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Cincinnati Mighty Ducks Preview

March 29, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Cincinnati RailRaiders News Release


MIGHTY DUCKS-BEARS PREVIEW

GAME: Cincinnati Mighty Ducks (32-30-10-3) vs. Hershey Bears (32-25-11-6)

TIME: Saturday, 7:35 p.m. EST

TV/RADIO: ESPN 1160-AM (WBOB)

The Cincinnati Mighty Ducks look to improve their playoff positioning as they open a two-game series with the Hershey Bears at the Cincinnati Gardens.

Cincinnati is 2-2-1-0 in its last five games and sits in ninth place in the Western Conference with 77 points, two points behind eighth-place Philadelphia and four points in back of seventh-place Hershey.

The Ducks have been held to just 22 goals in their last 13 games, scoring two goals-or-less 10 times in that stretch. Over the same 13-game stretch the club has surrendered only 28 goals, including holding their opponents to two goals-or-less seven times.

After going a franchise record 10 consecutive games without a power-play goal (0-for-29), the Ducks have netted man-advantage goals in three of their last four games (5-for-22).

Hershey has won eight straight games, one shy of the franchise record. The record has been reached three times. All three teams (1973-74, 1987-88 and 1996-97) went on to win the Calder Cup. The Bears have also won six straight road games and are unbeaten in their last 11 overall (10-0-1-0).

Bears goaltender Phil Sauve has gone 16-2-1 in his last 19 starts, including nine straight wins. He has allowed only eight goals in his last eight games. Sauve, the son of former NHL netminder Bob Sauve, ranks second in the AHL in shutouts (six), third in goals-against average (2.14) and fifth in save percentage (.927).

STANDINGS: Ducks - 77 points, 2nd place, 11 PB Central Division. Bears - 81 points, 2nd place, 7 PB South Division.

TEAM LEADERS: Ducks - Steve Brule, 21 goals, 41 assists, 62 points; Travis Brigley 22 goals and 42 points; Dwayne Zinger 156 PIM. Bears - Jeff Daw 24 goals, 23 assists, 47 points; Kelly Fairchild 20 goals, 41 points; Jeff Paul 195 PIM.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Ducks - Power play: 16.9 percent (52-for-308), 13th in AHL. Penalty killing: 86.4 percent (292-for-338), 3rd. Bears - Power play: 13.4 percent (48-for-358), 25th. Penalty Killing: 85.1 percent (275-for-323), 7th.

GOALTENDERS: Ducks - Ilja Bryzgalov (20-15-4, 4 SO, 2.41 GAA); Jason Elliott (10-14-6, 1 SO, 2.64 GAA). Bears - Scott Frankhouser (4-2-2, 1 SO, 2.07 GAA); Phil Sauve (23-18-6, 6 SO, 2.14 GAA).

SEASON SERIES: Ducks trail, 0-2-0-0 (0-0-0-0 at Cincinnati Gardens).

LAST MEETING: K.C. Timmons recorded the second two-goal game of his career to lead the Bears to a 2-1 victory over the Mighty Ducks March 10 at Hersheypark Arena. Phil Sauve turned aside 26 shots for the win. Jarrett Smith scored the lone goal for Cincinnati. Ilja Bryzgalov took the loss despite stopping all 28 shots he faced over the final 40 minutes, including 18 in the third period, and 41 overall.

ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Bears - 13-15-5-3 on the road; Ducks 18-10-6-2 at home.

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