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AHL Quick Hits

Published on May 19, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL) News Release


Houston can advance to the Calder Cup Finals with a home-ice victory over Grand Rapids in Game 5 tonight (7:00 CT, 8:00 ET). The Aeros reached the brink of the Western Conference championship with a pair of 2-1 victories over the weekend, and are now 7-1 in one-goal games this postseason. Johan Holmqvist, who lost five of his eight playoff decisions in 2001 and 2002, leads the AHL in playoff wins (10), saves (320) and minutes played (792:58) this spring, and has allowed a total of eight goals in his last six outings. Marc Lamothe and the Griffins, who haven't lost three in a row since a five-game slide from Nov. 28-Dec. 6, have surrendered only 10 goals in their last seven contests, but still face elimination after a 106-point regular season.

Binghamton faces a critical Game 3 tonight (7:00 ET) after losing the opening two contests of the Eastern Conference final in Hamilton last week. The Senators, who are 5-0 on home ice in the playoffs, scored two goals on 54 shots against Eric Fichaud in Games 1 and 2, while Ray Emery was beaten seven times on 64 Bulldogs shots. Hamilton dropped an 8-0 decision in Binghamton on Nov. 23; four days later, the 'Dogs started a 31-3-4-3 run that propelled them to the top of the AHL standings. Teams from the Steel City are 0-3-2 at the Broome County Arena since the Canucks beat the Rangers, 4-3, on Mar. 2, 1994.

TONIGHT'S GAMES

Game 3 – Hamilton at Binghamton, 7:05
Game 5 – Grand Rapids at Houston, 7:00

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 – HOUSTON 2, Grand Rapids 1
Game 4 – HOUSTON 2, Grand Rapids 1
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
(Houston leads series, 3-1)

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:

8 -- Players on this year's four AHL conference finalists who have previously won a Calder Cup championship: Grand Rapids' Bryan Adams (2002) and Michel Picard (1991, 1994); Houston's Jay Henderson (1999) and Tony Tuzzolino (2000); Binghamton's Dean Melanson (1996), Steve Bancroft (1999) and Brad Smyth (2000); and Hamilton's Benjamin Carpentier (2000).

FROM CALDER TO STANLEY:

New Jersey took a 3-1 lead in the NHL's Eastern Conference final with a 5-2 victory over Ottawa on Saturday afternoon... Former AHL All-Stars Patrik Elias (1997), Jay Pandolfo (1998) and John Madden (1999) had a goal and an assist apiece for the Devils in the win.

ON THIS DATE:

2002 – Chicago blanks Houston, 7-0, to win the Western Conference title in its first season in the AHL... 2000 – Hartford defeats Providence, 5-3, in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference final, ending the Bruins' league-record playoff home winning streak at 16 games... 1983 – Head coach Mike Keenan and the Rochester Americans win the Calder Cup with a 3-1 win at Maine.

ON THE AIR:

Sun., May 25 – Binghamton at Hamilton – Game 7 (if nec.) -- Rogers Sportsnet (national) -- 4:00 ET

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American Hockey League Stories from May 19, 2003


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