'Dogs battle Amerks in North Division semi-finals

Published on April 16, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Hamilton Bulldogs News Release


The Hamilton Bulldogs (American Hockey League affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens) closed out their regular season schedule last week and will now take on the Rochester Americans (AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres and Florida Panthers) in the first round of the 2007 Calder Cup Playoffs. With 95 points in 80 games and a record of 43-28-3-6 this season, the Bulldogs finished in third place in the North Division standings, three points behind the second-place Americans (98 points in 80 games). The following is Hamilton's full first-round playoff schedule:

Game #1 - Thursday, April 19th - 7:05 PM - Hamilton at Rochester (Blue Cross Arena)

Game #2 - Saturday, April 21st - 8:05 PM - Hamilton at Rochester (Blue Cross Arena)

Game #3 - Sunday, April 22nd - 6:00 PM - Rochester at Hamilton (Copps Coliseum) - GAME A

X- Game #4 - Tuesday, April 24th - 7:30 PM - Rochester at Hamilton (Copps Coliseum) - GAME B

*Game #5 - Thursday, April 26th - 7:05 PM - Hamilton at Rochester (Blue Cross Arena)

X- *Game #6 - Saturday, April 28th - 7:00 PM - Rochester at Hamilton (Copps Coliseum) - GAME C

*Game #7 - Monday, April 30th - 7:05 PM - Hamilton at Rochester (Blue Cross Arena)

* If necessary

X - Game's four and six (if necessary) can be seen live on Cable 14 and TV-COGECO in Niagara, Burlington, and Oakville.

Hamilton rounded out the regular season with a 2-1-0-1 record in four games last week. The Bulldogs lost 4-3 in a shootout against the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings) on Wednesday night at Copps Coliseum. The 'Dogs then rebounded with two wins against the Griffs by scores of 3-1 at Copps Coliseum on Friday night and 4-2 on Saturday night at Van Andel Arena. On Sunday night, Hamilton dropped a 2-1 decision in Rochester.

WEEK IN REVIEW:

Wednesday, April 11th - GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 4 @ HAMILTON BULLDOGS 3 (SO)

Copps Coliseum - Hamilton, ON

Hamilton Goals: Maxim Lapierre (10), Jonathan Ferland (22), Matt D'Agostini (21)

Grand Rapids Goals: Tony Voce (12), Evan McGrath (6), Matt Ellis (26)

Hamilton Shootout Goals: Kyle Chipchura, Maxim Lapierre

Grand Rapids Shootout Goals: Evan McGrath, Jonathan Ericsson, Kip Miller

Goaltending: Hamilton - Yann Danis (SOL - 27 shots, 24 saves) / Grand Rapids - Jimmy Howard (W - 28 shots, 25 saves)

Power Play: Hamilton 0-4 / Grand Rapids 0-7

Attendance: 3,108

Friday, April 13th - GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS 1 @ HAMILTON BULLDOGS 3

Copps Coliseum - Hamilton, ON

Hamilton Goals: Duncan Milroy (24), Andre Benoit (10), Jonathan Ferland (23)

Grand Rapids Goals: Jonathan Ericsson (5)

Goaltending: Hamilton - Carey Price (W - 28 shots, 27 saves) / Grand Rapids - Jimmy Howard (L - 22 shots, 19 saves)

Power Play: Hamilton 2-5 / Grand Rapids 1-5

Attendance: 10,510

Saturday, April 14th - HAMILTON BULLDOGS 4 @ GRAND RAPIDS 2

Van Andel Arena - Grand Rapids, MI

Hamilton Goals: Dan Jancevski 2 (7), Duncan Milroy (25), Eric Manlow (5)

Grand Rapids Goals: Kyle Quincey (4), Jonas Johansson (8)

Goaltending: Hamilton - Yann Danis (W - 25 shots, 23 saves) / Grand Rapids - Jimmy Howard (SOL - 28 shots, 22 saves)

Power Play: Hamilton 1-10 / Grand Rapids 1-7

Attendance: 10,834

Sunday, April 15th - HAMILTON BULLDOGS 1 @ ROCHESTER AMERICANS 2

Blue Cross Arena - Rochester, NY

Hamilton Goals: Maxim Lapierre (11)

Rochester Goals: Clarke MacArthur (21), Mark Mancari (23)

Goaltending: Hamilton - Carey Price (L - 31 shots, 29 saves) / Rochester - Craig Anderson (W - 26 shots, 25 saves)

Power Play: Hamilton 0-6 / Rochester 1-8

Attendance: 7,523

FINAL 2006-07 AHL STANDINGS

BULLDOGS NOTES:

- RW Duncan Milroy finished the season as the Bulldogs leading scorer with 58 points (25-33-58)

- D Andre Benoit set a franchise record for defenceman with his fourth game-winning goal of the season in the 'Dogs 3-1 win over Grand Rapids on Friday night

- Hamilton had an AHL best four players play all 80 games this season: Kyle Chipchura, Dan Jancevski (who became the first Bulldog to reach the mark twice, as he also appeared in all 80 games for Hamilton in the 2004-05 season), Corey Locke and Ryan O'Byrne

- D Dan Jancevski finished fourth among AHL defensemen with a plus-22 rating

- D Mathieu Biron finished 13th in AHL defensemen scoring with 39 points (10-29-39)

- RW Matt D'Agostini finished 15th in AHL rookie scoring with 49 points (21-28-49)

- C Kyle Chipchura and RW Matt D'Agostini were tied for 17th in the AHL with five game-winning goals

- RW Andrei Kostitsyn finished tied for 7th in the AHL with a plus-24 rating in 50 games

UPCOMING GAMES:

NORTH DIVISION SEMI-FINALS - Hamilton Bulldogs (3) vs. Rochester Americans (2)

- This will be the fifth Calder Cup playoff meeting between the 'Dogs and Amerks

- The Americans have won all previous Calder Cup playoff series; 4-0 in 2004-05, 4-0 in 2003-04, 4-2 in 2000 and 4-2 in 1999

- Hamilton had a record of 5-5-0-0 against Rochester during the 2006-07 campaign

- The 'Dogs outscored the Amerks 42-33 during the regular season

- The Bulldogs are 44-54-7-0-1 in 106 all-time regular season contests against the Americans

- Despite playing in only 6 of the 10 games against Rochester this season, Andrei Kostitsyn led Hamilton's attack against the Americans with 12 points (4-8-12)

- LW Clarke MacArthur was the Americans leading scorer this season with 63 points (21-42-63) in 51 games

- C Janis Sprukts finished eighth in AHL rookie scoring with 59 points (18-41-59)

- LW Michael Ryan led the Americans with 28 goals in 50 games and his six game-winning goals to tied him for eighth in the AHL

- D Brandon Smith is fourth among AHL defencemen in scoring with 45 points (9-36-45)

- RW Mark Mancari leads Rochester against Hamilton with 12 points (4-8-12) in nine contests

- There are five Ontario natives on the Rochester roster: G David Shantz (Hamilton), G Adam Dennis (Toronto), RW Greg Jacina (Guelph), RW Mark Mancari (London), and D Jeremy Swanson (Red Rock)

- Americans General Manager Jody Gage played for the Hamilton Fincups (1977-78)

TUNE IN TO EVERY GAME ON THE HAMILTON BULLDOGS HOCKEY NETWORK:

Fans can listen to every 'Dogs game this season on the flagship station of the Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Network, 820 CHAM "The Legend." Fans can also listen to or watch every home and away game online at www.hamiltonbulldogs.com. To watch or listen online, click on the 'B2 Networks' or '820 CHAM' icon on the 'Dogs website. Ellery Award-winning broadcaster Derek Wills calls the play-by-play of all 80 regular season games, while Al Craig provides the colour commentary for all home games and select road games.

"B2 Power Play" packages are now available for purchase. They provide fans with a chance to watch every game of their favourite team, free access to the AHL Game of the Week and exclusive weekly highlights. And in addition to broadband viewing on personal computers, B2 Power Play will also be available on the new B2toGO network, allowing fans to watch American Hockey League games on cell phones and other wireless devices. A full season package costs $160 billed monthly at $20 per month or fans can pay for the season in full for $150. B2toGO, a service delivering live games and highlights to cell phones and hand-held Pads, are now available for purchase for a full season price of $56 over 8 instalments or $50 if paid in full. Fans who purchase "B2 Power Play" will be eligible to add "B2toGo" for only an additional $25.

GET YOUR TICKETS!:

Hamilton Bulldogs playoff tickets are on sale now! Individual game tickets are available at Copps Coliseum Box Office (in-person sales only), all Ticketmaster outlets, online at ticketmaster.ca or at select Sports Obsession locations. For information on season or group tickets visit www.hamiltonbulldogs.com, or call (905) 529-8500 or 1-866-DOGS-TIX.

HAMILTON BULLDOGS SCHEDULE THIS WEEK:

Thursday, April 19th, 2007 - 7:05 p.m. - Hamilton Bulldogs at Rochester Americans (Blue Cross Arena)

Saturday, April 21st, 2007 - 8:05 p.m. - Hamilton Bulldogs at Rochester Americans (Blue Cross Arena)

Sunday, April 22nd, 2007 - 6:00 p.m. - Rochester Americans at Hamilton Bulldogs (Copps Coliseum)

MOLSON CUP - THREE STAR LEADERS:

(1st Star - 5pts, 2nd Star - 3pts, 3rd Star - 1pt)

Player : Points:

1. Duncan Milroy 40

2. Jaroslav Halak 36

3. Mikhail Grabovski 33

4. Matt D'Agostini 30

5. Jonathan Ferland 27

6. Andrei Kostitsyn 24

7. Corey Locke 21

8. Yann Danis 20

9. Kyle Chipchura 18

10. Dan Jancevski 16

11. Ajay Baines 14

12. Zack Stortini 9

13. Cory Urquhart 8

14. Eric Manlow 7

T-15. Philippe Sauve 6

T-15. Maxim Lapierre 6

T-15. Michael Lambert 6

T-15. Carey Price 6

T-19. Mathieu Roy 5

T-19. Andre Benoit 5

21. Dov Grumet-Morris 3

22. Francis Lemieux 2

23. Jan Hejda 1

PEARSON-DUNN PLAYER-OF-THE-GAME LEADERS:

(10 pts. - Hardest Working Hamilton Bulldogs player)

Player: Points:

1. Kyle Chipchura 110

2. Maxim Lapierre 100

3. Mikhail Grabovski 70

T-4. Andre Benoit 50

T-4. Corey Locke 50

T-6. Jonathan Ferland 40

T-6. Ajay Baines 40

T-6. Matt D'Agostini 40

T-6. Yann Danis 40

T-10. Jean-Philippe Cote 30

T-10. Dan Jancevski 30

T-10. Andrei Kostitsyn 30

T-13. Jaroslav Halak 20

T-13. Dov Grumet-Morris 20

T-13. Mathieu Biron 20

T-13. Zack Stortini 20

T-17. Troy Bodie 10

T-17. Duncan Milroy 10

T-17. Ryan O'Byrne 10

T-17. Francis Lemieux 10

T-17. Patrick Traverse 10

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American Hockey League Stories from April 16, 2007


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