AHL Quick Hits

Published on May 3, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL) News Release

Grand Rapids became the first team to reach this year's conference finals after last night's 2-0 win in Chicago, completing a four-game sweep of the defending champion. Stacy Roest, who netted a goal in all four contests, scored with 1:57 left in regulation to snap a scoreless tie and lift the Griffins to victory. Marc Lamothe recorded 26 saves for his first shutout of the postseason, and allowed just five goals in the series.

Trent Hunter scored his third goal of the series with 21.4 seconds remaining in the game to give Bridgeport a dramatic 3-2 win over Binghamton last night, squaring their series at two games apiece. The teams return to the Broome County Arena in Binghamton for Game 5 tonight (7:05 ET). AHL All-Rookie forward Antoine Vermette scored his first goal since Mar. 23 in Game 4, while eighth-year pro Alan Letang recorded his first career playoff goal for Bridgeport. The Sound Tigers improved to 23-for-23 on the penalty kill in the series and 30-for-31 (96.8%) for the postseason.

Jani Rita ended the longest game of the Calder Cup 2003 Playoffs at 17:26 of the second overtime, giving Hamilton a 2-1 win in Game 3 at Manitoba last night, and a 2-1 lead in the teams' Eastern Conference semifinal series. Former Moose goaltender Eric Fichaud stopped 42 shots to get the win for the Bulldogs in his first appearance of the series, while Tyler Moss returned from injury and turned aside 49 of 51 shots in the loss for Manitoba.

Hnat Domenichelli's goal with 7:29 to play in regulation stood up as the game-winner in Houston's 3-2 victory over Norfolk last night, evening their series at two wins each. Domenichelli and Rickard Wallin had a goal and an assist each and Stephane Veilleux registered two assists for the Aeros. Johan Holmqvist made 22 saves in net for Houston, allowing only two power play goals by the Admirals' Casey Hankinson.

TONIGHT'S GAMES

Game 5 – Bridgeport at Binghamton, 7:05

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 – Grand Rapids 2, CHICAGO 0
(Grand Rapids wins series, 4-0)

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 – Houston 3, NORFOLK 2
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
(Series tied, 2-2)

Eastern Conference Semifinals
1-Hamilton vs. 9-Manitoba
Game 1 – Manitoba 2, HAMILTON 1
Game 2 – HAMILTON 5, Manitoba 2
Game 3 – HAMILTON 2, Manitoba 1 (2OT)
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
(Hamilton leads series, 2-1)

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 – BRIDGEPORT 3, Binghamton 2
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
(Series tied, 2-2)

*if necessary... All times local

FROM CALDER TO STANLEY:

Grant Marshall scored in the third overtime period last night to give New Jersey a series-clinching 2-1 victory over Tampa Bay... Marshall played 13 Calder Cup Playoff games with the St. John's Maple Leafs in 1993 and 1994... 1999 Calder Cup champion John Grahame made 46 saves in his Stanley Cup Playoff debut for the Lightning.

ON THIS DATE:

1968 – Les Duff scores in overtime of Game 5 to give Rochester a 3-2 series lead over Quebec in the Calder Cup Finals... The Amerks would go on to win Game 6, allowing Duff to tie an AHL record with his fifth Calder Cup championship as a player.

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

American Hockey League Stories from May 3, 2003

• Sound Tigers Shutout 3-0 By B-Sens In Game Five - Bridgeport Islanders
• AHL Quick Hits - AHL

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