AHL Quick Hits

Published on April 19, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL) News Release

Josh Langfeld scored on a power play midway through the second period and rookie Ray Emery stopped 29 shots as Binghamton finished a three-game sweep with a 1-0 win in Worcester last night. Langfeld, Brad Smyth and Bob Wren each finished with four points and Emery made 73 saves on 77 shots (.948) in the series, as the Senators earned a berth in the conference semifinals.

Bridgeport wrapped up a berth in the next round with a 6-3 win over Manchester last night, winning the series in three straight. Daniel Tkaczuk, a Calder Cup winner with Saint John two years ago, recorded a goal and three assists and Trent Hunter added a pair of power play goals during the Sound Tigers' four-goal third period. Steve Valiquette needed just 18 saves to earn the win in net.

A masterful 39-save effort by Jean-Marc Pelletier saved Springfield's season and helped the Falcons to a 3-0 win over Hamilton in Game 3 last night. Corey Foster scored a power play goal 6:55 into the game, and Pelletier preserved the lead until Springfield could add two empty-net insurance markers in the final minute. It was the Falcons' first home playoff game in three years.

Manitoba takes a 2-0 series lead back to Winnipeg after last night's 1-0 win in Providence. Tyler Moss and Mike Minard combined on a 23-save shutout, and Justin Kurtz scored the game's only goal. The Moose, who won two of three games in Portland to qualify for the conference quarterfinals, took both Games 1 and 2 at the Dunkin' Donuts Center, where the Bruins were 26-9-4-1 in the regular season.

Hugo Boisvert and Stacy Roest scored 1:55 apart in the first period as Grand Rapids defeated Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 2-1, to take a 2-0 series lead over the Penguins. Game 3 is tonight at the First Union Arena at Casey Plaza (7:05 ET). Marc Lamothe finished with 28 saves for the Griffins, who have allowed just two goals in two games to the Pens' dangerous offense.

Kyle Wanvig recorded his second winning goal in as many games as Houston went up 2-0 in games with a 4-2 win over Milwaukee last night. Wanvig and Hnat Domenichelli recorded a goal and an assist each for the Aeros, who can close out the Admirals in Game 3 at the Bradley Center tonight (7:12 CT). Jan Lasak made 33 saves in defeat, including 17 in the first period.

Chicago pays a visit to Chocolatetown for Game 3 tonight (7:00 ET, 6:00 CT), with the series knotted at one game apiece. Hershey scored four power play goals in Wednesday's 5-3 win in Game 2; Vaclav Nedorost scored two of the man-advantage goals and assisted on the other two. While they enjoyed the comforts of home during the regular season, the Wolves were 15-17-6-2 away from Allstate Arena in 2002-03.

TONIGHT'S GAMES

Game 3 – Chicago at Hershey, 7:00
Game 3 – Grand Rapids at Wilkes-Barre, 7:05
Game 3 – Houston at Milwaukee, 7:12

SERIES SCHEDULES

Western Conference Quarterfinal
1-Grand Rapids vs. 8-Wilkes-Barre
Game 1 – GRAND RAPIDS 3, Wilkes-Barre 1
Game 2 – GRAND RAPIDS 2, Wilkes-Barre 1
Game 3 – Sat 4/19 at Wilkes-Barre, 7:05
*Game 4 – Mon 4/21 at Wilkes-Barre, 7:05
*Game 5 – Wed 4/23 at Grand Rapids, 7:00

Western Conference Quarterfinal
2-Houston vs. 7-Milwaukee
Game 1 – HOUSTON 3, Milwaukee 2
Game 2 – HOUSTON 4, Milwaukee 2
Game 3 – Sat 4/19 at Milwaukee, 7:12
*Game 4 – Mon 4/21 at Milwaukee, 7:12
*Game 5 – Wed 4/23 at Houston, 7:00

Western Conference Quarterfinal
3-Norfolk vs. 6-San Antonio
Game 1 – NORFOLK 4, San Antonio 3 (OT)
Game 2 – NORFOLK 2, San Antonio 1
Game 3 – Norfolk 3, SAN ANTONIO 1

Western Conference Quarterfinal
4-Chicago vs. 5-Hershey
Game 1 – CHICAGO 3, Hershey 2
Game 2 – Hershey 5, CHICAGO 3
Game 3 – Sat 4/19 at Hershey, 7:00
Game 4 – Sun 4/20 at Hershey, 6:00
*Game 5 – Tue 4/22 at Chicago, 7:00

Eastern Conference Quarterfinal
1-Hamilton vs. 10-Springfield
Game 1 – HAMILTON 4, Springfield 0
Game 2 – HAMILTON 7, Springfield 6 (OT)
Game 3 – SPRINGFIELD 3, Hamilton 0
Game 4 – Mon 4/21 at Springfield, 7:05
*Game 5 – Wed 4/23 at Hamilton, 7:00

Eastern Conference Quarterfinal
2-Providence vs. 9-Manitoba
Game 1 – Manitoba 2, PROVIDENCE 1 (2OT)
Game 2 – Manitoba 1, PROVIDENCE 0
Game 3 – Sun 4/20 at Manitoba, 2:00
*Game 4 – Tue 4/22 at Manitoba, 7:30
*Game 5 – Thu 4/24 at Providence, 7:05

Eastern Conference Quarterfinal
3-Binghamton vs. 6-Worcester
Game 1 – BINGHAMTON 3, Worcester 2 (OT)
Game 2 – BINGHAMTON 4, Worcester 2
Game 3 – Binghamton 1, WORCESTER 0

Eastern Conference Quarterfinal
4-Manchester vs. 5-Bridgeport
Game 1 – Bridgeport 2, MANCHESTER 1
Game 2 – Bridgeport 6, MANCHESTER 3
Game 3 – BRIDGEPORT 6, Manchester 3

*if necessary... All times local

BY THE NUMBERS:

22 -- Years, before last night, since the last time a road team had won an AHL playoff game by a score of 1-0, when Hershey defeated Adirondack in Glens Falls on Apr. 28, 1981... Both Manitoba and Binghamton accomplished the feat on Friday.

ON THE AIR:

Saturday, Grand Rapids at Wilkes-Barre – Game 3 -- Adelphia 63 (NE Pennsylvania) -- 7:05 ET
Monday, Grand Rapids at Wilkes-Barre – Game 4 (if nec.) -- Adelphia 63 (NE Pennsylvania) -- 7:05 ET

American Hockey League Stories from April 19, 2003

• Aeros Advance to Conference Semifinals - Houston Aeros
• Penguins Stay Alive with 6-2 Win - Grand Rapids Griffins
• Bears Push Wolves to Brink of Elimination with 3-1 Victory - Hershey Bears
• Teskey signed to PTO - Manitoba Moose
• Critical Game Three Tonight as Bears and Wolves Clash - Hershey Bears
• It's a Boy! Brett and Candace Clark Give Birth to First Child - Hershey Bears
• AHL Quick Hits - AHL

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