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Published on May 2, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL) News Release


Grand Rapids is on the brink of sweeping arch-rival Chicago after last night's 2-1 victory at Allstate Arena; the Griffins go for the kill in Game 4 tonight (7:30 CT, 8:30 ET). Darryl Bootland and Stacy Roest each netted his third goal in as many games 71 seconds apart in the first period, and Marc Lamothe did the rest with 29 saves to improve his playoff record to 6-1. J-P. Vigier scored the only goal for the Wolves, whose Calder Cup championship defense now hinges on whether they can become just the third AHL team ever to come back from an 0-3 series deficit.

Norfolk tries to keep the clamps on high-powered Houston when the teams play Game 4 tonight at Scope (7:30 ET, 6:30 CT). The Aeros finished second in the conference in offense during the regular season, but have been held to two goals and 41 shots over the last two games, both Admirals wins. Norfolk's Michael Leighton, who posted back-to-back shutouts in his last two regular-season games, has stopped 67 of 70 shots in his three playoff starts.

Some 48 hours after an emotionally charged Game 3, East Division rivals Bridgeport and Binghamton face off again at the Arena at Harbor Yard tonight (7:35 ET). The Sound Tigers closed their series deficit to 2-1 with a 5-0 victory on Wednesday, improving to 10-2 all-time in postseason home games. The Senators are 0-for-19 on the power play in the series and 2-for-33 (6.1%) for the postseason.

After splitting the first two games in Hamilton, the Bulldogs and Moose head to Winnipeg for Game 3 tonight (7:30 CT, 8:30 ET). Manitoba has played just two home games since Mar. 31, both in the conference quarterfinals against the Providence Bruins. Bulldogs forward Michael Ryder has scored in both Game 1 and Game 2 after leading all players with six goals in the teams' eight-game regular season series.

TONIGHT'S GAMES

Game 4 – Houston at Norfolk, 7:30
Game 4 – Binghamton at Bridgeport, 7:35
Game 4 – Grand Rapids at Chicago, 7:30
Game 3 – Hamilton at Manitoba, 7:30

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 – Grand Rapids 2, CHICAGO 1
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, 3-0)

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:

Michal Handzus scored his first career Stanley Cup Playoff goal to give Philadelphia a 1-0 win over Ottawa in Game 4 last night... Handzus had two goals and six assists in 11 Calder Cup Playoff games with Worcester in 1998.

BY THE NUMBERS:

.720 -- Winning percentage (36-14) of teams in the 2003 postseason after scoring the first goal of the game... In the regular season, teams were 698-289-133 (.683) when scoring first.

ON THIS DATE:

1984 – Rochester reaches the Calder Cup Finals for the second straight year with a 3-2 double-overtime win over Baltimore in Game 6... 1969 – Hershey takes a 3-0 series lead in the Calder Cup Finals with a 4-3 win over the Quebec Aces at Le Colisee.

ON THE AIR:

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

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American Hockey League Stories from May 2, 2003


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