AHL Milwaukee Admirals

Admirals Weekly

Published on January 5, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Milwaukee Admirals News Release


THIS WEEK'S GAMES... The Milwaukee Admirals (17-9-4-2) enter this week's action sporting a three-game winning streak. They are unbeaten in their last four (3-0-1) games and 5-1-1 in their last seven outings. They begin the week in third place in the West Division just one point behind the Chicago Wolves and four behind the division leading Grand Rapids Griffins. On Thursday night, the Admirals host the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks (13-16-5-1) in the fourth game of an eight-game season series. The Admirals are 1-1-1-0 in the previous three meetings, including 1-0 at the Bradley Center. On Saturday afternoon, the Admirals and Utah Grizzlies (12-18-3-3) battle in the second of ten meetings and the first of three straight games between the teams. The Admirals are 1-0 versus the Grizzlies this season.

LAST WEEK'S ACTION...The Admirals blanked the Grand Rapids Griffins on Saturday night, 7-0 behind Brian Finley's 32 save performance. Mathieu Darche had a three-point night (1g-2a) and Darren Haydar scored a pair of goals. On Friday night, five Admirals scored two points each and Chris Mason stopped 28 of 30 shots leading the Admirals to a 6-2 victory over the Barons in Cleveland. On Tuesday night, Center Greg Classen scored three points (1g-2a) and Greg Hewitt stopped 24 of 26 shots as the Admirals picked up a 5-2 victory over the Utah Grizzlies at the Bradley Center.

TRANSACTIONS...The transactions all involve goaltenders. The Admirals returned Chris Mason to the Nashville Predators following Friday night's game in Cleveland. Greg Hewitt, who was victorious in his only Admirals start, was returned to the Columbus (UHL) Stars following Saturday night's game. Wade Flaherty, who participated as a member of the champion Team Canada in Spengler Cup competition in Davos, Switzerland, is expected to rejoin the team early this week. Three different Admirals goaltenders picked up victories in three games last week. Mason, Hewitt and Finley were 3-0 with a 1.33 goals against average and a .955 save percentage. Hewitt and Finley also contributed offensively, each assisting on an Admirals' goal.

HONOR ROLL...Darren Haydar has vaulted into the Admirals' scoring lead with ten points (6g-4a) in his last seven games. He has scored at least one point in each of the last five games (5g-3a). Haydar, who was named the 2003 AHL Rookie-of-the-Year and scored 75 points (29g-46a) in 75 games last season, has scored 23 points (11g-12a) in 29 games.

Left wing Mathieu Darche has eleven points (5g-6a) over his last ten games and with 11 goals shares the Admirals' lead with Haydar. The 6'1", 210-pounder has scored 60 AHL goals over the past three seasons with the Syracuse Crunch, including 32 red-lighters last season. In 24 career NHL games with the Columbus Blue Jackets, the 27-year old, McGill University alum has two points (1g-a) and six penalty minutes.

FORMER SHORE WINNERS...Two former Eddie Shore Award Winners (AHL Defensemen of the Year) enter this week's action with scoring streaks. Veteran blueliner Brad Tiley, who was the 1999-2000 recipient with the Springfield Falcons, has scored in three straight games (0g-5a). The 32-year old, Markdale, Ontario native is also +7 over his last three games. Curtis Murphy, who won the Shore Award last season with the Houston Aeros, has scored in four straight (6a) and six of his last seven games while accumulating seven points (1g-8a). BITS AND PIECES.....The Admirals boast the AHL's top offense, scoring 3.22 goals per game, while ranking tenth defensively allowing only 2.41 goals per contest. Milwaukee is 8-5-2 on home ice, 12-3-3 when scoring the games' first goal, 13-0-1 when leading after two periods and 14-7-1 overall against West Division rivals. The 7-0 shutout victory on Saturday night vs. the Griffins was the largest shutout margin of victory since March 19, 1989 when Frank Caprice blanked the Peoria Rivermen, 8-0 at the Bradley Center. The seven-goal margin of victory was also the largest since April 1, 2001 when the Admirals defeated the Detroit Vipers, 8-1 at the Bradley Center. The Admirals haven't allowed a second period goal in six straight games outscoring their adversaries, 6-0. Overall they've outscored their foes in all three frames, including 27-24 in the first, 32-20 in the second and 43-31 in the third period of play.

OVER THE AIR AND ON THE WEB...All Admirals' games home and away can be heard on Joy1340 AM and SportsJuice.com with Kyle Schultz calling all the exciting action. Web listeners can listen to the games from anywhere in the world through a link on the Admirals website (www.milwaukeeadmirals.com ).

THIS WEEK

HOME

Thursday January 8th vs. Cincinnati Mighty Ducks 7:00 p.m.

Saturday January 10th vs. Utah Grizzlies 1:30 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

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