AHL Quick Hits
Published on April 5, 2002 under American Hockey League (AHL) News Release
IN REVIEW:
Lowell, the only team idle on a 13-game Wednesday night around the AHL, still clinched the North Division title when Manchester dropped a 5-3 decision to Springfield. It is the Lock Monsters' second division crown in its four-year history. Providence and Cincinnati secured the final two playoff berths on Wednesday night, rounding out the field of 20 for the AHL postseason. The Bruins got 27 saves from Andrew Raycroft in a 3-0 win over league-leading Bridgeport, and while Jason Elliott stopped 42 shots in the Mighty Ducks' 1-0 loss to Cleveland, Cincy still clinched a berth when Milwaukee fell to Houston, 3-2.
Wed 4/3
Hamilton 6, ALBANY 2... Providence 3, BRIDGEPORT 0... Manitoba 5, CHICAGO 4 (OT)... CLEVELAND 1, Cincinnati 0... HOUSTON 3, Milwaukee 2... Springfield 5, MANCHESTER 3... NORFOLK 3, Hershey 1... PHILADELPHIA 1, Wilkes-Barre 1 (OT)... Portland 3, QUEBEC 1... ST. JOHN'S 4, Saint John 2... SYRACUSE 3, Rochester 0... UTAH 3, Grand Rapids 1... WORCESTER 8, Hartford 2
Thu 4/4
PORTLAND 4, Albany 3 (OT) WHAT'S ON TAP:
Manchester visits Worcester tonight (7:35 ET) in the North Division foes' eighth meeting of the season. Ex-IceCat Travis Scott has been masterful (3-0-0, 0.67, .980) against his former team this season, but Manchester has lost each of its three previous visits to the Centrum Centre. Former U. of New Hampshire standout Eric Boguniecki has six points in four games against the Monarchs. Manitoba and Hamilton face off at Copps Coliseum tonight and tomorrow (7:30 ET, 6:30 CT) with Eastern Conference seedings up for grabs. The Bulldogs' Brian Swanson, who has 10+5=15 pts. this season against the Moose, remains on recall to Edmonton, but Jason Chimera (2+10=12) and Fernando Pisani (5+6=11) have also put up big numbers in the season series, which is even at 5-5-0. Manitoba counters with Steve Kariya (7+6=13) and Josh Holden (6+3=9 in 9 GP), as the teams have combined for 86 goals in the first 10 meetings.
The West Division is close as can be entering tonight's Utah-Grand Rapids game at the "E" Center (7:00 MT, 9:00 ET). The Grizzlies spent most of the first half of the season atop the division; the Griffins spent most of the second half there. But there in hot pursuit is Houston, unbeaten in five (4-0-1) and tied with the Griffins, one point behind Utah. The Aeros, who could finish anywhere from first to seventh in the conference, finish up in Chicago on Sunday (6:00 CT). A gala celebration is planned for Sunday as Hersheypark Arena hosts its final regular-season game. The landmark building, which will continue to serve as the Bears' practice facility, opened its doors in 1936 and has been home to eight Calder Cup champions. The Bears move into the new 10,500-seat Giant Center next fall. (all times local)
Fri 4/5
Quebec at St. John's, 7:30... Lowell at Saint John, 7:30... Hartford at Providence, 7:05... Philadelphia at Wilkes-Barre, 7:05... Manitoba at Hamilton, 7:30... Hershey at Norfolk, 7:30... Cleveland at Cincinnati, 7:35... Syracuse at Rochester, 7:35... Manchester at Worcester, 7:35... Springfield at Bridgeport, 8:05... Milwaukee at Houston, 7:30... Grand Rapids at Utah, 7:00
Sat 4/6
Quebec at St. John's, 7:30... Wilkes-Barre at Hershey, 7:00... Bridgeport at Hartford, 7:05... Norfolk at Philadelphia, 7:05... Worcester at Portland, 7:05... Manitoba at Hamilton, 7:30... Albany at Syracuse, 7:30 ... Cleveland at Cincinnati, 7:35... Lowell at Manchester, 7:35... Providence at Springfield, 7:35... Grand Rapids at Chicago, 7:00
Sun 4/7
Hartford at Bridgeport, 4:05... Rochester at Cleveland, 4:05... Portland at Worcester, 4:05... Syracuse at Albany, 5:00... Providence at Lowell, 5:00... Philadelphia at Hershey, 6:00... Utah at Milwaukee, 5:00... Houston at Chicago, 6:00... Grand Rapids at Manitoba, 7:00 ALUMNI WATCH:
Blair Betts scored a goal in his NHL debut on Thursday night, helping Calgary to a 4-3 win over Minnesota. Tony Virta recorded a goal and an assist for his first two NHL points for the Wild.
ON THE AIR:
Fri., Philadelphia at Wilkes-Barre - CN8 (Comcast) - 7:05 ET
Sat., Quebec at St. John's - Rogers Cable - 7:30 NT
Sat., Bridgeport at Hartford - FSN New
England/MSG Network - 7:05 ET
Sat., Grand Rapids at Chicago - CLTV (Chicago) - 7:00 CT
Sun., Providence at Lowell - AT&T 3 (Hockey Night New England) - 5:00 ET
Sun., Philadelphia at Hershey - CN8 (Comcast)/ABC-27 (Hershey) - 6:00 ET
AHL RINKSIDE
Sat 4/6
WXSP-TV (Grand Rapids), 2:00 pm ET
Sun 4/7
Leafs TV, 12:00 pm ET
Fox Sports Net Pittsburgh, 1:30 pm ET
Empire Sports Network, 9:30 pm ET
Mon 4/8
Leafs TV, 5:00 am ET
Empire Sports Network, 4:00 pm ET
American Hockey League Stories from April 5, 2002
- Grand Rapids 2 at Utah 1 - Grand Rapids Griffins
- 'Cats Dance Card Still Empty - Worcester IceCats
- P-Bruins close out home schedule - Providence Bruins
- Worcester Players Receive Recognition in Pre-Game Ceremony - Worcester IceCats
- Ducks end winless streak - Cincinnati RailRaiders
- Phantoms win 5-3 at Wilkes-Barre - Adirondack Phantoms
- Flames Welcome 200,000th Fan - Saint John Flames
- Flames Hand Out Year-End Hardware - Saint John Flames
- Penguins Announce End of Season Award Winners - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Mighty Ducks-Barons Preview - Cincinnati RailRaiders
- Worcester IceCats Playoff Tix on Sale Tomorrow - Worcester IceCats
- O'Connell Returned to Elmira - Syracuse Crunch
- Worcester's Eric Boguniecki Named AHL MVP - AHL
- AHL Quick Hits - AHL
- Pirates Announce Game Times for 2002-03 - Portland Pirates
- Phantoms Wives To Present Check for $82,945 To Families of Freedom - Adirondack Phantoms
- Tickets Still Available For Both Games This Weekend - Hershey Bears
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