AHL Milwaukee Admirals

Admirals battling for AHL's top spot

March 29, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Milwaukee Admirals News Release


OVERALL...The Milwaukee Admirals enter this week's action with 96 points (43-20-7-3) and are currently in first place in the AHL's West Division with seven games to play. Those 43 wins are the most in a season since 1997-98 when the team posted a 43-34-0-5 mark. In addition, Milwaukee sits six points up on the Grand Rapids Griffins and 12 points ahead of the third place Chicago Wolves in the race for the Chick trophy, given annually to the top team in the West Division. The Ads also own the top record in the entire league and are five points ahead of the Philadelphia Phantoms in their quest to claim the Kilpatrick Trophy, awarded to the AHL's regular season points champion.

THE WEEK AHEAD:

GRAND RAPIDS...The Admirals are 2-4-1-0 in seven games vs. the Griffins, including 1-2 at the Van Andel Arena. Milwaukee is 6-17-2-1 lifetime in Grand Rapids, including 2-7-2-0 in the last 11. In the last 14 overall games vs. Grand Rapids, the Ads are 5-6-3-0. The Ads have a .500 or better record vs. twelve of their 14 opponents this season. The Griffins and St. John's are the only two teams with winning records vs. Milwaukee.

VS. HAMILTON...The Admirals are 2-3-1-1 lifetime vs. the Bulldogs, including 1-1-1-0 at the Bradley Center. This season, Milwaukee is 1-1-0-1 vs. Hamilton winning 4-3 on March 9th in Milwaukee and losing 4-3 in overtime on November 21st and 3-2 on November 22nd in Hamilton.

CINCINNATI...Milwaukee is 3-2-2 vs. the Mighty Ducks, including 2-1 on Bradley Center ice. Lifetime vs. Cincy, Milwaukee is 5-6-7-1, including 4-2-2-1 at the Bradley Center. Nine of the 19 games between the teams have gone to overtime with the Admirals sporting a 1-1-7 mark.

LAST WEEK'S ACTION...The Admirals finished the week with a 2-2 record, sandwiching a pair of losses between two victories in Texas. On Tuesday night, Greg Classen and Darren Haydar each scored a pair of goals and Wade Flaherty stopped 23 of 24 shots leading the Admirals to a 5-1 victory over the Rampage at the SBC Center in San Antonio. The Ads grabbed a 1-0 lead on a Tony Hrkac tally in the first period on Wednesday night against the Toronto Roadrunners, but were held in check they rest of the way by Toronto netminder Tyler Moss as they fell 2-1. Saturday night marked the 100th all-time regular season meeting between the Wolves and Admirals and it was the Wolves who would have their way in a 4-2 win. Milwaukee finished the week with a 3-1 victory in Houston on Sunday. Hrkac, Simon Gamache, and Vernon Fiddler each lit the lamp for the Admirals.

MARCH MADDNESS...With one game to play in the month of March, the Admirals have posted a 10-4 record, including a 6-3 mark away from the Bradley Center. That puts the Ads one road win shy of the team record of seven set in November of 1988 when they went 7-1-0-1. Darren Haydar tops the club with 17 points (7g-10a) in the month, followed by Mathieu Darche with 14 points (5g-9a). Curtis Murphy recorded 12 points (4g-8a) and was +13. Goaltender Wade Flaherty notched a 5-1 record on the month, including a 2.17 goals against average and a .927 save percentage.

MAGIC NUMBERS...Milwaukee's magic number to secure home ice advantage in the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs sits at 2. Any combination of the Ads gaining two points or the Wolves losing two points would give Milwaukee home ice. The Admirals magic number to clinch the West Division crown is currently nine. Any combination of Admiral wins or Grand Rapids losses totaling nine points would nab the Admirals the top spot in the West and the Chick Trophy.

ON THE PLUS SIDE...Entering this week's action the entire Admirals active roster is even or better. Defenseman Curtis Murphy leads the league with a +38 rating. Rookie blueliner Greg Zanon is fourth at +28 and veteran defenseman Ray Schultz and rookie Timofei Shishkanov are tied for fifth at +23. In addition, Murphy, Zanon and Schultz rank 1-2-3 among AHL blueliners.

TEXAS TWO-STEP...Yesterday's 3-1 win in Houston gave the Admirals a perfect 10-0 record for the season in the Lone Star State. Milwaukee registered perfect 5-0 records versus the Aeros and also the San Antonio Rampage. That marks the first time since 1988-89 that the Ads have posted a 5-0 record on the road against on opponent.

LEAGUE LEADERS...The Admirals lead the AHL with 248 goals, 395 assists and 643 total points. They feature the league's most explosive offense at 3.4 goals per game. Haydar and Darche rank 15th and 17th among AHL scorers with 57 (21g-36a) and 56 points (28g-28a), respectively. Curtis Murphy is second among AHL defensemen with 46 points and 15 goals. Brad Tiley is fifth among AHL blueliners with 44 points (13g-31a), third among AHL defensemen with 13 goals and leads AHL defensemen with 10 power play goals. Brian Finley ranks sixth among AHL netminders with 22 victories.

TWO PERIOD GAMES...The Admirals are 35-0-3-0 (.961) when leading after two periods of play and are the only AHL team that's undefeated when entering the third period with a lead. Conversely, the Admirals are 0-15-3-1 (.110) when trailing after two periods joining Portland, Bridgeport and Houston as the only four teams without a third period comeback. The Admirals are 8-4-1-2 (.633) when the game is tied after two periods of play.

THIS WEEK

HOME
Thursday April 1st Hamilton Bulldogs 7:00 p.m.
Saturday April 3rd Cincinnati Mighty Ducks 7:00 p.m.

ROAD
Wednesday March 31st Grand Rapids Griffins 6:00 p.m.

Hear all of the Admirals' games on Joy1340 (1340 am) and on the Internet at www.sportsjuice.com

Check out the Milwaukee Admirals Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from March 29, 2004


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