35
Springfield @ San Antonio, 8:00
Milwaukee @ Quad City, 8:05
Houston @ Iowa, 8:07
Hamilton @ Manitoba, 8:30
Sat 12/22
Manchester @ Bridgeport, 7:00
Syracuse @ Hartford, 7:00
Norfolk @ Hershey, 7:00
Chicago @ Grand Rapids, 7:00
Providence @ Lowell, 7:05
Worcester @ Portland, 7:05
Albany @ W-B/Scranton, 7:05
Rochester @ Binghamton, 7:05
Peoria @ Lake Erie, 7:30
Iowa @ Quad City, 8:05
Milwaukee @ Rockford, 8:05
Hamilton @ Manitoba, 8:30
Springfield @ Houston, 8:35
Sun 12/23
No games scheduled
Mon 12/24
No games scheduled
Tue 12/25
No games scheduled
ALUMNI WATCH:
On Thursday, 2007 AHL All-Star Karri Ramo made 31 saves to pick up his first career NHL win as Tampa Bay downed Toronto, 2-1… Also Thursday, Sergei Kostitsyn scored his first NHL goal in Montreal’s 5-2 win at Washington… 2007 AHL All-Star Keith Yandle scored his first NHL goal in Phoenix’s 3-2 win at Philadelphia on Tuesday.
BY THE NUMBERS:
5 — Power-play goals surrendered by Manitoba in 14 games at home this season… The Moose have killed 72 of 77 shorthanded situations (93.1%) at the MTS Centre, where they welcome Hamilton for a two-game set this weekend.
AHL CHAT ROOM:
Hartford Wolf Pack forward Greg Moore will enter the AHL Chat Room on Thursday, Dec. 27, to answer fans’ questions. Visit theahl.com for details.
AHL ALL-STAR FAN BALLOTING:
2008 AHL All-Star Classic Fan Balloting presented by Reebok is underway now through January 6 on theahl.com. Vote today to help pick the starting lineups and for a chance to win a team-signed AHL All-Star jersey.
AHL ON B2 NETWORKS:
B2 Networks brings AHL action to your computer all season long with live video webcasts of every AHL game… Visit theahl.com for details.
