Admirals Clinch Playoff Spot
Published on April 4, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Milwaukee Admirals News Release
OVERALL...The Admirals (43-20-4-5) enter this week's action in second place in the AHL's West Division, four points behind the division leading Chicago Wolves (46-22-5-2). Milwaukee is 7-2-1-1 in the last 11 games and 7-6-1-3 in the last 17 outings.
PLAYOFF BOUND...With Grand Rapids loss to Hamilton Sunday, the Admirals clinched a spot in the 2005 Calder Cup playoffs and a chance to defend their 2004 AHL Title. It's the Admirals third straight Calder Cup playoff appearance. The Admirals have now qualified for postseason play in 25 of 28 seasons, including three of the four seasons in the American Hockey League. Since 1977-78, the only three seasons the Ads failed to qualify for the playoffs were 1984-85, 1987-88 and 2001-02. The Admirals will begin playoff competition against the Grand Rapids Griffins, Cincinnati Mighty Ducks or Houston Aeros during the week of April 17th.
THIS WEEK'S ACTION...
VS. HOUSTON...Milwaukee is 6-3 against the Aeros this season, including 3-1 at the Bradley Center. Overall, Milwaukee is 14-3-1 in the last 18 overall versus Houston and 6-1-1 in the last eight played at the Bradley Center.
@HAMILTON...The Ads are 3-4-1-2 lifetime vs. Hamilton, including 1-0-0-1 this season. Milwaukee is 1-2-0-1 lifetime in Hamilton. The Ads are 17-6-1-1 overall when playing the same opponent in back-to-back games, including 11-5-1-1 on the road.
VS. CHICAGO...Milwaukee is 6-1-1-1 vs. the Wolves this season, including 4-0 at the Bradley Center. Overall, Milwaukee is 7-1-1-1 in the last ten overall versus the Wolves and 9-2 in the last 11 Bradley Center confrontations.
LAST WEEK'S ACTION...The Admirals picked up three of four points in two overtime games last week. On Saturday night, the Admirals squandered a 4-1 lead in losing a 6-5 shootout decision to the Edmonton Roadrunners. Scottie Upshall (2g-1a) and Dan Hamhuis (3a) each notched three points apiece. The Ads are now 29-1-1-2 when leading after two periods. On Tuesday night, Simon Gamache's power play goal 49 seconds into overtime gave the Admirals a 3-2 victory over the Utah Grizzlies. Bryan Lundbohm had a goal and an assist and Brian Finley stopped 21 of 23 shots for his 33rd victory of the season.
RACE AT A GLANCE...
Milwaukee (8): Home (4): April 5 - Houston; 9 - Chicago; 12 - Grand Rapids; 15 - Utah. Away (4): April 6 - Hamilton; 8 - Hamilton; 16 -Cincinnati; 17 - San Antonio. Chicago (5): Home (2): April 6 - Cincinnati; 16 - Utah. Away (3): April 9 -- MILWAUKEE; 14 - San Antonio; 15 - Houston.
The Admirals have eight games remaining against seven different foes, while the Wolves have five games remaining against five different opponents. Four of the Admirals eight remaining games will be on Bradley Center ice, while three of the Wolves five, including Saturday's night game against the Admirals will be on foreign ice.
TO BLANK OR BE BLANKED...The Ads have been shutout seven times this season, which ties the club record established during 2001-02 season. They have also tied the club record, established during 2000-01, by shutting out their opponents six times this season.
ONE GOAL GAMES...Thirty-seven of the Admirals 72 games have been decided by one goal and the Ads are 20-8-4-5 in those contests. Fourteen games have finished 3-2 with the Admirals holding a record of 9-2-2-1 in those frays. The Ads are 2-3 in five 1-0 games this season. Milwaukee has played only 17 1-0 games in franchise history and are 7-9 with one shootout loss.
OVERTIME/SHOOTOUT NUMBERS...The Ads are 6-4 in 17 overtime games this season with seven shootouts. The Admirals were the last AHL team to garner a shootout win this season and are now 2-5 on the season. Five of the last nine games overall and five of the last seven at the Bradley Center have gone into overtime.
72 DOWN, 8 LEFT...The Admirals have 95 points (43-20-4-5) after 72 games compared to last season's 94 points (42-20-7-3) after 72 games. On the road, the Ads had 46 points (20-10-3-3) after 36 road games last season compared to 45 points (20-11-2-3) this season. On home ice, Milwaukee is 23-9-2-2 this season compared to 21-11-4 after 36 home games in 2003-04. The Admirals have reached 20 road victories for the sixth time in franchise history. The team record for road wins in a season is 23, which was established last season.
GAMACHE...Simon Gamache leads Admirals scorers and ranks third in the AHL with 81 points. He has 54 assists and 15 power play goals to rank among league leaders in both categories. His 81 points and 54 assists are the most in a season by an Admirals' player since Tony Hrkac amassed 88 points and 61 assists during the 1996-97 campaign. Gamache's 15 power play tallies are the most by an Admiral since Peter Douris finished the 1996-97 season with 17.
FINLEY...Brian Finley is third among AHL netminders with 33 victories and ranks 13th with a 2.29 goals against average. He is the fifth goaltender in Ads history to surpass the 30-win plateau. Finley's six shutouts are the most in a season by a Milwaukee goaltender and his ten career Admirals' shutouts tie him with Chris Mason for the club record. The 23-year old, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario native has made 57 starts this season.
HAMHUIS...Dan Hamhuis ranks among league leading defensemen with 48 points (12g-36a). He also ranks among league leaders with 12 goals and eight power play goals. The Smithers, BC native picked up his 100th professional point in Saturday's game versus Edmonton.
POWER PLAY...The Admirals lead the AHL with 80 power play goals and rank third in power play percentage completing 80 of 417 chances for a 19.2% completion rate. The 80 goals are the most in a season for the Ads since they scored 84 during the 1997-98 season.
THE WEEK AHEAD
HOME
TUESDAY APRIL 5TH HOUSTON AEROS 7:00 P.M.
SATURDAY APRIL 9TH CHICAGO WOLVES 7:30 P.M.
AWAY
WEDNESDAY APRIL 6TH HAMILTON BULLDOGS 6:30 P.M.
FRIDAY APRIL 8H HAMILTON BULLDOGS 6:30 P.M
****Hear all of the Admirals' games on Joy1340 (1340 am) and on the Internet at www.sportsjuice.com****
American Hockey League Stories from April 4, 2005
- Dogs Win Three of Four Games This Past Week - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Portland Pirates Weekly Report - Portland Pirates
- Lupul named CCM Vector/AHL Player of the Week - Cincinnati RailRaiders
- The envelopes, please... - AHL
- Amerks' division-clinching game in Buffalo on TV this weekend - Rochester Americans
- Sound Tigers Go 2-1-1 In Tough Week - Bridgeport Islanders
- Wolves Weekly Notes - Chicago Wolves
- Moose take one of three on road trip - Manitoba Moose
- Red-hot Bruins have big week ahead - Providence Bruins
- Playoff chase continues with visits to San Antonio and Utah - Grand Rapids Griffins
- B-Sens weekly - Binghamton Senators
- Ducks' Lupul named CCM Vector/AHL Player of the Week - Cincinnati RailRaiders
- Fan balloting for year-end awards now online - Toronto Marlies
- Barons Weekly Report - Cleveland Barons
- Lindstrom Comes Out of Gate Strong - Syracuse Crunch
- The Rock report - Toronto Marlies
- Iowa Stars Give Fans a Chance to Design Mascot - Iowa Chops
- Wolf Pack Weekly - Connecticut Whale
- Phantoms Weekly - Adirondack Phantoms
- River Rats hit high note - Albany River Rats
- Phantoms Partner With ACS Relay For Life - Adirondack Phantoms
- Aeros Weekly Report - Houston Aeros
- Admirals Clinch Playoff Spot - Milwaukee Admirals
- Penguins at Giant Center Sunday for final 2004-05 regular season home game - Hershey Bears
- Dogs Down Griffins - Hamilton Bulldogs
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