AHL Quick Hits

Published on May 1, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL) News Release

Rick DiPietro stopped 29 shots for his fourth career Calder Cup Playoff shutout and Bridgeport scored three power play goals en route to a 5-0 win over Binghamton in a chippy Game 3 last night. The Senators still lead the series, 2-1, but the Sound Tigers wrested some momentum away with last night's outburst, which included a combined 225 minutes in penalties. Six players recorded two points each for Bridgeport, including Sven Butenschon, Daniel Tkaczuk and Jeff Hamilton, who all scored in the third period. The Sens were officially 0-for-7 on the power play, and have not scored in 19 opportunities in the series.

Peter White and Kent Huskins scored 56 seconds apart late in the first period and Norfolk's defense grounded the Aeros to take a 3-2 victory in Game 3 last night and a 2-1 series lead. The Admirals surrendered just 17 shots on goal, and have given up 41 shots in the last two games after Houston fired 29 shots in overtime of Game 1 alone. Stephane Veilleux and Hnat Domenichelli had a goal and an assist each for the Aeros, who will try to even the series in Game 4 tomorrow night.

After losing twice in Grand Rapids, Chicago returns home tonight in need of a victory in Game 3 (7:00 CT, 8:00 ET) to avoid falling into an 0-3 hole. The Wolves have won 11 of their last 12 home playoff contests and are 17-3-2 in their last 22 games at Allstate Arena overall, while the Griffins established an AHL record with 26 road victories in the regular season. Simon Gamache has three goals on six shots in the series; Griffins goaltender Marc Lamothe has stopped 49 of 50 shots (.980) from the rest of the Wolves roster.

TONIGHT'S GAMES

Game 3 – Grand Rapids at Chicago, 7:00

SERIES SCHEDULES

Western Conference Semifinals
1-Grand Rapids vs. 4-Chicago
Game 1 – GRAND RAPIDS 4, Chicago 3 (OT)
Game 2 – GRAND RAPIDS 3, Chicago 1
Game 3 – Thu 5/1 at Chicago, 7:00
Game 4 – Fri 5/2 at Chicago, 7:30
*Game 5 – Sun 5/4 at Grand Rapids, 6:00
*Game 6 – Tue 5/6 at Chicago, 7:00
*Game 7 – Wed 5/7 at Grand Rapids, 7:00
(Grand Rapids leads series, 2-0)

2-Houston vs. 3-Norfolk
Game 1 – HOUSTON 5, Norfolk 4 (2OT)
Game 2 – Norfolk 4, HOUSTON 0
Game 3 – NORFOLK 3, Houston 2
Game 4 – Fri 5/2 at Norfolk, 7:30
Game 5 – Sun 5/4 at Norfolk, 4:00
*Game 6 – Wed 5/7 at Houston, 7:00
*Game 7 – Thu 5/8 at Houston, 7:00
(Norfolk leads series, 2-1)

Eastern Conference Semifinals
1-Hamilton vs. 9-Manitoba
Game 1 – Manitoba 2, HAMILTON 1
Game 2 – HAMILTON 5, Manitoba 2
Game 3 – Fri 5/2 at Manitoba, 7:30
Game 4 – Sun 5/4 at Manitoba, 2:00
Game 5 – Mon 5/5 at Manitoba, 7:30
*Game 6 – Thu 5/8 at Hamilton, 7:00
*Game 7 – Sun 5/11 at Hamilton, 1:00
(Series tied, 1-1)

3-Binghamton vs. 5-Bridgeport
Game 1 – BINGHAMTON 2, Bridgeport 1 (OT)
Game 2 – BINGHAMTON 3, Bridgeport 2
Game 3 – BRIDGEPORT 5, Binghamton 0
Game 4 – Fri 5/2 at Bridgeport, 7:35
Game 5 – Sat 5/3 at Binghamton, 7:05
*Game 6 – Mon 5/5 at Bridgeport, 7:05
*Game 7 – Tue 5/6 at Binghamton, 7:05
(Binghamton leads series, 2-1)

*if necessary... All times local

FROM CALDER TO STANLEY:

Mike Leclerc scored with 1:47 left in regulation to give Anaheim a 1-0 win over Dallas last night. Leclerc helped the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks to their first-ever Calder Cup Playoff appearance in 1999.

BY THE NUMBERS:

103 -- American Hockey League alumni who are participating in the 2003 World Championships in Finland, including 24 who played in the AHL this season.

ON THIS DATE:

1963 – AHL hockey is played in the month of May for the first time, as the Buffalo Bisons defeat the Hershey Bears, 6-2, in Game 7 of the Calder Cup Finals at the Aud in Buffalo... John McKenzie's 20 points for the Bisons ties a then-record for a single AHL postseason... 1990 – Derek Laxdal scores in overtime to give the Springfield Indians a 5-4 win over Sherbrooke and a berth in the Calder Cup Finals for the first time in 15 years.

ON THE AIR:

Thu., May 8 – Manitoba at Hamilton – Game 6 (if nec.) -- Rogers Sportsnet (national) -- 7:00 ET
Mon., May 11 – Manitoba at Hamilton – Game 7 (if nec.) -- Rogers Sportsnet (national) -- 1:00 ET

American Hockey League Stories from May 1, 2003

• 2-1 Win Gives Griffins 3-0 Lead over Wolves - Grand Rapids Griffins
• Moose host playoff BBQ at Arena on Friday, May 2 - Manitoba Moose
• AHL Quick Hits - AHL

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