Bullies 2004 Playoffs Review (Wait 'Til Next Year)

Published on April 15, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies News Release


ATLANTIC CITY - PLAYOFF RECORD: 1-3 - SEASON RECORD: 47-19-6 - 2nd NORTHERN

BULLIES REWIND: The Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies were eliminated in four games by the Peoria Rivermen Tuesday in the 2004 Northern Division Semifinals at Carver Arena. The loss ends the Bullies bid to become the first team to repeat as ECHL champions since Toledo in 1993 and 1994.

Wednesday, Preston Mizzi tallied the game-winning goal and added an assist and Bujar Amidovski stopped 26 shots as the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies defeated the Peoria Rivermen 3-2 before 1125 at Boardwalk Hall in Game 1 of the Northern Division Semifinals Wednesday. Nick Parillo got the Bullies on the board just 3:03 into the first period, taking a drop pass from Sam Paolini in the slot, and slapping it by Peoria goaltender Levente Szuper for a 1-0 lead. Marty Johnston netted the equalizer for the Rivermen at 9:15 of the first, knocking home the puck on the far side post past Amidovski to tie the score 1-1. Ian Walterson gave the Bullies a 2-1 lead at 18:13 of the period, stepping up to the left-wing circle and firing a shot over Szuper's left shoulder for the tally. Mizzi increased the Bullies lead to 3-1 in the second when he collected the puck in the high slot, spun around, and put a slap shot by Szuper at 2:18. Joe Pereira got Peoria back to within a goal at 3-2, taking a pass from Garret Cameron from behind the net in the slot and knocking it off Amidovski's blocker and into the net at 6:14 of the third period. Peoria would pull Szuper with 2:02 left in regulation, but could not muster the game-tying goal. The Bullies out-shot the Rivermen 33-28. Atlantic City went 0-6 on the power play.

Friday, Garett Cameron potted two goals and added an assist and Adam Edinger scored the go-ahead and eventual game-winning goal 47 seconds into the third period to the lift the Peoria Rivermen to a 6-3 win over the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies in Game 2 of the ECHL Northern Division Semifinals before 1837 at Boardwalk Hall Friday. Atlantic City opened the scoring just 3:53 into the first period on the power play. Sam Paolini streaking up the left-wing boards slapped the puck through Peoria goaltender Levente Szuper for a 1-0 lead. Peoria's Scott Crawford netted the equalizer at 8:26 of the period when he picked up the loose puck in the slot and put a drive past Bullies goaltender Bujar Amidovski. The Bullies regained the lead 2-1 at 15:57 on the power play. Nick Parillo from behind the net fed an open Pierre-Luc Sleigher inside the right-wing circle, and Sleigher found the upper-left corner of the net for the tally. Cameron recorded his first of two on the night 6:15 into the second period, smacking Joe Vandermeer's rebound past Amidovski to the tie the game 2-2. Trevor Baker gave the Rivermen a 3-2 lead as he won an offensive zone face-off to himself and knocked the puck off the inside post and into the back of the net at 10:27. Parillo brought the Bullies back to even-strength, firing a slap shot from the right-wing circle that beat Szuper at 14:44 to tie the game 3-3. Peoria would take the lead for good as Edinger knocked in his own rebound 47 seconds into the third period. Cameron added some insurance with his second marker of the night, batting down the loose puck in mid-air through Amidovski at 11:44 for a 5-3 advantage. Baker clinched the victory with an empty-net goal at 18:49. Peoria out-shot the Bullies 34-25. Amidovski made 29 saves in suffering the loss. The Bullies went 2-5 on the power play.

Monday, Peoria's Adam Edinger scored 2:17 into the first overtime, winning the face-off to himself and slipping a backhander by Bullies goaltender Scott Stirling to lead the Peoria Rivermen to a 2-1 victory over the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies. Peoria opened the scoring at 7:39 of the first period, as David Kaczowka from a sharp angle slipped the puck through Stirling to give the Rivermen a 1-0 lead. It would stay that way until the final minutes of regulation, when Preston Mizzi wheeled around to the left point and fired a slap shot through traffic that beat Peoria goalie Mike Valley at 18:28 to tie the game 1-1 and send the contest to overtime setting up Edinger's dramatics. Peoria out-shot the Bullies 42-38 for the game. Stirling stopped 40 shots in suffering the loss. Atlantic City went 0-4 on the power play.

Tuesday, Marty Johnston fired a low wrist shot from the right-wing circle that beat Bullies goaltender Scott Stirling 9:50 into overtime to lead the Peoria Rivermen to a 2-1 win over the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies. With the win, Peoria wins the series three games to one and advances on to the Northern Division Finals. The Bullies opened the scoring at 15:09 of the first period when Pierre-Luc Sleigher knocked in Jim Henkel's rebound in front of Peoria goaltender Mike Valley for a 1-0 lead. Peoria's Trevor Baker notched the equalizer at 7:33 of the second, when his shot from the blue-line ricocheted off the near-side post and off the back of Stirling's pads into the net to tie the game 1-1. It remained tied at 1-1 until Johnston's dramatics in overtime. The Bullies out-shot Peoria 51-33. Stirling stopped 31 shots in taking the loss. Atlantic City went 0-7 on the power play.

BULLIES "TOP DAWG" AWARD: Each week this season, Public Relations and Broadcasting Manager Dan Weiss has selected the Bullies "Top Dawg" for the week. The final winner for the year is forward Preston Mizzi, who came to life in the first round of the Kelly Cup playoffs tallying the game-winning goal in Game 1, and netting the equalizer to forcer overtime in Game 3. Mizzi finished the playoffs tied for the Bullies scoring lead with 2 goals and an assist. All the winners for 2003-04 are listed below:

10/20/03: Jim Henkel (4 goals, 2 assists) 10/27/03: Luke Curtin (1 goal, 2 assists) 11/3/03: Brian Fahey (0 goals, 5 assists) 11/10/03: Scott Stirling (55 shots, 53 saves) 11/17/03: Matt Hubbauer (1 goal, first professional) 11/24/03: Jon Cullen (2 goals, 3 assists) 12/1/03: Josh Prudden (1 goal, 2 assists) 12/8/03: Luke Curtin (2 goals, 6 assists) 12/15/03: Stefan Rivard (1 goal, 3 assists, 400 Career Points) 12/22/03: Scott Stirling (35 shots, 33 saves, 100 Career Wins) 12/29/03: Luke Curtin (2 goals, 3 assists, OT GW goal) 1/5/04: Brian Fahey (3 goals, GW goal) 1/12/04: Luke Curtin (4 goals, 4 assists) 1/19/04: Stefan Rivard (4 goals, 1 assist) 1/27/04: Aaron Foster (3 goals, 1 assist, 2 GW goals) 2/2/04: Jim Henkel (3 goals, 1 assist) 2/9/04: Jake Moreland (career-high 35 saves against Reading) 2/16/04: Luke Curtin (4 goals, 2 assists) 2/23/04: Scott Horvath (4 goals, 1 assist) 3/1/04: Jon Cullen (1 goal, 4 assists) 3/8/04: Scott Stirling (4th shutout of the season; 14th of his career) 3/15/04: Sam Paolini (3 goals, 1 assist) 3/22/04: Josh Prudden (1 goal, 3 assists) 3/29/04: Bujar Amidovski (2-0-0, 2 shutouts, 0.00 GAA, 1.000% save percentage) 4/5/04: Stefan Rivard (5 goals, 3 assists)

SIMPLY THE BEST: The 2003-04 Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies finished an all-time best 47-19-6, breaking seven team records and five individual records. As a team, the Bullies set all-time franchise records for wins (47), road wins (23), points (100), fewest losses (17), fewest goals against (159), lowest goals against average (2.21), and shutouts (10). Individually, Scott Stirling set franchise records for appearances (49), minutes (2955), wins (31), lowest goals against average (1.91), and highest save percentage (.933). The Bullies became the 14th team in ECHL history to reach the 100-point plateau. The Bullies finished three goals behind the 2001-02 Louisiana Ice Gators for the record of fewest goals against in one season. Their 2.21 goals against average also ranks second behind Louisiana. The 23 road victories place them third all-time joining Pee Dee, Peoria, and Charlotte, while the 10 shutouts ranks second all-time behind this year's Wheeling Nailers who recorded 11 shutouts. For Stirling, his goals against average ties Curtis Sanford for second lowest in ECHL history, while his save percentage ties Jeff Salajko for third best all-time.

STRANGE DAYS: The Bullies were not the only favorite to suffer an early exit in the 2004 Kelly Cup Playoffs. Of the nine first round series including the wild card game, only one higher seed, Louisiana, has advanced on to the next round. For the first time in ECHL history, three teams (San Diego, Wheeling, and Atlantic City) finished the regular season with 100 points or more. All three teams, including Brabham Cup Champion San Diego, were eliminated in the first round. The combined regular season record of the teams eliminated from the playoffs in the first round is an astronomical 402-180-66

BULLIES PLAYOFF NEWS AND NOTES: The Bullies scored just 8 goals in 4 playoff games, an average of 2 goals per game. The Bullies finished the regular season 6th in the ECHL in scoring, averaging 3.36 goals per game.Atlantic City went only 2-22 (9.1%) on the power play against Peoria, yet held the Rivermen to just one power play goal on 20 chances (95%).Peoria's line of Garett Cameron, Adam Edinger, and Marty Johnston combined for 15 points (6 goals, 9 assists), all three game-winning goals, and was a +18 during the series.The Bullies are now 6-2 in playoff series and 3-2 when facing elimination.Peoria won for just third time in their playoff history when losing the opening game.

POWER PLAY FOR UNITED WAY: The Bullies have teamed up with United Way of Atlantic County to sponsor the Power Play for United Way. For every power play goal the Bullies score this season, Trump Plaza, Sands Casino Hotel, Advance Door & Supply, Kline Construction and HR Solutions will donate $10 dollars to United Way of Atlantic County. The Bullies finished the season with 77 power play goals, good for $3,850 towards Power Play for United Way.

STAY ONLINE WITH THE BULLIES: Follow the Bullies throughout the summer by pointing your computer mouse to www.boardwalkbullies.com. You can get the latest news and information, read about player signings, and find out where "Wooly" and the rest of your favorite Bullies will be appearing next. Click and score with www.boardwalkbullies.com!

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ECHL Stories from April 15, 2004


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