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Published on May 16, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL) News Release


Jason Ward's third goal of the series proved to be the game-winner as Hamilton stifled Binghamton, 2-1, to take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference final last night. Raffi Torres also scored for the Bulldogs, and Eric Fichaud made 22 saves against the Senators, who have scored nine goals in their last six games. Binghamton was 0-for-3 with the man advantage, falling to 3-for-50 (6.0%) on the postseason, while Hamilton recorded a power play goal for the fourth time in five games. Both teams are now 5-2 in one-goal contests this postseason.

With the Western Conference final even at one win apiece, the teams head to Houston for three meetings in four nights, beginning with Game 3 tonight at Compaq Center (7:30 CT, 8:30 ET). The Aeros are 4-1 on home ice this spring, but the Griffins set an AHL record with 26 road victories in the regular season. Grand Rapids forward Stacy Roest and player/assistant coach Derek King, two of the top scorers in the AHL this postseason, have between them over 1,600 games of pro experience but zero championships.

TONIGHT'S GAMES

Game 3 – Grand Rapids at Houston, 7:30

SERIES SCHEDULES

Western Conference Final
1-Grand Rapids vs. 2-Houston
Game 1 – Houston 3, GRAND RAPIDS 2 (OT)
Game 2 – GRAND RAPIDS 3, Houston 1
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
(Series tied, 1-1)

Eastern Conference Final
1-Hamilton vs. 3-Binghamton
Game 1 – HAMILTON 5, Binghamton 1
Game 2 – HAMILTON 2, Binghamton 1
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
(Hamilton leads series, 2-0)

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

BY THE NUMBERS:

15 -- Players in AHL history who have won Calder Cup championships in successive seasons with two different teams. Grand Rapids' Bryan Adams, a member of the 2002 Chicago Wolves, is trying to join the list this year.

FROM CALDER TO STANLEY:

Sergei Brylin's goal midway through the first period gave New Jersey a 1-0 win over Ottawa in Game 3 of the NHL's Eastern Conference final last night. Brylin recorded 12 points in 16 playoff games with the Albany River Rats in 1997.

ON THIS DATE:

1999 – Richard Park records two goals and three assists and Dennis Bonvie adds a goal and two assists as Philadelphia crushes Kentucky, 9-3, matching the biggest Game 7 blowout in AHL history... The win puts the Phantoms in the conference finals for the second straight year... 1989 – After an eight-day layoff between Games 4 and 5, the Adirondack Red Wings defeat New Haven, 10-7, to win their third Calder Cup of the decade.

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.

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American Hockey League Stories from May 16, 2003


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