Admirals look for strong finish
March 28, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Milwaukee Admirals News Release
OVERALL...The Admirals return to the Bradley Center for three straight games, including two this week. The Ads enter this week's action in second place in the AHL's West Division, three points behind the division leading Chicago Wolves. Milwaukee is 6-2-1 in the last nine games and 7-6-1-2 in the last 16 outings.
MAGIC NUMBER...The combination of Admirals points or points not gained by Grand Rapids totaling six will qualify the Admirals for Calder Cup playoff competition. The Admirals have qualified for postseason play in 24 of 27 seasons, including two of the three 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.
THIS WEEK...
VS. UTAH...Milwaukee is 6-2 vs. the Grizzlies this season outscoring them 36-19 overall. The Ads are 2-1 at the Bradley Center after finishing the season series in Utah with a 4-1 mark. The Admirals are 8-2 in the last 10 overall and have won five of the last six at the BC.
VS. EDMONTON...The Ads are 2-1 in three games vs. Edmonton during the 2004-05 season, including 1-0 at the Bradley Center. The Admirals are 5-2 lifetime vs. the Edmonton/Toronto franchise, including 2-1 at the Bradley Center.
LAST WEEK'S ACTION...The Admirals picked up three of a possible six points in last week's action. The Ads split a two-game weekend series in Cincinnati winning 4-3 on Friday night and losing 7-0 on Saturday. On Friday night, Simon Gamache had a two-point night (1g-1a) and Seamus Kotyk stopped 24 of 27 shots. It was the first road game in a month for the Admirals, who finished a franchise record nine-game homestand, 6-2-1. On Wednesday night, Tomas Kopecky scored for the Griffins 1:59 into overtime giving Grand Rapids a 4-3 overtime victory.
RACE AT A GLANCE... Milwaukee (10): Home (6): March 29 - Utah; April 2-Edmonton; 5 - Houston; 9 - Chicago; 12 - Grand Rapids; 15 - Utah. Away (4): April 6 - Hamilton; 8 - Hamilton; 16 -Cincinnati; 17 - San Antonio.
Chicago (9): Home (3): April 3 - Edmonton; 5 - Cincinnati; 16 - Utah. Away (6): March 30 -- Edmonton; 31 - Edmonton; April 2 - Cincinnati; 9 -- MILWAUKEE; 14 - San Antonio; 15 - Houston.
The Admirals have 10 games remaining against eight different foes sporting a .491 cumulative winning percentage, while the Wolves have nine games remaining against six different opponents with a .505 winning percentage. Six of the Admirals 10 remaining games will be on Bradley Center ice, while six of the Wolves nine will be on foreign ice. The Admirals and Wolves meet at the Bradley Center on Saturday night, April 9.
TRANSACTIONS...The Ads have recalled right wing Brandon Segal from the Rockford (UHL) IceHogs. Segal had six points, including five goals in eight games for the IceHogs. The 6'2", North Delta, B.C. native has 15 points (7g-8a) in 55 games for the Admirals this season.
TO BLANK OR BE BLANKED...The Ads have now 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-five of the Admirals 70 games have been decided by one goal and the Ads are 19-8-4-4 in those contests. Thirteen games have finished 3-2 with the Admirals holding a record of 8-2-2-1 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 5-4 in 15 overtime games this season with six shootouts. The Admirals were the last AHL team to garner a shootout win this season, losing their first four, but have now won two shootouts in a row to improve their shootout record to 2-4 on the year.
70 DOWN, 10 LEFT...The Admirals have 92 points (42-20-4-4) after 70 games, which is two points behind last season's (42-18-7-3) mark after 70 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 22-9-2-1 this season compared to 20-10-4 after 34 home games in 2003-04. The Admirals reached 20 road victories for the sixth time in franchise history on Friday night in Cincinnati. 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 79 points. He has 53 assists and 14 power play goals to rank among league leaders in both categories. His 79 points and 53 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 14 power play goals 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 32 victories and ranks 14th with a 2.30 goals against average. He is the fifth goaltender in franchise 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 franchise record. The 23-year old, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario native has started 56 games, which is most by an Admirals' goaltender since Troy Gamble started 56 during the 1989-90 season.
POWER PLAY...The Admirals lead the AHL with 77 power play goals and rank third in power play percentage completing 77 of 403 chances for a 19.1% completion rate. The 77 goals are the most in a season for the Ads since they scored 84 during the 1997-98 season.
THE WEEK AHEAD
HOME
TUESDAY MARCH 29TH UTAH GRIZZLIES 7:00 P.M.
SATURDAY APRIL 2ND EDMONTON ROADRUNNERS 7:30 P.M.
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