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AHL Quick Hits

Published on March 28, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL) News Release


In Wednesday's action, Norfolk clinched a playoff berth with a 4-2 win over Philadelphia, rallying from a two-goal deficit to earn the victory... Luca Cereda's hat trick lifted St. John's to a 7-4 win in Hartford... Chicago scored the final five goals of the game to post a 7-4 win over Houston, the Wolves' ninth straight home win... Jan Lasak's 34 saves helped Milwaukee defeat Hershey, 4-1.

Wed 3/26
CHICAGO 7, Houston 4... St. John's 7, HARTFORD 4... MILWAUKEE 4, Hershey 1... NORFOLK 4, Philadelphia 2

Thu 3/27
LOWELL 4, Portland 2

LOOKING AHEAD:

Providence faces off in Manitoba on Friday (7:30 CT, 8:30 ET) and Sunday (2:00/3:00) in an important two-game set for both teams. The Moose are 11-2-2-2 in their last 17 outings, including a 5-1 win on Mar. 7 that ended the Bruins' 19-game home unbeaten streak. Providence, which has three ties and one overtime loss to show for its last four road games, is still trying to sew up the North Division title, while Manitoba sits precariously in sixth place, just two points up on ninth-place Hartford in the Eastern Conference. The B's headed to Winnipeg without goaltenders Andrew Raycroft and Tim Thomas, who are on recall to Boston.

One of the AHL's best rivalries is renewed on Friday when Grand Rapids hosts Chicago (7:30 ET, 6:30 CT). The Griffins are 10-7-2 against the Wolves since the teams joined the AHL in 2001, but it was Chicago winning the teams' best-of-five playoff series en route to the championship last spring. The Wolves, 10-1-0-1 in the month of March, are still chasing Houston for first place in the West Division, while Grand Rapids is trying to stay ahead of the Aeros for first place in the Western Conference. Three of the top four scorers in the AHL – Grand Rapids' Michel Picard (79 pts.) and Mark Mowers (76 pts.) and the Wolves' Steve Maltais (75 pts.) – will be on the Van Andel Arena ice for the showdown.

Houston and Utah wrap up their 10-game season series with three meetings this weekend. The Aeros have one win in their last nine road games (1-6-1-1) as they visit the "E" Center on Friday and Saturday, but are 7-2-0-1 in their last 10 at home entering Sunday's rubber match at the Compaq Center. The Grizzlies are 5-1-1-2 in their last nine overall to move into the seventh spot in the Western Conference, one point ahead of Milwaukee. Houston's Derek Gustafson has allowed five goals in posting a 4-0-0 record against Utah this season.

The final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference is up for grabs on Saturday night when Saint John hosts St. John's (7:00 AT, 7:30 NT) and Albany visits Springfield (7:35 ET). The four teams enter the weekend still alive in the race for the 10th place, with the Falcons two points ahead of the River Rats, four up on the Maple Leafs and six in front of the Flames. Springfield is 4-3-0-0 against Albany this season; the Leafs are 5-3-2-0 versus Saint John heading into their two-game set.

The Calder Cup 2003 Tour visits Wilkes-Barre on Friday, Springfield on Saturday and Portland on Sunday. Thanks to a perfect run a week ago, home teams enter this weekend with a record of 13-1-1-0 with the 55-pound chalice on display in their arenas during the '03 Tour.

(all times local)
Fri 3/28
St. John's at Saint John, 7:30... Hershey at Cleveland, 7:05... Binghamton at Wilkes-Barre, 7:05... Chicago at Grand Rapids, 7:30... Hamilton at Syracuse, 7:30... Albany at Bridgeport, 7:35... Philadelphia at Cincinnati, 7:35... Worcester at Manchester, 7:35... Norfolk at Rochester, 7:35... Hartford at Springfield, 7:35... Milwaukee at San Antonio, 7:00... Providence at Manitoba, 7:30... Houston at Utah, 7:00

Sat 3/29
Philadelphia at Cleveland, 12:35... St. John's at Saint John, 7:00... Rochester at Hamilton, 7:00... Hartford at Lowell, 7:00... Norfolk at Binghamton, 7:05... Worcester at Portland, 7:05... Syracuse at Wilkes-Barre, 7:05... Grand Rapids at Cincinnati, 7:35... Bridgeport at Manchester, 7:35... Albany at Springfield, 7:35... Hershey at Chicago, 7:00... Houston at Utah, 7:00

Sun 3/30
Providence at Manitoba, 2:00... Milwaukee at San Antonio, 2:00... Cleveland at Chicago, 3:00... Hershey at Grand Rapids, 4:00... Springfield at Lowell, 4:00... Bridgeport at Hartford, 4:05... Manchester at Worcester, 4:05... Wilkes-Barre at Syracuse, 5:00... Norfolk at Philadelphia, 5:05... Saint John at Portland, 5:05... Utah at Houston, 5:00... Cincinnati at Rochester, 6:05

Tue 4/1
Cincinnati at Cleveland, 7:05

ON THE AIR:
Friday, Binghamton at Wilkes-Barre -- Adelphia 63/WNEP-DT 16-2 (NE Pennsylvania) -- 7:05 ET
Friday, Hamilton at Syracuse -- Time Warner Cable 13 (Syracuse) -- 7:30 ET
Friday, Norfolk at Rochester -- Time Warner Cable 98 (Rochester) -- 7:35 ET
Saturday, Houston at Utah -- UPN Z-24 (Salt Lake City) -- 7:00 MT
Sunday, Springfield at Lowell -- AT&T 3 (Hockey Night New England) -- 4:00 ET
Sunday, Bridgeport at Hartford -- Fox Sports Net New England/MSG Network -- 4:05 ET
Sunday, Utah at Houston -- Fox Sports Net Southwest/Fox Sports Net Rocky Mountain -- 5:00 CT/4:00 MT
Sunday, Saint John at Portland -- WMTW-TV 8 (Portland) -- 6:00 ET (same-day tape)

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American Hockey League Stories from March 28, 2003


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