The Binghamton Senators’ playoff drive stalled on Wednesday night, as Corey Crawford made 30 saves to lead Norfolk to a 2-0 win over the Senators.
Binghamton’s loss gives the fourth and final playoff spot in the East Division to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Bridgeport will face Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the division semifinals, beginning next Thursday.
Martin St. Pierre and Scott Bertoli provided the offense for the Admirals on Wednesday. Norfolk will finish third in the East and meet Hershey in the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs.
For Crawford, a 21-year-old rookie from Montreal, it was his first professional shutout.
SYRACUSE 2, WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON 1 (SO)
Andy Delmore scored the winning goal in the ninth shootout round as Syracuse reached the 100-point mark with a 2-1 victory over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Delmore was presented with the Eddie Shore Award as the AHL’s outstanding defenseman before the game,
Joakim Lindstrom early scored in the second period for the Crunch, then kept the game alive by converting his attempt in round 8 of the shootout. Andrew Penner finished with 31 saves, including five in overtime, before stopping seven of nine attempts in the shootout.
Matt Hussey scored for the Penguins, who got 32 saves from Andy Chiodo, including a stop on a Fedor Fedorov penalty shot in the third period.
PROVIDENCE 4, MANCHESTER 2
Matt Lashoff‘s first professional goal broke a tie with 4:55 left in regulation and gave Providence a 4-2 win in Manchester.
With the victory, the Bruins moved into third place in the Atlantic Division, one point ahead of the Monarchs.
Lashoff was Boston’s first-round pick, 22nd overall, in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.
Derek Gustafson finished with 26 saves for the P-Bruins.
PORTLAND 5, LOWELL 4 (SO)
Portland got two third-period goals from captain Aaron Gavey and 39 saves from Jani Hurme to post a 5-4 shootout win over Lowell.
With the victory, the Pirates moved one point ahead of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for first place in the Eastern Conference.
David Gove had two goals and an assist for the Lock Monsters, who scored four times in the second period after falling behind by a 2-0 count.
2006 Second Team AHL All-Star Dustin Penner and AHL All-Rookie forward Ryan Shannon scored for Portland in the shootout.
HARTFORD 3, ALBANY 2
Dwight Helminen scored with 1:54 left in the second period to give Hartford a 3-2 victory in Albany.
Lee Falardeau and Hugh Jessiman also scored for the Wolf Pack, who reached 100 points for the third sraight season.
Al Montoya made 31 saves to improve to 22-9-1 on the year.
The River Rats’ winless streak hit 13 games (0-11-1-1) with the loss.
HAMILTON 7, CLEVELAND 1
Pierre Dagenais recorded two goals and an assist as Hamilton rolled to a 7-1 win over Cleveland at Copps Coliseum.
Francis Lemieux added a goal and two assists and Corey Locke and Duncan Milroy registered three assists each.
Kyle Chipchura, Montreal’s first-round pick in the 2004 draft, tallied his first professional goal for the Bulldogs.
