AHL Quick Hits

Published on May 12, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL) News Release

The top two teams in the Western Conference clash in a best-of-seven for the right to play for the Calder Cup, with Game 1 tonight at Van Andel Arena (7:00 ET, 6:00 CT). Grand Rapids (106 pts.) finished ahead of Houston (104) atop the West standings thanks to a 5-4-1 record in the teams' season series. The top defensive team in the AHL each of the last two seasons, the Griffins have allowed 15 goals in their eight playoff games, five of which were scored in the third period of Game 3 vs. Wilkes-Barre. Stephane Veilleux led the Aeros with seven points in their six-game victory over Norfolk in the conference semifinals.

Hamilton advanced to its second straight conference final with a 3-2 win over Manitoba in Game 7 yesterday afternoon. Jarret Stoll scored the game-winner with two tenths of a second left in the second period, his first goal of the playoffs. Ty Conklin finished with 28 saves as the Bulldogs prevented the Moose from finishing off a rally from a 3-1 series deficit. Jason King and Brandon Reid picked up a goal and an assist apiece for Manitoba. Hamilton moves on to face Binghamton in the Eastern Conference final, beginning Tuesday night.

TONIGHT'S GAMES

Game 1 – Houston at Grand Rapids, 7:00

SERIES SCHEDULES

Western Conference Final
1-Grand Rapids vs. 2-Houston
Game 1 – Mon 5/12 at Grand Rapids, 7:00
Game 2 – Wed 5/14 at Grand Rapids, 7:00
Game 3 – Fri 5/16 at Houston, 7:30
Game 4 – Sat 5/17 at Houston, 7:30
*Game 5 – Mon 5/19 at Houston, 7:00
*Game 6 – Wed 5/21 at Grand Rapids, 7:00
*Game 7 – Thu 5/22 at Grand Rapids, 7:00

Western Conference Semifinals
1-Grand Rapids def. 4-Chicago, 4-0
2-Houston def. 3-Norfolk, 4-2

Eastern Conference Final
1-Hamilton vs. 3-Binghamton
Game 1 – Tue 5/13 at Hamilton, 7:00
Game 2 – Thu 5/15 at Hamilton, 7:00
Game 3 – Mon 5/19 at Binghamton, 7:05
Game 4 – Tue 5/20 at Binghamton, 7:05
*Game 5 – Thu 5/22 at Hamilton, 7:00
*Game 6 – Fri 5/23 at Binghamton, 7:05
*Game 7 – Sun 5/25 at Hamilton, 4:00

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 – Hamilton 6, MANITOBA 2
Game 5 – MANITOBA 3, Hamilton 1
Game 6 – Manitoba 4, HAMILTON 3
Game 7 – HAMILTON 3, Manitoba 2
(Hamilton wins series, 4-3)

3-Binghamton def. 5-Bridgeport, 4-2

*if necessary... All times local

BY THE NUMBERS:

417 -- Standings points earned by this year's four conference finalists (Hamilton 110, Grand Rapids 106, Houston 104, Binghamton 97) in the 2002-03 regular season, the highest total ever for a quartet of Calder Cup semifinalists... Providence (120), Rochester (111), Philadelphia (105) and Fredericton (77) combined for 413 points in 1999.

FROM CALDER TO STANLEY:

Shaun Van Allen scored 3:08 into overtime on Saturday night to give Ottawa a 3-2 win over New Jersey in Game 1 of the NHL's Eastern Conference final... It was Van Allen's first playoff taly since 1993, when he potted eight goals for the Calder Cup champion Cape Breton Oilers.

ON THIS DATE:

1988 – Head coach John Paddock's Hershey Bears post a 4-2 win over the Fredericton Express, finishing their third straight sweep and winning the Calder Cup on the strength of a 12-0 postseason record... Wendell Young, who played every second of the postseason in net for the Bears, earns the Jack Butterfield Trophy as playoff MVP... 1998 – Dan Cloutier stops 52 shots as Hartford ends a three-game slide and staves off elimination with a 4-1 road victory over Worcester in Game 6 of their conference semifinal series... The Wolf Pack would advance with an 8-2 win at home the next night.

ON THE AIR:

Mon., May 12 – Houston at Grand Rapids – Game 1 -- Fox Sports Net Southwest -- 6:00 CT

American Hockey League Stories from May 12, 2003

• Griffins Fall 3-2 in Overtime - Grand Rapids Griffins
• Griffins Broadcasts Return to the Internet - Grand Rapids Griffins
• Morrison reassigned to Columbia - Manitoba Moose
• Busy Week For Sound Tigers - Bridgeport Islanders
• Playoff Update on the Houston Aeros - Houston Aeros
• Sound Tigers To Hold Fan Appreciation Sale This Thursday - Bridgeport Islanders
• Phantoms News & Notes - Adirondack Phantoms
• AHL conference finals set - AHL
• AHL Quick Hits - AHL

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