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Barons Weekly Report

April 4, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Cleveland Barons News Release


4/8/05 vs. Syracuse – National City Rink located in Gund Arena - 7:00pm www.sportstalkcleveland.com

The Barons will finish their season series with the Syracuse Crunch on Friday night. The Barons and Crunch split a set of games last weekend in Cleveland. The Barons are 3-3-0-1 against the Crunch this season. Currently, Syracuse stands three points ahead of the Barons in the North Division. Ryane Clowe leads the Barons with six points (4-2-6) in seven games against the Crunch. Two of Josh Prudden's three goals against Syracuse this season have been of the game-winning variety. His five points (3-2-5) are second on the Barons against the Crunch this season. Dimitri Patzold is 2-2-1 against Syracuse with a 1.78 goals against average and a .947 save percentage. Syracuse's Joe Motzko leads all skaters in the series with his seven points (2-5-7).

SHANE JOSEPH ACTION PHOTO NIGHT... The first 3,000 fans in attendance for the game will receive an authentically autographed action photo of Shane Joseph. Joseph leads all Barons rookies in points and assists.

LABATT BLUE CUP

4/9/05 @ Cincinnati – Cincinnati Gardens - 7:35pm - SportsTalk 850-AM WKNR

The Barons and Mighty Ducks will meet for the seventh time this season on Saturday. The Barons are 2-2-1-1 against Cincinnati this season. To win the Labatt Blue Cup, the Barons will have to win the remaining games against the Mighty Ducks without affording them a point. The Barons last contest against Cincinnati was played without Ryane Clowe, who leads the Barons in scoring. On the season series, Clowe leads all skaters with seven points (3-4-7). Nolan Schaefer has played well against Cincinnati this season, recording a 1-1-0 record with a 1.82 goals against average and a .934 save percentage.

4/10/05 vs. Cincinnati – National City Rink located in Gund Arena - 7:00pm www.sportstalkcleveland.com

Pierre Parenteau leads the season series with four goals against the Barons. The Mighty Ducks right wing recorded three of those goals in the first period of the teams' last match-up. Joffrey Lupul leads the Mighty Ducks with 52 points (27-25-52) on the season. His 27 goals are 10 better than every player on the Cincinnati roster. Frederic Cassivi and Ilya Bryzgalov have shared a platoon in net all season. Cassivi's 21-16-2 record with a 2.19 goals against average and a .920 save percentage have led the Ducks. Bryzgalov owns a 16-13-1 record with a 2.62 goals against average and a .900 save percentage.

Flashback

3/29/05 Grand Rapids 5 – Cleveland 0... Starting in his 17th consecutive game, goaltender Joey MacDonald recorded a 22-save shutout for the Griffins. With the loss, the Barons dropped the season series to the Griffins with a 3-4-0-1 record.

4/1/05 Cleveland 4 – Rochester 2... The Barons defeated the Rochester Americans for the first time in seven tries this season on Friday. The Barons overcame an early two-goal deficit to rally back and score four unanswered goals. Garrett Stafford started the Barons comeback as he began the team's scoring in the second period. He was the only Barons player to register a multi-point night as he added an assist on Grant Stevenson's game-winning goal. Riley Armstrong and Tomas Plihal also tallied goals on the night. Dimitri Patzold stopped 21 shots on the night for his 16th victory of the season.

4/2/05 St. John's 5 – Cleveland 4... Tomas Plihal got the Barons off to a good start, opening the game with his 15th goal of the season. The Maple Leafs would then score the next three goals to build a 3-1 lead. Goals from Josh Gorges and Marcel Goc got the Barons back in the game, but the Leafs would score the next two goals. Riley Armstrong added a late goal as well.

North Division Dominance

The North Division has been impressive against the league this season. In the 208 games that North Division teams have played out of the division, they have a winning percentage of .593 with a 107-68-14-19 record.

Glenn Olson Recalled

Glenn Olson was recalled from Fresno (ECHL) on Thursday. In 10 games with Fresno, Olson recorded one assist and 105 penalty minutes. On the season, the rookie left wing has also appeared in two games with the Barons totaling 5 penalty minutes and four games with the Johnstown Chiefs (ECHL) recording nine minutes in penalties.

Department of Discipline

The Barons are the fourth-least penalized team in the AHL, averaging only 21.53 minutes worth of penalties per game. The Barons 445 minor penalty infractions are the fifth-fewest in the AHL.

Shot In The Dark

The Barons have dominated their opponents in shooting over the last 12 games. They are averaging 33.1 shots per game (397) in that span in contrast to allowing only 24.9 shots (299). In those 12 games, the Barons are 5-5-1-1. The league average of shots per game is 30.37. On the season, when the Barons out-shoot their opponent, they boast a record of 21-15-1-2. The Barons take the ninth-most shots per game in the league, averaging 31.63 per contest.

Power Play Prowess

Over the last nine games, the Barons are 10-for-43 with the power play for a 23.3% mark. The Barons have equaled or surpassed their opponent in power play opportunities in nine out of ten of those games.

Buffalo Wild Wings

Two Barons Nights at Buffalo Wild Wings will take place on Tuesday, April 5th and Wednesday, April 6th. The Barons will be at the Lyndhurst location (5433 Mayfield Road) on Tuesday from 8-10pm. On Wednesday, fans can join the Barons at the Garfield Heights location (12668 Rockside Road) from 9:30-11pm. The Cleveland Barons and Labatt Blue will host contests to win wonderful prizes.

Booster Club Banquet

The Cleveland Hockey Booster Club will hold its annual end of the season Awards Banquet on Wednesday, April 6th at 6:30pm at Ridge Manor Party Center on 4630 Ridge Road.

Rubbermaid Player of the Game

At the end of each game the Barons select a Rubbermaid Player of the Game, given to the player who displays toughness and durability throughout the game. At the end of the season, the player with the most selections will receive a prize package courtesy of Rubbermaid. Currently, Josh Gorges leads the race for the Rubbermaid with eight selections. Nick Bootland and Doug Murray are tied for second with seven selections each. Ryane Clowe is third with six picks. A full list of the Rubbermaid Points Standings can be found on www.clevelandbarons.net.

Barons Player of the Week

The Cleveland Barons Player of the Week is defenseman Josh Gorges. Gorges recorded points in back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday. On Friday, Gorges assisted on the Barons second goal, helping the Barons overcome a 2-0 deficit to Rochester. On Saturday, with the Barons trailing 3-1, Gorges scored one goal and assisted on the next to tie the game at three. On the week, the ever-steady defenseman registered one goal and two assists with an even plus/minus.

The Clowe-ser

In his last 13 games, Ryane Clowe has scored the Barons first goal six times (Note: Clowe missed six games). Four of the goals were the first between either team. Clowe leads the Barons by scoring the game's first goal eight times. In his last 22 games, Clowe owns 15 goals and 10 assists (15-10-25). Clowe leads the Barons with 15 multi-point games on the season. His 56 points, 25 goals, 32 assists, and +16 plus/minus rating all lead the Barons. Clowe has been productive on the power play as he leads the team with 14 goals and is tied for first with 21 points.

Making Teams Risserable

Patrick Rissmiller has recorded at least one point in 11 of the last 18 games (4-12-16). Since returning to the lineup 22 games ago, Rissmiller has totaled six goals and 12 assists (6-12-18) as the Barons have gone 11-8-1-2. His 21 points on the power play (7-14-21) are tied for first on the Barons, his 19 goals are second, his seven power play goals are tied for second, and his 42 points are third. Rissmiller ranks second in goals (47), assists (80), points (127), and games played (209) in Barons franchise history.

United Marcel Service

The United Marcel Service has been delivering lately. Marcel Goc has delivered 21 assists to teammates in the last 32 games. Overall, he has 28 points (7-27-28) during that span. On the season, his 31 assists and 46 points are second on the team, and his 15 goals are tied for third. He is tied for ninth in the league with three short-handed goals, which are all unassisted.

The Alberta Clipper

Grant Stevenson has posted 18 points in the last 20 games (6-12-18). Those 20 contests include six multi-point games for the Alberta native. Stevenson is again making a late point push. Over the last 30 games, he owns 23 (8-15-23) of his season's 36 points. Stevenson produced 16 of his 39 points during the 2003-04 season over the last 14 games of the season. Stevenson is currently fourth on the Barons with his 34 points and is third with his 24 assists. He has recorded 44.4% of his season's points on the power play. The second-year forward has 16 points on the power play with 6 goals and 10 assists.

A Prudden Decision

Josh Prudden leads the Barons in game-winning goals this season. In fact, five of his 13 goals have gone for game-winners this season. Among league rookies, his five game-winners are tied for third. Prudden leads all Barons rookies with his 13 goals and they are fifth on the team overall. His 13 goals are tied for 10th among all league rookies this season. Creating his own offense, Prudden is also tied for first on the team with three unassisted goals. His 21 points on the year are second among Barons rookies and tied for 33rd among all AHL rookies.

Demolition Man

Doug Murray has eight points in his last 12 games (1-7-8). The bruising defenseman has recorded an assist in the last two games and three of the last four contests. Murray tied a career-high by posting a +4 plus-minus rating against St. John's on 3/16. Murray previously recorded a +4 in his fifth career game on October 24th, 2003 against Houston.

Sugar Shane

Rookie forward Shane Joseph has amassed 10 points in the last 13 games (1-9-10). On the season, Joseph leads all Barons rookies with 21 assists and 31 points. Those 31 points are 14th among all league rookies and his 21 assists are tied for 14th.

Air Ehrhoff

Christian Ehrhoff has recorded one point in four of the last eight games (2-2-4). The lone Barons All-Star representative, he is tied for 22nd among all AHL defensemen with 33 points (12-21-33). Among defensive scorers, he is tied for fourth in goals (12) and power play goals (7), and tied for eighth in game-winning goals (3). Ehrhoff's 217 shots lead all league defensemen. Ehrhoff leads all Barons defensemen in points and goals, and is tied for first in assists. His 17 points on the power play (7-10-17) are fourth on the team.

Money In The Bank

Christian Ehrhoff is playing well on the National City Rink located in Gund Arena. Ehrhoff has recorded 63.6% of his season's point total on home ice. In 36 home games, the native of Germany owns five goals and 16 assists (5-16-21). He is fourth on the Barons in points on home ice and is second with his 16 assists.

Staff Report

Garrett Stafford recorded his first multi-point game since January 21st on Friday night. The reigning Barons Rookie of the Year has totaled a +7 plus/minus rating in his last 12 games. Stafford's 16 assists and 22 points are third among all Barons blue-liners.

The Life Of Riley

Riley Armstrong has scored one goal in back-to-back games. It is the first time in his career that he has done so. Armstrong also has recorded one point in three of his last four games (2-1-3) while posting a +4 over that span. He has recorded eight of his 18 points this season in the last 16 games. The eight points in 16 games are good for .50 points per game. It is an increase over his .21 points per game average over his first 47 games. During that 16-game span, Armstrong is a +7.

According To Jim

Defenseman Jim Fahey has recorded nine points on two goals and seven assists (2-7-9) in his last 13 games. Three of Fahey's four goals this season have gone for game-winners. His 21 assists are tied for the lead among Barons defensemen and his 25 points are second.

Plihal Power

Tomas Plihal has recorded one point in six of the last 11 games (4-2-6). On the season, Plihal ranks tied for third on the team with 15 goals and tied for seventh on the team with 25 points. Plihal turned 22-years-old last Monday.

Strapping On The Boots

Nick Bootland has recorded an assist in each of the last two games (0-2-2). He also reached a goal-scoring plateau on March 12th against Milwaukee as he scored his 100th regular season goal as a professional. In his career, Bootland has 29 goals at the AHL level, 44 goals at the ECHL level, and 27 goals at the UHL level. This is Bootland's seventh season as a professional.

Practice Makes Perfect

Below is the Barons schedule for the week. Practice times are subject to change. All practices at Barons Arena are open to the public. For information, contact the Barons at 216-420-0000...

Date Event Location Time

4-5 Practice Barons Arena 10:30am

4-6 Practice National City Rink located in Gund Arena 10:30am

4-7 Practice National City Rink located in Gund Arena 10:30am

4-8 Pre-Game Skate National City Rink located in Gund Arena 10:00am

4-8 vs. Syracuse National City Rink located in Gund Arena 7:00pm

4-9 @ Cincinnati Cincinnati Gardens 7:35pm

4-10 vs. Cincinnati National City Rink located in Gund Arena 7:00pm

Barons Broadcasts

The Barons game against Cincinnati on Saturday night can be heard on SportsTalk 850-AM WKNR. The two home games this week can be heard live on www.clevelandbarons.net.

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