Dogs Continue First-round Playoff Tilt With Amerks
Published on April 23, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Hamilton Bulldogs News Release
The Hamilton Bulldogs (American Hockey League affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens) will continue their first-round playoff series with the Rochester Americans (AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres and Florida Panthers) with Game's 4, 5 and 6 (if necessary) this week. The Bulldogs will host Game 4 at Copps Coliseum on Tuesday, April 24th at 7:30 p.m. before travelling to the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester on Thursday, April 26th at 7:05 p.m. for Game 5. If necessary, Hamilton will host Game 6 on Saturday, April 28th at 7:00 p.m. at Copps Coliseum. If the series goes the distance, Game 7 will be next week on Monday, April 30th at 7:05 p.m. at Blue Cross Arena in Rochester.
The 'Dogs began their 2007 Calder Cup playoff run last week by winning two of the first three games in their North Division Semi-Final series against the Amerks. Hamilton ended a nine-game losing streak in the playoffs to Rochester with a 2-0-shutout win on Thursday night at Blue Cross Arena. In game two of the series on Saturday night, the Bulldogs dropped a 3-1 decision in Rochester before rebounding with a 5-4 win in double overtime on Sunday night at Copps Coliseum.
The winner of the Rochester-Hamilton North Division Semi-Final will take on the winner of the Manitoba Moose-Grand Rapids Griffins series in the North Division Final of the 2007 Calder Cup playoffs.
WEEK IN REVIEW:
Thursday, April 19th - HAMILTON BULLDOGS 2 @ ROCHESTER AMERICANS 0
Blue Cross Arena - Rochester, NY
Hamilton Goals: Zack Stortini (1), Maxim Lapierre (1)
Rochester Goals: No scoring
Goaltending: Hamilton - Carey Price (W - 34 shots, 34 saves) / Rochester - Craig Anderson (L - 29 shots, 28 saves)
Power Play: Hamilton 0-1 / Rochester 0-4
Attendance: 2,536
Saturday, April 21st - HAMILTON BULLDOGS 1 @ ROCHESTER AMERICANS 3
Blue Cross Arena - Rochester, NY
Hamilton Goals: Mathieu Biron (1)
Rochester Goals: Janis Sprukts (1), Michael Ryan-2 (2)
Goaltending: Hamilton - Carey Price (L - 32 shots, 29 saves) / Rochester - Craig Anderson (W - 23 shots, 22 saves)
Power Play: Hamilton 1-5 / Rochester 2-4
Attendance: 3,486
Sunday, April 22nd - ROCHESTER AMERICANS 4 @ HAMILTON BULLDOGS 5 (2OT)
Copps Coliseum - Hamilton, ON
Hamilton Goals: Jonathan Ferland (1), Corey Locke-3 (3), Mikhail Grabovski (1)
Rochester Goals: Timo Helbling (1), Kamil Kreps (1), Clarke MacArthur (1), Michael Ryan (3)
Goaltending: Hamilton - Carey Price (W - 37 shots, 33 saves) / Rochester - Craig Anderson (L - 51 shots, 46 saves)
Power Play: Hamilton 3-9 / Rochester 1-5
Attendance: 2,239
BULLDOGS NOTES:
- The 'Dogs 2-0 win in Game 1 last Thursday night snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Amerks in the playoffs and marked the first time the Bulldogs have won the opening game of the series when facing the Americans in the Calder Cup Playoffs. In four previous post-season match-ups, Rochester won in six games twice (1999, 2000), and also swept Hamilton in four games twice (2004, 2005)
- G Carey Price's 34-save shutout in Game 1 was the first of his professional career and earned him first-star honours in the contest
- C Zack Stortini scored the game-winning goal, his first since being reassigned by the Edmonton Oilers on April 9th, in Game 1 against Rochester
- D Mathieu Biron, an eight-year pro, played in his first-career professional playoff game in Game 1 (Apr. 19) and scored his first ever post-season goal in Game 2 (Apr. 21). Biron has played in 464 regular-season games in the NHL (253) and AHL (211)
- In Game 3 on Sunday night, C Corey Locke netted his first-career post-season hat trick in Hamilton's 5-4 double overtime win against Rochester. C Mikhail Grabovski scored the overtime winner in his first game back after missing nine games due to injury
HAMILTON BULLDOGS SCHEDULE:
Tuesday, April 24th, 2007 - 7:30 p.m. - Rochester Americans at Hamilton Bulldogs (Copps Coliseum)
Thursday, April 26th, 2007 - 7:05 p.m. - Hamilton Bulldogs at Rochester Americans (Blue Cross Arena)
*Saturday, April 28th, 2007 - 7:00 p.m. - Rochester Americans at Hamilton Bulldogs (Copps Coliseum)
*Monday, April 30th, 2007 - 7:05 p.m. - Hamilton Bulldogs at Rochester Americans (Blue Cross Arena)
* IF NECESSARY
'DOGS & AMERKS PLAYOFF NOTES:
- The Bulldogs currently lead the Americans 2-1 in the best-of-seven North Division Semi-Final series
- This is the fifth Calder Cup playoff meeting between Hamilton and Rochester
- The Americans have won all the 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 regular season, outscoring Rochester 42-33 in the 10 games
- The Bulldogs are 44-54-7-0-1 in 106 all-time regular season contests against the Americans
- Rochester has won six Calder Cups and have an all-time playoff record of 206-184
- There are five Ontario natives on the Rochester roster: G Adam Dennis (Toronto), RW Greg Jacina (Guelph), RW Mark Mancari (London), and defencemen Jeremy Swanson (Red Rock) and Mike Card (Kitchener)
- Bulldogs Head Coach Don Lever won a Calder Cup with Rochester as a player in 1987 and was also the Head Coach of the Americans for two seasons (1990-92)
ALUMNI WATCH:
There are 60 former Bulldogs who have participated in at least one game in the National Hockey League this season. There are 15 that qualified for the NHL playoffs. Over 60 percent of all former 'Dogs have played in at least one NHL game. Here are a few highlights and accomplishments of ex-'Dogs from the first round of the 2007 NHL Playoffs:
- Detroit RW Daniel Cleary (1-2-3) converted the first successful penalty shot ever in Detroit during the playoffs while being named the game's second star in a 5-1 win in Game 5 vs. Calgary (Apr. 21), and assisted on both Detroit goals in Game 3 (Apr. 17) in a 3-2 loss
- Dallas C Mike Ribeiro (0-3-3) registered three assists in three different games against Vancouver including: an assist in a 5-4 overtime loss in Game 1 (Apr. 11), and assists on two game-winning goals in a 1-0 win in Game 5 (Apr. 19), and a 2-0 win in Game 6 (Apr. 21)
- Islanders' D Marc-Andre Bergeron (1-1-2) had the game-winning goal while being named the game's third star in a 3-2 win vs. Buffalo (Apr. 14) in Game 2, and had an assist in a 4-2 loss in Game 4 (Apr. 18)
- Anaheim D Francois Beauchemin (2-1-3) had a pair of power-play goals while being named the game's first star in a 3-2 win vs. Minnesota (Apr. 13) in Game 2, and registered an assist on the game-tying goal in a 2-1 win in Game 1 (Apr. 11)
- Tampa Bay RW Jason Ward (0-1-1) assisted on the game-tying goal in a 3-2 win vs. New Jersey (Apr. 14) in Game 2
- Dallas RW Antti Miettinen (1-1-2) had a goal and an assist in a 5-4 overtime loss vs. Vancouver (Apr. 11) in Game 1
- Rangers' LW Marcel Hossa (1-1-2) had a goal in a 4-3 win vs. Atlanta (Apr. 12) in Game 1, and recorded an assist in a 7-0 win in Game 3 (Apr. 17)
- Atlanta D Greg de Vries (1-0-1) had a goal in a 4-2 loss vs. the Rangers (Apr. 18) in Game 4
- Dallas D Trevor Daley (1-0-1) had a goal in a 5-4 overtime loss to Vancouver (Apr. 11) in Game 1
TUNE IN TO EVERY GAME ON THE HAMILTON BULLDOGS HOCKEY NETWORK:
Fans can listen to every 'Dogs playoff game this season on the flagship station of the Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Network, 820 CHAM "The Legend" beginning with the 'Park's Furniture Pre-Game Show', 30 minutes prior to each game.
Fans can also listen to or watch every playoff 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 will provide the play-by-play call and Al Craig will join Derek as a colour commentator for the remainder of the Bulldogs season.
GET YOUR TICKETS!:
Bulldogs playoff tickets are on sale now for game four of their North Division Semi-Final series at the Copps Coliseum Box Office, all other Ticket Master Outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.ca, or through charge by phone at 905-527-7666. For Season Ticket Holders, this game will be Round 1, Home Game B. For information on season or group tickets visit www.hamiltonbulldogs.com, or call (905) 529-8500 or 1-866-DOGS-TIX.
MOLSON CUP - THREE STAR LEADERS (PLAYOFFS):
(1st Star - 5pts, 2nd Star - 3pts, 3rd Star - 1pt)
Player : Points:
1. Carey Price 5
1. Corey Locke 5
3. Zack Stortini 1
3. Mikhail Grabovski 1
PEARSON-DUNN PLAYER-OF-THE-GAME LEADERS (PLAYOFFS):
(10 pts. - Hardest Working Hamilton Bulldogs player)
Player: Points:
1. Carey Price 10
1. Mathieu Biron 10
1. Jonathan Ferland 10
American Hockey League Stories from April 23, 2007
- Stars Edge Knights 2-1, Lead Series - Abbotsford Heat
- Stars Reign Over Knights - Iowa Chops
- Ellis' Overtime Shortie Gives Griffs 2-1 Win, 2-1 Lead - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Penguins Slip Past Admirals in Overtime, Claim 2-1 Series Lead - Norfolk Admirals
- Bears Win To Move Within One Victory Of Division Finals - Hershey Bears
- Dogs Continue First-round Playoff Tilt With Amerks - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Flames Return Krahn To Knights - Abbotsford Heat
- Wolf Pack Weekly - Connecticut Whale
- Bulldogs add Troy Bodie from ECHL - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Game four in Glens Falls Monday - Hershey Bears
- Moose Recall Bolduc - Manitoba Moose
- AHL Morning Skate - AHL
- Wolves Weekly Notes - Chicago Wolves
- Monarchs Playoff Report - Manchester Monarchs
- Calder Cup Playoff Action Returns to Scope - Norfolk Admirals
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
