AHL Milwaukee Admirals

Admirals Weekly

February 2, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Milwaukee Admirals News Release


THE WEEK AHEAD...The Milwaukee Admirals (22-14-6-3) face a pair of West Division rivals before the AHL's All-Star break. On Friday night, the Admirals will battle the Houston Aeros (16-21-9-3) in the sixth of ten games this season. Milwaukee is 4-1 vs. Houston this season, including 1-1 on Bradley Center ice. On Saturday afternoon, the Utah Grizzlies (15-26-4-3) skate into the Bradley Center for the fifth of ten meetings this season. The Admirals are 2-2 versus the Grizzlies and 1-1 at the BC.

OVERALL...The Admirals picked up five of a possible eight point last week and return home to the Bradley Center this week to begin a five-game homestand. Milwaukee has garnered at least one point in each of the last three games and are 4-1-2-1 (.688) in their last eight games. They enter this week's action in third place in the West Division six points behind the second place Chicago Wolves and nine points ahead of the fourth place Houston Aeros and Cincinnati Mighty Ducks.

LAST WEEK'S ROAD TRIP...The Admirals went 2-1-0-1 on the longest roadtrip of the season thus far. On Sunday afternoon, Greg Classen (2g-1a) and Timofei Shishkanov (2g-1a) each had three point games and Brian Finley stopped 23 of 24 shots leading the Admirals to a 5-1 over the Roadrunners in Toronto. Philidelpha defeated the Admirals on Saturday afternoon, 4-3. Former Milwaukee Admiral's defenseman John Slaney provided the game winner at 1:23 of the overtime period on the a power play goal. On Friday night, Mathieu Darche and Brad Tiley both scored late in the third period giving the Admirals a dramatic 2-1 come from behind victory over the Rochester Americans. The Crunch defeated the Admirals, 8-6 on Wednesday night in Syracuse. The two teams combined for nine goals in the third period (four by the Admirals) and 14 for the game, one more than the previous AHL season high, set when Toronto defeated Syracuse 7-6 in overtime on January 16th.

A LITTLE HISTORY...The last time the Admirals and their opponent combined for 14 or more goals was March 3rd, 1998 when the Admirals defeated the Las Vegas Thunder, 9-6 at the Bradley Center. The last time Milwaukee and their adversary combined for nine or more goals in a period was on November 25th, 1989 when the Admirals took a 6-3 first period lead over Phoenix only to eventually lose an 11-8 Bradley Center decision to the Roadrunners.

TRANSACTIONS...The Nashville Predators assigned defenseman Andrew Hutchinson to the Admirals. The Evanston, IL native had four points (2g-2a) and was +6 in 12 games for the Predators this year. Hutchinson was also recently added to the AHL PlanetUSA All-Star Roster, making him the third Admiral to be selected to the squad. The Predators also claimed forward Jeremy Yablonski on waivers from the St. Louis Blues and reassigned him to the Admirals. Yablonski, 23, appeared in his first NHL game this season with the St. Louis Blues registering five penalty minutes. The 6'0", 232 pound Meadow Lake, Sask. native had 19 penalty minutes in six games with Worcester.

ROAD WARRIORS.... The Admirals rank fifth among AHL teams with an impressive 12-6-3-3 (.625) road record. The Admirals are 2-1-1-1 in their last five road games, 5-3-1-1 in the past ten and are 9-5-1-1 in the last 16 road outings.

900 CLUB...Veteran Tony Hrkac enters this week's action one point shy of his 900th career regular season professional point. The 37-year old, Thunder Bay, Ontario native has 899 points, including 306 goals as a professional and including playoffs he's scored 951 points during his pro career. The 5'11" 190-pound center leads the Admirals with 34 points and 23 assists.

AMONG LEAGUE LEADERS...Curtis Murphy and Brad Tiley each have 25 points (7g-18a) and are tied for eighth among AHL defensemen. Rookie Timofei Shishkanov ranks third among AHL rookies with 31 points (15g-16a) in 43 games.

BETWEEN THE PIPES...Brian Finley is unbeaten (3-0-1) in his last four games, including a 1.47 goals against average and .943 save percentage. During the month of Janaury, the 22-year old, Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. native had a 4-2-1 record with a 1.84 goals against average and a .934 save percentage.

THIS WEEK

HOME
Friday February 6th vs. Houston Aeros 7:00 p.m.
Sarurday February 7th vs. Utah Grizzlies 1:30 p.m.
Monday February 9th ALL-STAR GAME @ Grand Rapids

****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 February 2, 2004


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