AHL Quick Hits
Published on May 15, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL) News Release
Rookie Rob Collins broke a tie 3:44 into the third period as Grand Rapids evened the best-of-seven Western Conference championship series with a 3-1 win over Houston in Game 2 last night. The product of nearby Ferris State University converted on a power play for his third goal of the playoffs, and Derek King, a former teammate of Houston head coach Todd McLellan's with the Springfield Indians, scored the other two Griffins goals. Jay Henderson, a Calder Cup winner with Providence in 1999, netted the only goal for the Aeros, who fell to 6-1 this postseason and 38-5-2 overall when scoring first. Hamilton and Binghamton face off in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference final tonight at Copps Coliseum (7:00 ET), where the Senators have been outscored 14-3 in three visits this season. The teams were 1-for-16 combined with the man advantage in Tuesday's opener, but the Bulldogs scored their third and fourth shorthanded goals of the postseason to spark a four-goal second period. Tony Salmelainen, a 21-year-old Finnish rookie, registered two assists for Hamilton, and has six points in six games since returning to the lineup from an injury.
TONIGHT'S GAMES
Game 2 â Binghamton at Hamilton, 7:00
SERIES SCHEDULES
Western Conference Final
1-Grand Rapids vs. 2-Houston
Game 1 â Houston 3, GRAND RAPIDS 2 (OT)
Game 2 â GRAND RAPIDS 3, Houston 1
Game 3 â Fri 5/16 at Houston, 7:30
Game 4 â Sat 5/17 at Houston, 7:30
Game 5 â Mon 5/19 at Houston, 7:00
*Game 6 â Wed 5/21 at Grand Rapids, 7:00
*Game 7 â Thu 5/22 at Grand Rapids, 7:00
(Series tied, 1-1)
Eastern Conference Final
1-Hamilton vs. 3-Binghamton
Game 1 â HAMILTON 5, Binghamton 1
Game 2 â Thu 5/15 at Hamilton, 7:00
Game 3 â Mon 5/19 at Binghamton, 7:05
Game 4 â Tue 5/20 at Binghamton, 7:05
*Game 5 â Thu 5/22 at Hamilton, 7:00
*Game 6 â Fri 5/23 at Binghamton, 7:05
*Game 7 â Sun 5/25 at Hamilton, 4:00
(Hamilton leads series, 1-0)
Western Conference Semifinals
1-Grand Rapids def. 4-Chicago, 4-0
2-Houston def. 3-Norfolk, 4-2
Eastern Conference Semifinals
1-Hamilton def. 9-Manitoba, 4-3
3-Binghamton def. 5-Bridgeport, 4-2
*if necessary... All times local
FROM CALDER TO STANLEY:
1998 -- AHL All-Rookie Team goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere recorded his third consecutive shutout last night, leading Anaheim to a 4-0 win over Minnesota in Game 3. Giguere and the Mighty Ducks are one win from the Stanley Cup Finals, five years after Giguere reached the Calder Cup Finals with the Saint John Flames.
ON THIS DATE:
1978 â The Maine Mariners become the third team in AHL history to win a Calder Cup championship in their first season, finishing off the New Haven Nighthawks with a 5-4 win in Game 5 at the Cumberland County Civic Center... 1973 â At the Aud in Buffalo, the Cincinnati Swords defeat Nova Scotia, 5-1, to win the Calder Cup.
QUOTABLE:
"Through the financial commitment by our new owner, Tom Golisano, this agreement allows us to...develop our prospects, add veteran players to the team and create more depth for the organization. It's very important that we improve the talent level and create a winning atmosphere for the Amerks." â Darcy Regier, general manager of the Buffalo Sabres, at yesterday's press conference announcing the extension of the Sabres' affiliation agreement with the AHL's Rochester Americans. The 2003-04 season will mark the teams' 25th year of partnership.
CRASH THE 'NET:
Visit caldercup.com for links to the cybercasts of every Calder Cup Playoff game... Join Grand Rapids' Bob Kaser, Houston's Ken Double, Hamilton's Derek Wills or Binghamton's Grady Whittenburg as they call all the action of the race to the 67th American Hockey League championship.
American Hockey League Stories from May 15, 2003
- Bulldogs Take 2-0 Series Lead, Head to Binghamton - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Rampage to Host Hockey 101 Chalk Talk Friday Night - San Antonio Rampage
- AHL Quick Hits - AHL
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