AHL American Hockey League

AHL conference quarterfinals set

Published on April 14, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL) News Release


SPRINGFIELD, MA ... With the qualifying series decided, the stage is set for the round of 16 in the Calder Cup 2003 Playoffs.
 
In the Eastern Conference, Marty McSorley's Springfield Falcons and Stan Smyl's Manitoba Moose hit the road and upset their higher-seeded hosts. The Falcons (#10) went down Interstate 91 and stunned the rival Hartford Wolf Pack in a two-game sweep, their first series victory since 1997. Meanwhile, history repeated itself for the Moose, who advanced as the ninth seed for the second year in a row, this time knocking off Portland in the deciding Game 3 on Sunday.
 
Springfield will face off against league-leading Hamilton in the conference quarterfinals, while the Moose have a date with Providence.
 
Over in the Western Conference, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton disposed of Utah in two games, while Milwaukee rolled to a 6-1 win in Game 3 to get past Rochester. The Penguins draw Grand Rapids in a best-of-five series, and the Admirals will take on Houston.
 
The round of 16 actually became 15 on Sunday, when Norfolk became the first team to reach the conference semifinals with a 3-1 win in San Antonio, completing an efficient three-game sweep of the Rampage. Norfolk must now wait for the results of the other Western Conference quarterfinals to learn their next opponent.
 
East Division rivals Binghamton and Bridgeport have raced out to 2-0 series leads in their respective conference quarterfinal matchups. The Senators took a pair of decisions from Worcester last week, while the defending conference champion Sound Tigers went into Manchester and beat the Monarchs by scores of 2-1 and 6-3. Game 3 of both series will be Friday night.
 
Chicago opened its Calder Cup title defense with a 3-2 win over Hershey on Sunday, its 10th consecutive home playoff victory. The Wolves are trying to become the first team in 12 years to repeat as AHL champions.
 
# # #
 
Contact:
Bret Stothart, Director of Communications & Media Services
Jason Chaimovitch, Director of Public Relations
(413) 781-2030

 


Western Conference Qualifier – Series "Q1" (best-of-3)
7-Milwaukee Admirals vs. 10-Rochester Americans
Game 1 – Thu., 4/10                     MILWAUKEE 4, Rochester 3 (OT)
Game 2 – Sat., 4/12                      Rochester 6, MILWAUKEE 3
Game 3 – Sun., 4/13                     MILWAUKEE 6, Rochester 1
      (Milwaukee wins series, 2-1)
 
Western Conference Qualifier – Series "Q2" (best-of-3)
8-Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. 9-Utah Grizzlies
Game 1 – Thu., 4/10                     WILKES-BARRE 5, Utah 2
Game 2 – Sat., 4/12                      WILKES-BARRE 2, Utah 1
      (Wilkes-Barre wins series, 2-0)
 
Eastern Conference Qualifier – Series "Q3" (best-of-3)
7-Hartford Wolf Pack vs. 10-Springfield Falcons
Game 1 – Wed., 4/9                      Springfield 3, HARTFORD 1
Game 2 – Fri., 4/11                       Springfield 3, HARTFORD 2
      (Springfield wins series, 2-0)
 
Eastern Conference Qualifier – Series "Q4" (best-of-3)
8-Portland Pirates vs. 9-Manitoba Moose
Game 1 – Thu., 4/10                     Manitoba 4, PORTLAND 1
Game 2 – Fri., 4/11                       PORTLAND 4, Manitoba 2
Game 3 – Sun., 4/13                     Manitoba 6, PORTLAND 3
      (Manitoba wins series, 2-1)

Western Conference Quarterfinal – Series "A" (best-of-5)
1-Grand Rapids Griffins vs. 8-Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Game 1 – Wed., 4/16 at Grand Rapids, 7:00 ET
Game 2 – Fri., 4/18 at Grand Rapids, 7:30 ET
Game 3 – Sat., 4/19 at Wilkes-Barre, 7:05 ET
*Game 4 – Mon., 4/21 at Wilkes-Barre, 7:05 ET
*Game 5 – Wed., 4/23 at Grand Rapids, 7:00 ET
 
Western Conference Quarterfinal – Series "B" (best-of-5)
2-Houston Aeros vs. 7-Milwaukee Admirals
Game 1 – Wed., 4/16 at Houston, 7:00 CT
Game 2 – Fri., 4/18 at Houston, 7:30 CT
Game 3 – Sat., 4/19 at Milwaukee, 7:12 CT
*Game 4 – Mon., 4/21 at Milwaukee, 7:12 CT
*Game 5 – Wed., 4/23 at Houston, 7:00 CT
 
Western Conference Quarterfinal – Series "C" (best-of-5)
3-Norfolk Admirals vs. 6-San Antonio Rampage
Game 1 – Thu., 4/10                     NORFOLK 4, San Antonio 3 (OT)
Game 2 – Fri., 4/11                       NORFOLK 2, San Antonio 1
Game 3 – Sun., 4/13                     Norfolk 3, SAN ANTONIO 1
      (Norfolk wins series, 3-0)
 
Western Conference Quarterfinal – Series "D" (best-of-5)
4-Chicago Wolves vs. 5-Hershey Bears
Game 1 – Sun., 4/13                     CHICAGO 3, Hershey 2
Game 2 – Wed., 4/16 at Chicago, 7:00 CT
Game 3 – Sat., 4/19 at Hershey, 7:00 ET
*Game 4 – Sun., 4/20 at Hershey, 6:00 ET
*Game 5 – Tue., 4/22 at Chicago, 7:00 CT
 
Eastern Conference Quarterfinal – Series "E" (best-of-5)
1-Hamilton Bulldogs vs. 10-Springfield Falcons
Game 1 – Tue., 4/15 at Hamilton, 7:00 ET
Game 2 – Thu., 4/17 at Hamilton, 7:00 ET
Game 3 – Fri., 4/18 at Springfield, 7:35 ET
*Game 4 – Mon., 4/21 at Springfield, 7:05 ET
*Game 5 – Wed., 4/23 at Hamilton, 7:00 ET
 
Eastern Conference Quarterfinal – Series "F" (best-of-5)
2-Providence Bruins vs. 9-Manitoba Moose
Game 1 – Wed., 4/16 at Providence, 7:05 ET
Game 2 – Fri., 4/18 at Providence, 7:05 ET
Game 3 – Sun., 4/20 at Manitoba, 5:00 CT
*Game 4 – Tue., 4/22 at Manitoba, 7:30 CT
*Game 5 – Thu., 4/24 at Providence, 7:05 ET
 
Eastern Conference Quarterfinal – Series "G" (best-of-5)
3-Binghamton Senators vs. 6-Worcester IceCats
Game 1 – Thu., 4/10                     BINGHAMTON 3, Worcester 2 (OT)
Game 2 – Fri., 4/11                       BINGHAMTON 4, Worcester 2
Game 3 – Fri., 4/18 at Worcester, 7:05 ET
*Game 4 – Sat., 4/19 at Worcester, 7:05 ET
*Game 5 – Tue., 4/22 at Binghamton, 7:05 ET
 
Eastern Conference Quarterfinal – Series "H" (best-of-5)
4-Manchester Monarchs vs. 5-Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Game 1 – Sat., 4/12                      Bridgeport 2, MANCHESTER 1
Game 2 – Sun., 4/13                     Bridgeport 6, MANCHESTER 3
Game 3 – Fri., 4/18 at Bridgeport, 7:35 ET
*Game 4 – Sat., 4/19 at Bridgeport, 7:05 ET
*Game 5 – Tue., 4/22 at Manchester, 7:05 ET

*if necessary
 


Western Conference Quarterfinal – Series "A"
1-Grand Rapids Griffins vs. 8-Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
 
Game 1 – Wed., Apr. 16                   Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Grand Rapids, 7:00 ET
Game 2 – Fri., Apr. 18                       Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Grand Rapids, 7:30 ET
Game 3 – Sat., Apr. 19                      Grand Rapids at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 7:05 ET
Game 4 – Mon., Apr. 21                    Grand Rapids at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 7:05 ET (if necessary)
Game 5 – Wed., Apr. 23                   Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Grand Rapids, 7:00 ET (if necessary)
 

Regular Season Comparison
 
                         Grand Rapids  Wilkes-Barre
Record                 48-22-8-2          36-32-7-5
Standings            1st, Central         3rd, South
Home                   22-13-5-0          21-15-2-2
Road                     26-9-3-2           15-17-5-3
Goals for                   240                   245
Goals against            177                   248
PP (rank)              15.0 (22)            17.8 (6)
PK (rank)             83.7 (15)         83.3 (T-16)
 

Calder Cup Playoff History
 
                         Grand Rapids  Wilkes-Barre           
Appearances             2nd                    2nd
Record (games)        2-3                   15-8
Record (series)        0-1                    4-1
OT record                 0-0                    5-2
Calder Cup titles       0                       0
Losing finalist            0                       1
                                                       (2001)


2002-03 Regular Season Series
 
                            Grand Rapids           Wilkes-Barre
Record                      0-0-0-0                      0-0-0-0
                                      
Results                                               
Did Not Play


SERIES NOTEBOOK:
Grand Rapids and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last met during the 2001-02 season, with the Griffins winning both contests (3-0 at Wilkes-Barre, 11/21/01; 3-2 at Grand Rapids, 3/23/02)... The Penguins are 6-0-2 in their last eight games, dating back to the regular season... The Pens scored seven goals in their qualifying series against Utah, with seven different players finding the net... The Griffins' Bryan Adams won the Calder Cup with Chicago in 2002; Wilkes-Barre's Micki DuPont won with Saint John in 2001... Grand Rapids set AHL records with 26 road wins and 84 goals allowed on the road in 2002-03... The Griffins are 8-0-0 all-time against teams from Pennsylvania.



Western Conference Quarterfinal – Series "B"
2-Houston Aeros vs. 7-Milwaukee Admirals
 
Game 1 – Wed., Apr. 16          Milwaukee at Houston, 7:00 CT
Game 2 – Fri., Apr. 18             Milwaukee at Houston, 7:30 CT
Game 3 – Sat., Apr. 19            Houston at Milwaukee, 7:12 CT
Game 4 – Mon., Apr. 21          Houston at Milwaukee, 7:12 CT (if necessary)
Game 5 – Wed., Apr. 23          Milwaukee at Houston, 7:00 CT (if necessary)
 

Regular Season Comparison
 
                             Houston        Milwaukee  
Record                 47-23-7-3         32-27-14-7
Standings              1st, West           4th, West
Home                   25-10-4-1           19-9-8-4
Road                     22-13-3-2          13-18-6-3
Goals for                   266                   247
Goals against            222                   251
PP% (rank)          16.9 (12)           16.9 (10)
PK% (rank)          83.1 (18)           81.7 (21)
 

Calder Cup Playoff History
 
                                Houston     Milwaukee  
Appearances                2nd                 1st
Record (games)           8-6                2-1
Record (series)           2-1                1-0
OT record                    1-2                1-0
Calder Cup titles          0                   0
Losing finalist               0                   0
 
 
2002-03 Regular Season Series
 
                                Houston                 Milwaukee  
Record                      5-4-1-0                      4-4-1-1
at HOU                  2-2-1-0                      2-2-1-0
at MIL                   3-2-0-0                      2-2-0-1
Goals                            22                              23
Power play           11/63 (17.5%)             6/51 (11.8%)
Scoring                 Trudel, 1+5=6            Haydar, 2+4=6
                         Pavlikovsky, 3+2=5         Mann, 1+4=5
                            Cloutier, 3+2=5         Lundbohm, 0+5=5
Goaltending   Gustafson, 2-2-0, 2.41  Madden, 2-1-0, 1.27
                       Holmqvist, 1-0-0, 2.00    Lasak, 1-1-0, 1.52
                                      
Results                                               
Nov. 14      MIL 5 at HOU 0
Dec. 8        MIL 2 at HOU 1 (at St. Paul)
Dec. 27      HOU 4 at MIL 1
Jan. 12        HOU 2 at MIL 1 (OT)
Jan. 17        HOU 0 at MIL 3
Feb. 9         MIL 1 at HOU 1 (OT)
Feb. 11       HOU 4 at MIL 2
Mar. 1        MIL 3 at HOU 4
Mar. 5        HOU 2 at MIL 3
Mar. 15      MIL 2 at HOU 4


SERIES NOTEBOOK:
Milwaukee allowed just 11 even-strength goals in 10 meetings with Houston this season, but the Aeros added 11 power play goals as well... Martin Erat recorded five goals and eight points in the Admirals' qualifying series against Rochester... Milwaukee's Domenic Pittis has 59 points in 49 career Calder Cup Playoff games... Houston's Tony Tuzzolino (2000) and Jay Henderson (1999) are former Calder Cup champions, while Hnat Domenichelli reached the 1998 final with Saint John.



Eastern Conference Quarterfinal – Series "E"
1-Hamilton Bulldogs vs. 10-Springfield Falcons
 
Game 1 – Tue., Apr. 15           Springfield at Hamilton, 7:00 ET
Game 2 – Thu., Apr. 17           Springfield at Hamilton, 7:00 ET
Game 3 – Fri., Apr. 18             Hamilton at Springfield, 7:35 ET
Game 4 – Mon., Apr. 21          Hamilton at Springfield, 7:05 ET (if necessary)
Game 5 – Wed., Apr. 23          Springfield at Hamilton, 7:00 ET (if necessary)
 

Regular Season Comparison
 
                             Hamilton        Springfield  
Record                 49-19-8-4          34-38-7-1
Standings           1st, Canadian         4th, East
Home                    26-7-4-3           22-13-4-1
Road                     23-12-4-1          12-25-3-0
Goals for                   279                   202
Goals against            191                   243
PP (rank)               18.2 (4)            15.3 (21)
PK (rank)              87.2 (2)            80.8 (25)
 

Calder Cup Playoff History
 
                                Hamilton     Springfield  
Appearances                6th                 6th
Record (games)         35-32             20-21
Record (series)           8-5                4-5
OT record                    9-5                6-2
Calder Cup titles          0                   0
Losing finalist               1                   0
                                  (1997)               
 
                                                           
2002-03 Regular Season Series
 
                                Hamilton                 Springfield  
Record                      0-0-0-0                      0-0-0-0

Results                                               
Did Not Play


SERIES NOTEBOOK:
Hamilton is 0-2-2 all-time against Springfield, with the last meeting coming on Mar. 31, 2001, a 5-2 Falcons win... The clubs almost faced off in the 1997 Calder Cup Final, but the Falcons couldn't close out a 3-1 series lead over Hershey in their conference final... Springfield captain Rob Murray wore the "C" for Hamilton in 1999-2000... Falcons head coach Marty McSorley won two Stanley Cups as a player with the Edmonton Oilers, one of the Bulldogs' parent teams... Springfield forward Jeff Daw played three seasons (1996-99) with the Bulldogs... The Bulldogs have won all five of their best-of-five conference quarterfinal series all-time.
 


Eastern Conference Quarterfinal – Series "F"
2-Providence Bruins vs. 9-Manitoba Moose
 
Game 1 – Wed., Apr. 16          Manitoba at Providence, 7:05 ET
Game 2 – Fri., Apr. 18             Manitoba at Providence, 7:05 ET
Game 3 – Sun., Apr. 20           Providence at Manitoba, 5:00 CT
Game 4 – Tue., Apr. 22           Providence at Manitoba, 7:30 CT (if necessary)
Game 5 – Thu., Apr. 24           Manitoba at Providence, 7:05 ET (if necessary)
 

Regular Season Comparison
 
                           Providence       Manitoba   
Record                44-20-11-5         37-33-8-2
Standings              1st, North       2nd, Canadian
Home                    26-9-4-1           22-14-4-0
Road                     18-11-7-4          15-19-4-2
Goals for                   268                   229
Goals against            227                   228
PP (rank)               17.6 (7)            16.8 (14)
PK (rank)             84.4 (13)           81.4 (23)
 

Calder Cup Playoff History
 
                              Providence    Manitoba   
Appearances                9th                 2nd
Record (games)         46-39               5-5
Record (series)          10-7                2-1
OT record                   10-5                1-0
Calder Cup titles          1                   0
                                  (1999)               
Losing finalist               0                   0
                                      

2002-03 Regular Season Series

                              Providence                Manitoba   
Record                      2-1-0-1                      2-2-0-0
at PRO                   1-1-0-0                      1-1-0-0
at MTB                  1-0-0-1                      1-1-0-0
Goals                            13                              13
Power play            3/17 (17.6%)              6/25 (24.0%)
Scoring                 Goren, 4+2=6             Obsut, 1+3=4
                             Hilbert, 2+3=5            Ready, 2+1=3
                            Aucoin, 1+3=4         Kavanagh, 1+2=3
Goaltending     Thomas, 1-1-0, 3.75      Moss, 2-1-0, 2.68
                        Underhill, 1-1-0, 2.99     Auld, 0-1-0, 4.90
 
Results                                               
Feb. 9         MTB 2 at PRO 4
Mar. 7        MTB 5 at PRO 1
Mar. 28      PRO 5 at MTB 2
Mar. 30      PRO 3 at MTB 4 (OT)


SERIES NOTEBOOK:
After reaching three straight conference finals, Providence has lost six of its last seven playoff games... The Bruins were eliminated by Canadian teams in 2002 (St. John's) and 2001 (Saint John)... Manitoba ended Providence's 19-game home unbeaten streak with a 5-1 win on Mar. 7... Winnipeg native Lee Goren led all B's scorers in the regular season series with six points... Pat Kavanagh, Ryan Ready and Herbert Vasiljevs had five points each in the Moose's qualifying series win over Portland.




American Hockey League Stories from April 14, 2003


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central