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AHL Morning Skate

Published on April 16, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL) News Release


SUNDAY'S SCORES:

Hartford 3, BRIDGEPORT 2

CHICAGO 5, Peoria 3

Manitoba 4, TORONTO 3

Lowell 4, PROVIDENCE 1

WORCESTER 4, Springfield 2

SYRACUSE 7, Hamilton 1

PHILADELPHIA 3, Albany 2

HOUSTON 3, Milwaukee 2 (SO)

ROCKFORD 5, Iowa 3

Quad City 4, SAN ANTONIO 3

HERSHEY 6, Binghamton 5 (OT)

ROCHESTER 6, Lake Erie 5

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SUNDAY'S THREE STARS:

1. Duvie Westcott posted a game-high four points (1-3-4) as Syracuse finished the regular season with its 15th straight win, a 7-1 decision over Hamilton.

2. Darren Haydar netted the game-winning goal and added two assists as Chicago clinched the regular season Western Conference by dropping Peoria, 5-3.

3. Worcester's Tom Cavanagh tallied a pair of goals as the Sharks doubled up Springfield, 4-2, to end the year on a three-game winning streak.

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WEDNESDAY'S SCHEDULE (all times ET):

Game 1 - Philadelphia at Albany, 7:00

Game 1 - Portland at Hartford, 7:00

Game 1 - W-B/Scranton at Hershey, 7:00

Game 1 - Manchester at Providence, 7:05

Game 1 - San Antonio at Toronto, 7:30

Game 1 - Milwaukee at Chicago, 8:00

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2008 CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS:

Atlantic Division Semifinal - Series "A" (best-of-7)

A1-Providence Bruins vs. A4-Manchester Monarchs

Game 1 - Wed., Apr. 16 - Manchester at Providence, 7:05

Game 2 - Fri., Apr. 18 - Manchester at Providence, 7:05

Game 3 - Sat., Apr. 19 - Providence at Manchester, 7:05

Game 4 - Mon., Apr. 21 - Providence at Manchester, 7:05

*Game 5 - Fri., Apr. 25 - Manchester at Providence, 7:05

*Game 6 - Sat., Apr. 26 - Manchester at Providence, 7:05

*Game 7 - Mon., Apr. 28 - Providence at Manchester, 7:05

Atlantic Division Semifinal - Series "B" (best-of-7)

A2-Hartford Wolf Pack vs. A3-Portland Pirates

Game 1 - Wed., Apr. 16 - Portland at Hartford, 7:00

Game 2 - Thu., Apr. 17 - Portland at Hartford, 7:00

Game 3 - Sat., Apr. 19 - Hartford at Portland, 7:05

Game 4 - Sun., Apr. 20 - Hartford at Portland, 6:05

*Game 5 - Tue., Apr. 22 - Portland at Hartford, 7:00

*Game 6 - Thu., Apr. 24 - Hartford at Portland, 7:05

*Game 7 - Sat., Apr. 26 - Portland at Hartford, 7:00

East Division Semifinal - Series "C" (best-of-7)

E1-W-B/Scranton Penguins vs. E4-Hershey Bears

Game 1 - Wed., Apr. 16 - W-B/Scranton at Hershey, 7:00

Game 2 - Sat., Apr. 19 - Hershey at W-B/Scranton, 7:05

Game 3 - Sun., Apr. 20 - Hershey at W-B/Scranton, 5:05

Game 4 - Wed., Apr. 23 - W-B/Scranton at Hershey, 7:00

*Game 5 - Fri., Apr. 25 - Hershey at W-B/Scranton, 7:05

*Game 6 - Sat., Apr. 26 - W-B/Scranton at Hershey, 7:00

*Game 7 - Sun., Apr. 27 - Hershey at W-B/Scranton, 5:05

East Division Semifinal - Series "D" (best-of-7)

E2-Philadelphia Phantoms vs. E3-Albany River Rats

Game 1 - Wed., Apr. 16 - Philadelphia at Albany, 7:00

Game 2 - Fri., Apr. 18 - Albany at Philadelphia, 7:05 (WC)

Game 3 - Sun., Apr. 20 - Albany at Philadelphia, 5:05 (WC)

Game 4 - Tue., Apr. 22 - Philadelphia at Albany, 7:00

*Game 5 - Thu., Apr. 24 - Philadelphia at Albany, 7:00

*Game 6 - TBA - Albany at Philadelphia (WC)

*Game 7 - TBA - Albany at Philadelphia (WC)

(WC) at Wachovia Center, Philadelphia

North Division Semifinal - Series "E" (best-of-7)

N1-Toronto Marlies vs. W5-San Antonio Rampage

Game 1 - Wed., Apr. 16 - San Antonio at Toronto, 7:30

Game 2 - Fri., Apr. 18 - San Antonio at Toronto, 7:30

Game 3 - TBA - Toronto at San Antonio

Game 4 - TBA - Toronto at San Antonio

*Game 5 - TBA - Toronto at San Antonio

*Game 6 - TBA - San Antonio at Toronto

*Game 7 - TBA - San Antonio at Toronto

North Division Semifinal - Series "F" (best-of-7)

N2-Syracuse Crunch vs. N3-Manitoba Moose

Game 1 - Fri., Apr. 18 - Manitoba at Syracuse, 7:30

Game 2 - Sat., Apr. 19 - Manitoba at Syracuse, 7:30

Game 3 - Tue., Apr. 22 - Syracuse at Manitoba, 8:30

Game 4 - Fri., Apr. 25 - Syracuse at Manitoba, 8:30

*Game 5 - Sat., Apr. 26 - Syracuse at Manitoba, 8:30

*Game 6 - Mon., Apr. 28 - Manitoba at Syracuse, 7:00

*Game 7 - Tue., Apr. 29 - Manitoba at Syracuse, 7:00

West Division Semifinal - Series "G" (best-of-7)

W1-Chicago Wolves vs. W4-Milwaukee Admirals

Game 1 - Wed., Apr. 16 - Milwaukee at Chicago, 8:00

Game 2 - Fri., Apr. 18 - Milwaukee at Chicago, 8:30

Game 3 - Sun., Apr. 20 - Chicago at Milwaukee, 6:00

Game 4 - Wed., Apr. 23 - Chicago at Milwaukee, 8:00

*Game 5 - Thu., Apr. 24 - Milwaukee at Chicago, 8:00

*Game 6 - Sat., Apr. 26 - Chicago at Milwaukee, 8:30

*Game 7 - Mon., Apr. 28 - Milwaukee at Chicago, 8:00

West Division Semifinal - Series "H" (best-of-7)

W2-Rockford IceHogs vs. W3-Houston Aeros

Game 1 - Fri., Apr. 18 - Houston at Rockford, 8:30

Game 2 - Sat., Apr. 19 - Houston at Rockford, 8:05

Game 3 - TBA - Rockford at Houston

Game 4 - TBA - Rockford at Houston

*Game 5 - TBA - Rockford at Houston

*Game 6 - Sun., Apr. 27 - Houston at Rockford, 5:05

*Game 7 - Mon., Apr. 28 - Houston at Rockford, 8:05

*if necessary... All times Eastern

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GAME NOTES (all times ET):

Philadelphia at Albany, 7:00

Philadelphia suits up for its first playoff game since winning the 2005 Calder Cup title tonight when it visits Albany to begin their East Division semifinal... It's the first playoff meeting between the teams since 1998, when the Phantoms downed the River Rats in the conference finals in route to their first Calder Cup victory... Rookie Kyle Greentree paced the Phantoms with 24 regular-season goals, while Jared Ross finished with a team-high 62 points (23-39-62) in 67 games... Ryan Potulny (21), Jonathan Matsumoto (20), and Pete Zingoni (20) all reached the 20-goal plateau for Philadelphia as well... 2007-08 "Baz" Bastien Award winner Michael Leighton went 28-25-4 for the River Rats, finishing second in the league in both GAA (2.10) and minutes played (3,451), and first in save percentage (.931) and shutouts (seven)... Jamie Johnson paced Albany with 58 points (21-37-58) in 79 games... This will be the first Calder Cup Playoff game at the Times Union Center since Apr. 17, 2000.

Portland at Hartford, 7:00

Hartford and Portland kick off their Atlantic Division Semifinal series tonight at the XL Center... This series features the AHL's top two scoring defensemen - the Wolf Pack's Andrew Hutchinson (18-46-64) and the Pirates' Brian Salcido (11-42-53)... Hartford racked up a franchise-record 110 points (50-20-2-8) in the regular season... Former Pirate Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau led the Wolf Pack with 34 goals, 47 assists and 81 points in 75 games... Lauri Korpikoski finished the regular season on a four-game scoring streak (2-4-6)... Second-year pro Andrew Ebbett paced the Pirates in scoring during the regular season with 72 points (18-54-72) in 74 games... Geoff Platt tallied a career-high 32 goals (32-33-65), including six in eight games against Hartford... First-year Hartford head coach Ken Gernander played in a league-record 123 Calder Cup Playoff games in his career.

W-B/Scranton at Hershey, 7:00

Intra-state rivals Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Hershey, meeting in the playoffs for the third time in as many years, play Game 1 of their East Division Semifinal tonight at the Giant Center... The Bears eliminated the Penguins in the division final round in 2006 and 2007 en route to consecutive appearances in the Calder Cup Finals... Third-year Bear Chris Bourque had a seven-game scoring streak (8-7-15) to close the regular season and totaled a team-high 15 points (5-10-15) in nine games against the Penguins... Alexandre Giroux, who had a pair of overtime goals against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in last year's playoffs, posted 27 points (14-13-27) in 24 games after rejoining the Bears at the trade deadline... Penguins goaltender John Curry led all AHL rookies and ranked fifth overall with a 2.23 GAA (24-12-3), but he was just 1-4-0 against the Bears.

Manchester at Providence, 7:05

Manchester and Providence square off in the playoffs for the second year in a row and third out of the last four as they begin their first-round series tonight at the Dunkin' Donuts Center... The Bruins were atop the AHL standings nearly all season and finished with 55 wins and 117 points, including a 27-9-1-3 mark on home ice... First-team AHL All-Star Pascal Pelletier led the Bruins' offense with 37 goals and 75 points in 73 games... Matt Hendricks, a Calder Cup finalist with Hershey last season, had a team-high five goals and eight points in just six regular-season games against the Monarchs... Manchester's Teddy Purcell (25-58-83) and Brian Boyle (31-31-62) finished first and second in the AHL's rookie scoring race, the first teammates to do so since 1989... Purcell, the AHL's Dudley "Red" Garrett Award winner, had a point in 10 of his last 11 games (7-10-17) down the stretch... The Monarchs boast the league's top-ranked power play at 23.8 percent.

San Antonio at Toronto, 7:30 (Leafs TV)

San Antonio will make its first postseason appearance since 2003 when it takes the ice against North Division champion Toronto, back in the playoffs after a last-place finish in 2006-07... Matt Murley, a Calder Cup finalist with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2004, paced the Rampage in the regular season with 62 points (21-41-62) and a plus-20 rating, while second-year pro Bill Thomas showed a team-high 24-goals (24-28-52)... San Antonio totaled six 20-goal scorers, including 2006 Calder Cup champion Joey Tenute (21-28-49) and third-year forward David Spina (21-29-50), who is making his first playoff appearance... Marlies rookie Jiri Tlusty, a first-round draft pick in 2006, had 10 points (4-6-10) in four games to end the regular season after rejoining the team from the parent Maple Leafs... John Mitchell (20-31-51) was Toronto's only 20-goal scorer... Toronto had the league's best regular-season penalty-kill rate at 87.4%... The Marlies were 0-3 at home during their only previous postseason appearance, a first-round loss to Grand Rapids in 2006.

Milwaukee at Chicago, 8:00

Old rivals Milwaukee and Chicago tangle in the division semifinals for the second time in as many years, beginning tonight at Allstate Arena... The Wolves captured a four-game sweep over the Admirals last spring... Chicago center Jason Krog was named AHL MVP after leading the league in goals (39), assists (73) and points (112)... Krog led all scorers in the regular season series between the teams with 15 points (3-12-15) in 10 tilts... The Wolves' Darren Haydar, who won a Calder Cup with Milwaukee in 2004 and reached the Finals again in 2006, ranks fourth in league history with 97 career playoff points (43-54-97)... Milwaukee goaltender Pekka Rinne led the league in wins (36) and minutes played (3,840) in the regular season... Cal O'Reilly finished fifth overall with 79 points (16-63-79) in 80 games for the Admirals... Seventh-year pro Josh Langfeld shows nine goals and 14 points in 26 career Calder Cup Playoff games.

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MORNING HEADLINES:

PRESSURE ON MARLIES TO GO ON PLAYOFF RAMPAGE

Mark Zwolinski, Toronto Star

On the eve of post-season play, the Marlies are unconcerned about a letdown from their record-setting regular season in the American Hockey League. The Marlies set team records for wins (50) and points (109), and when they open the first round against San Antonio Rampage tonight at the Ricoh Coliseum, they'll be expected to continue that success. "That's the first time that's even crossed my mind," Marlies defenseman and assistant captain Jay Harrison said when asked about the team retaining its regular-season excellence through post-season play.

http://www.thestar.com/Sports/Hockey/article/414904

BIG CHEESE FOR THE RATS

Pete Dougherty, Albany Times-Union

Crystal is the traditional theme for a 15th anniversary. The Albany River Rats, who joined the American Hockey League in 1993, would prefer hardware, as in the Calder Cup. For a team that hasn't won a playoff series in a decade, the Rats have an air of confidence as they begin the postseason at home tonight against the Philadelphia Phantoms. They put their trust in a 6-foot-3, 190-pound player who played for the Phantoms last year. Michael Leighton continues a tradition of strong goaltenders in River Rats history.

http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=681161&category=SPORTS&newsdate=4/16/2008

ADMIRALS TURN SAME PAGE

Dave Boehler, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

On Jan. 13, the Milwaukee Admirals were tied for last place and Rich Peverley was headed back to the National Hockey League. "For us, there wasn't really a question in my mind whether or not we were going to be (in the playoffs)," Milwaukee coach Lane Lambert said. "It was just a matter of getting it done." Consider it done, as the Admirals begin their best-of-seven West Division semifinal series tonight in Chicago. But after Peverley was recalled by the parent Nashville Predators, somebody had to fill the huge void he left on offense. Enter second-year center Cal O'Reilly.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=739813

WOLVES READY TO TAKE ON OLD RIVAL MILWAUKEE

Tim Sassone, Daily Herald

Whether it was years ago in the old International League or right now in the American Hockey League, the Chicago Wolves always have had a target on their back. That's what happens to a franchise that pretty much knows nothing but success. "You know what we are? We're the evil empire," Wolves coach John Anderson said Monday. "And I'm OK with that as long as we know we're the evil empire. Nobody is going to give us any easy games." Especially the Milwaukee Admirals, the Wolves' longtime rivals and their first-round opponent in the AHL's Calder Cup playoffs that begin with Game 1 on Wednesday at the Allstate Arena.

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=172724&src=163

WOLF PACK OPEN PLAYOFFS AGAINST PIRATES TONIGHT

Bruce Berlet, Hartford Courant

The Wolf Pack won their last four regular season games to tie the franchise record for victories and road wins and earn a team-record 110 points, despite eight shootout losses that topped the AHL. An 11-1-0-2 final run led the Pack (50-20-2-8) to their 11th playoff berth in as many seasons. They finished with the third best record in the league and second best in the Eastern Conference, to Providence. But it means little tonight as they begin the playoffs, an Atlantic Division semifinal game against Portland at the XL Center. Especially since the third-seeded Pirates won five of eight games against the second-seeded Pack.

http://www.courant.com/sports/hockey/hc-wolfpack0416.artapr16,0,7182769.story

P-BRUINS ARE RIDING WAVE INTO PLAYOFFS

Steven Krasner, Providence Journal

One "season" is over. And it was a very good one. Now that the Providence Bruins' impressive regular season has come to a close, though, it is time for the playoff "season," which begins tonight (7:05) at the Dunkin' Donuts Center when the P-Bruins play host to the Manchester Monarchs in the first game of a best-of-seven division semifinal series in the chase for the Calder Cup. The P-Bruins' appearance in the American Hockey League playoffs, and the fact they earned home-ice advantage, wasn't in much doubt after a fast start and continued winning ways during the winter and spring.

http://www.projo.com/pbruins/content/sp_hkn_pbruins16_04-16-08_LK9PKUC_v10.34a9316.html

BEARS EXPECT PENS TO BE PHYSICAL TEST

Tim Leone, Harrisburg Patriot-News

Josef Boumedienne may begin to feel like a crash-test dummy once the first-round playoff series between the Hershey Bears and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins ensues. Boumedienne and partner Sami Lepisto, Hershey's top defensive pair, figure to face a forecheck pounding designed to wear them down during the course of a seven-game series. "I don't think I'll have a target especially on me," Boumedienne said Tuesday. "If you're out there a lot and you're logging a lot of ice time, you're a target every game. "I think they played pretty physical every game we've played them so far."

http://www.pennlive.com/hersheybears/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/sports/1208309127136440.xml&coll=1

REVAMPED RAMPAGE READY FOR POSTSEASON TO START

John Whisler, San Antonio Express-News

For Rampage center Joey Tenute, there's no time like playoff hockey time. "You never know what can change the momentum of a game," he said. "It could be one shift, one hit, one shot, one goal. Anything. That's what makes it so exciting." Tenute and the Rampage begin play in the 2008 American Hockey League Calder Cup playoffs tonight in Toronto against the North Division champion Marlies. Yes, the postseason. The Rampage haven't been there since 2002-03, their inaugural season in San Antonio.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/hockey/rampage/stories/MYSA041608.01E..HKMrampage.en.37cb6a8.html

ROOKIE PLAYING AS IF HE'S BEEN HERE BEFORE

Barbara Matson, Boston Globe

Montreal goaltender Carey Price is 20 years old, a kid still, but last night he wreaked havoc with the carefully considered game plans of grown men. It was left to Price to make 27 saves as the Canadiens held on for a 1-0 victory at TD Banknorth Garden, taking a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Price, who earned the first playoff shutout of his NHL career, sounded more like a veteran after the game. "Whenever you come to an opposition rink, especially in the playoffs, they're going to come out swinging," said the rookie, who was MVP of the Calder Cup playoffs in the AHL last season, as well as MVP of the World Junior Championships, where his Canadian team won gold.

http://www.boston.com/sports/hockey/bruins/articles/2008/04/16/rookie_playing_as_if_hes_been_here_before/

CAPITALS' COACH HAS HISTORY WITH HOLMGREN

Ray Parrillo, Philadelphia Inquirer

Along with their desire to plot their way into the Eastern Conference semifinals, Bruce Boudreau, the Washington Capitals coach, and Flyers coach John Stevens have a few things in common. Both were promoted to the NHL after winning Calder Cup championships in the American Hockey League - Boudreau in 2006 with Hershey and Stevens in 2005 with the Phantoms. They preside over the teams that made the most dramatic improvements in the NHL since last season. Both rely on players they helped develop at the AHL level. And both have connections to Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren. In fact, Holmgren said the success both Boudreau and Stevens have had might trigger a trend in which GMs give AHL coaches longer looks when searching for a coach, rather than recycle coaches with NHL experience.

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/flyers/20080415_Capitals__coach_has_history_with_Holmgren.html

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FROM CALDER TO STANLEY:

2007 Calder Cup Playoffs MVP Carey Price posted his first career Stanley Cup Playoff shutout on Tuesday, making 27 saves as Montreal eked out a 1-0 win at Boston to take a 3-1 series lead.

2005 Calder Cup champion Mike Richards notched a goal and an assist and 1998 AHL All-Star Daniel Briere had three points (2-1-3) Tuesday to help Philadelphia double up Washington, 6-3, and take a 2-1 lead in their series.

Minnesota goaltender Josh Harding, who played 10 career Calder Cup Playoff games with Houston in 2005 and 2006, made his Stanley Cup Playoff debut on Tuesday and stopped all 11 shots he faced in relief during the Wild's 5-1 loss to Colorado.

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BY THE NUMBERS:

2 - Higher seeds (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Philadelphia) that will open their first-round series on the road because of arena scheduling conflicts... The Penguins and Phantoms will still get home-ice advantage, and are scheduled to play four of the series' final six games at home.

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ON THIS DATE:

April 16, 2004 - Behind Michael Leighton's second consecutive shutout, the Norfolk Admirals complete a two-game sweep of the Binghamton Senators in the teams' East Division qualifying series.

April 16, 1993 - Martin Brodeur (42 saves) outduels Olaf Kolzig (35 saves) and Jim Dowd scores the winning goal in overtime as the Utica Devils defeat the Rochester Americans, 3-2, in Game 1 of their opening-round series.

April 16, 1975 - After losing Games 5 and 6 in overtime, the Hershey Bears edge the Richmond Robins, 4-3, to advance to the division finals.

April 16, 1953 - In the only Calder Cup Finals Game 7 ever to go to overtime, Bob Chrystal's goal gives the Cleveland Barons a 1-0 win over the Pittsburgh Hornets and their sixth AHL championship.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 16, 2008


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