AHL American Hockey League

AHL Morning Skate

Published on April 27, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL) News Release


THURSDAY'S SCORES:

Game 5 - Hartford 1, PROVIDENCE 0 (HFD leads, 3-2)

Game 5 - Hamilton 4, ROCHESTER 2 (HAM leads, 3-2)

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THURSDAY'S THREE STARS:

1. Hartford goaltender Al Montoya stops 26 shots in a pivotal 1-0 road win at Providence

2. Eric Manlow scores the winning goal in Hamilton's 4-2 victory at Rochester

3. Nigel Dawes' fourth goal and league-leading ninth point of the postseason is all the offense Hartford would need

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FRIDAY'S SCHEDULE (all times ET):

Game 5 - Manitoba at Grand Rapids, 7:00 (Series tied, 2-2)

Game 5 - W-B/Scranton at Norfolk, 7:15 (Series tied, 2-2)

Game 5 - Worcester at Manchester, 7:35 (MCH leads, 3-1)

Game 5 - Iowa at Omaha, 8:00 (IOW leads, 3-1)

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2007 CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS:

Atlantic Division Semifinal -- Series "A" (best-of-7)

A1-Manchester Monarchs vs. A4-Worcester Sharks || Preview

Game 1 - Wed., Apr. 18 - MANCHESTER 5, Worcester 2

Game 2 - Fri., Apr. 20 - MANCHESTER 4, Worcester 3 (2OT)

Game 3 - Sat., Apr. 21 - Manchester 5, WORCESTER 0

Game 4 - Wed., Apr. 25 - WORCESTER 3, Manchester 2

Game 5 - Fri., Apr. 27 - Worcester at Manchester, 7:35

*Game 6 - Sat., Apr. 28 - Manchester at Worcester, 7:00

*Game 7 - Mon., Apr. 30 - Worcester at Manchester, 7:05

Atlantic Division Semifinal -- Series "B" (best-of-7)

A2-Hartford Wolf Pack vs. A3-Providence Bruins || Preview

Game 1 - Wed., Apr. 18 - HARTFORD 5, Providence 1

Game 2 - Fri., Apr. 20 - Providence 4, HARTFORD 2

Game 3 - Sat., Apr. 21 - Hartford 5, PROVIDENCE 2

Game 4 - Tue., Apr. 24 - PROVIDENCE 5, Hartford 1

Game 5 - Thu., Apr. 26 - Hartford 1, PROVIDENCE 0

Game 6 - Sat., Apr. 28 - Providence at Hartford, 7:00

*Game 7 - Sun., Apr. 29 - Providence at Hartford, 7:00

East Division Semifinal -- Series "C" (best-of-7)

E1-Hershey Bears vs. E4-Albany River Rats || Preview

Game 1 - Wed., Apr. 18 - HERSHEY 3, Albany 2

Game 2 - Thu., Apr. 19 - Albany 3, HERSHEY 2 (OT)

Game 3 - Sun., Apr. 22 - Hershey 6, ALBANY 5 (GF)

Game 4 - Mon., Apr. 23 - Hershey 3, ALBANY 1 (GF)

Game 5 - Wed., Apr. 25 - Hershey 4, ALBANY 2 (GF)

East Division Semifinal -- Series "D" (best-of-7)

E2-W-B/Scranton Penguins vs. E3-Norfolk Admirals || Preview

Game 1 - Fri., Apr. 20 - Norfolk 5, W-B/SCRANTON 2

Game 2 - Sat., Apr. 21 - W-B/SCRANTON 5, Norfolk 2

Game 3 - Mon., Apr. 23 - W-B/Scranton 3, NORFOLK 2 (OT)

Game 4 - Wed., Apr. 25 - NORFOLK 4, W-B/Scranton 1

Game 5 - Fri., Apr. 27 - W-B/Scranton at Norfolk, 7:15

Game 6 - Sun., Apr. 29 - Norfolk at W-B/Scranton, 5:05

*Game 7 - Tue., May 1 - Norfolk at W-B/Scranton, 7:05

North Division Semifinal -- Series "E" (best-of-7)

N1-Manitoba Moose vs. N4-Grand Rapids Griffins || Preview

Game 1 - Thu., Apr. 19 - MANITOBA 1, Grand Rapids 0

Game 2 - Sat., Apr. 21 - Grand Rapids 4, MANITOBA 1

Game 3 - Mon., Apr. 23 - GRAND RAPIDS 2, Manitoba 1 (OT)

Game 4 - Wed., Apr. 25 - Manitoba 4, GRAND RAPIDS 1

Game 5 - Fri., Apr. 27 - Manitoba at Grand Rapids, 7:00

Game 6 - Sun., Apr. 29 - Grand Rapids at Manitoba, 8:30

*Game 7 - Tue., May 1 - Grand Rapids at Manitoba, 8:30

North Division Semifinal -- Series "F" (best-of-7)

N2-Rochester Americans vs. N3-Hamilton Bulldogs || Preview

Game 1 - Thu., Apr. 19 - Hamilton 2, ROCHESTER 0

Game 2 - Sat., Apr. 21 - ROCHESTER 3, Hamilton 1

Game 3 - Sun., Apr. 22 - HAMILTON 5, Rochester 4 (2OT)

Game 4 - Tue., Apr. 24 - Rochester 4, HAMILTON 3

Game 5 - Thu., Apr. 26 - Hamilton 4, ROCHESTER 2

Game 6 - Sat., Apr. 28 - Rochester at Hamilton, 7:00

*Game 7 - Mon., Apr. 30 - Hamilton at Rochester, 7:05

West Division Semifinal -- Series "G" (best-of-7)

W1-Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights vs. W4-Iowa Stars || Preview

Game 1 - Fri., Apr. 20 - OMAHA 4, Iowa 2

Game 2 - Sat., Apr. 21 - Iowa 2, OMAHA 1 (OT)

Game 3 - Mon., Apr. 23 - IOWA 2, Omaha 1

Game 4 - Wed., Apr. 25 - IOWA 3, Omaha 2

Game 5 - Fri., Apr. 27 - Iowa at Omaha, 8:00

*Game 6 - Sat., Apr. 28 - Omaha at Iowa, 8:05

*Game 7 - Tue., May 1 - Iowa at Omaha, 8:00

West Division Semifinal -- Series "H" (best-of-7)

W2-Chicago Wolves vs. W3-Milwaukee Admirals || Preview

Game 1 - Fri., Apr. 20 - CHICAGO 3, Milwaukee 2

Game 2 - Sun., Apr. 22 - CHICAGO 4, Milwaukee 1

Game 3 - Tue., Apr. 24 - Chicago 3, MILWAUKEE 2

Game 4 - Wed., Apr. 25 - Chicago 3, MILWAUKEE 2 (OT)

*if necessary... All times Eastern

(GF) at Glens Falls, N.Y.

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GAME NOTES (all times ET):

In Calder Cup Playoff history, there have been 91 best-of-seven series that were tied, 2-2 (through 2006)... The Game 5 winner has gone on to win the series 73 times (80.2 percent).

Game 5 - Manitoba at Grand Rapids, 7:00 (Series tied, 2-2)

After scoring a total of four goals through the first 11-plus periods of the series, Manitoba scored three third-period goals on Wednesday night en route to a 4-1 in Game 4... Mike Keane and Prestin Ryan scored shorthanded goals for the Moose in the win, which evened the series at two games apiece... Drew MacIntyre made 32 saves while lowering his goals-against average to 1.43... Jimmy Howard also has a 1.43 GAA in net for the Griffins in the series... Tony Voce scored his first career playoff goal in the Game 4 loss... The teams have combined for as many shorthanded goals as power-play goals in the series (three).

Game 5 - W-B/Scranton at Norfolk, 7:15 (Series tied, 2-2)

Carl Corazzini and Jonas Nordqvist each had a goal and an assist in Norfolk's 4-1 Game 4 victory on Wednesday night... Corazzini, Nordqvist and Craig MacDonald were each a plus-3 in the win as well... Corey Crawford stopped 24 shots in Game 4 to earn his 40th win since opening night... Martin St. Pierre has been held to one assist in four games by the Penguins... Jean-Francois Jacques scored for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Wednesday, his first career playoff goal... Jonathan Filewich's three goals for the Pens in the series have come on just six shots.

Game 5 - Worcester at Manchester, 7:35 (MCH leads, 3-1)

Defenseman Tom Walsh had two goals and an assist as Worcester avoided the sweep with a 3-2 win on Wednesday night... Dimitri Patzold made his first career Calder Cup Playoff start and made 27 saves for the victory... Mike Iggulden added a goal and an assist in Game 4... Manchester returns home looking to close out the series; the Monarchs have won six of seven from Worcester at the Verizon Wireless Arena this season... The Sharks are the 35th team in Calder Cup Playoff history to force a Game 5 after losing the first three games of a best-of-seven series; 68 other teams were swept in four straight.

Game 5 - Iowa at Omaha, 8:00 (IOW leads, 3-1)

Iowa can close out the West Division semifinals with a win in Omaha tonight... The Stars have won three straight one-goal games since a 4-2 loss in the series opener... In his first game back since returning from the Stanley Cup Playoffs with Dallas, Joel Lundqvist scored twice in the third period of Iowa's 3-2 win in Game 4 on Wednesday... Brent Krahn, who is 7-2-0 in nine career regular-season decisions at the Wells Fargo Arena, got the call in Game 4 but took the loss (21 saves)... The Stars have the 3-1 series lead despite averaging just 21.8 shots on goal per game.

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MORNING HEADLINES:

PITTSBURGH OFFICIALS TRAVEL TO SEE AHL PLAYOFF GAME

Kelly Tomlinson, Times Leader

Pittsburgh's front office was out in force Wednesday for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's AHL playoff game with the Norfolk Admirals. General Manager Ray Shero, assistant GM Chuck Fletcher, head coach Michel Therrien and assistant coach Mike Yeo all made the trip to southeast Virginia to watch the farm team. "This is so important to the success of the team up there," said Yeo, who began his coaching career with the AHL Pens. "The way guys develop down here and playoffs are a huge part of (the NHL team's success)." Pittsburgh enjoyed one of the best turnarounds in NHL history this past season, going from one of the worst teams in the league a year ago to 105 points... Link

BREAKING UP IS HARD FOR RATS TO DO

Pete Dougherty, Albany Times Union

Not that it ever was an issue, but the "dual affiliation" designation that was attached to this season's Albany River Rats officially is history. As the focus shifted to 2007-08, the biggest change has been known for months. The Carolina Hurricanes will be the sole supplier of Rats next season. The Colorado Avalanche, who shared the arrangement with Albany, will fly solo with a new AHL team in Cleveland. "It was never Colorado this or Carolina that," said goaltender Tyler Weiman, a Colorado prospect who spearheaded Albany's drive toward the postseason. "It was always the River Rats. We were one team. Guys contributed their part. It was one big family."... Link

POSTSEASON IS SWEET REWARD FOR ADMIRALS' NORDQVIST

Paul White, Virginian-Pilot

Smaller rinks. Longer season. Less open ice. More bumping and grinding. Jonas Nordqvist has had to adjust to a host of differences in making the transition from Swedish hockey star to competent American professional. Yet he's found that one thing remains the same regardless of country: playoff time. "Doesn't matter what country you're in, the playoffs are always the most fun," Nordqvist said. "I've always liked being in the playoffs." It's showing in his play. Coming into tonight's Game 5 of the Norfolk Admirals' East Division semifinal against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Nordqvist, who turned 25 on Thursday, has a team-leading six points (three goals, three assists)... Link

MONARCHS HOPE TO CLOSE OUT SERIES TONIGHT

Kevin Provencher, Union Leader

Maybe home is where the heart is. At least that's where the wins have been plentiful for the Monarchs when it comes to taking a bite out of the Worcester Sharks. With another chance to capture their first-ever playoff series, leading this Atlantic Division semifinal, 3-1, the Monarchs host the Sharks in Game 5 tonight at 7:35 at Verizon Wireless Arena. While Worcester has won only once in seven visits to the Big V this season, Sharks veteran forward and leading scorer Mathieu Darche says Wednesday night's Game 4 3-2 victory staving off a Monarchs sweep of the series provided a playoff education for his team. "We kept it simple," said Darche. "You win in the playoffs only when everybody contributes."... Link

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BY THE NUMBERS:

13 - Teams in AHL history that have come back from a 3-1 deficit to win a best-of-seven series... The last team to accomplish the feat was the 2005 Cincinnati Mighty Ducks, who rallied past Milwaukee in the West Division semifinals behind current Anaheim Ducks Chris Kunitz, Dustin Penner, Ryan Getzlaf and Ilya Bryzgalov.

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ON THIS DATE:

April 27, 1997 - Manny Legace makes 35 saves and Kevin Brown scores 10:20 into overtime as Springfield defeats Portland, 1-0, in a winner-take-all Game 5, capping a comeback from an 0-2 series deficit.

April 27, 1974 - Hershey opens the Calder Cup Finals with a 4-3 win over the Providence Reds behind Jim Pearson's goal 1:43 into overtime.

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ON THE AIR:

B2 Networks brings AHL action to your computer, web-enabled cell phone or PDA throughout the Calder Cup Playoffs with live video webcasts of nearly every AHL game... Visit calde rcup.com for details.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 27, 2007


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