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IceCats Earn Six Points and Postseason Berth

March 25, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Worcester IceCats News Release


Fri., Mar. 28 @ Manchester Monarchs - Manchester, NH
IceCats vs. Monarchs: Season Series Tied 1-1-1

Broadcasts: Mike Thornton on WTAG 580; worcestericecats.com

& Sun., Mar. 30 vs. Manchester Monarchs - Worcester's Centrum Centre

Friday will mark the first of three games between the IceCats and Monarchs in seven days. The 'Cats play in Manchester on Friday and host the Monarchs on Sunday, March 30th and Friday, April 4th. The 37-21-10-5 Monarchs are 10 points ahead of the IceCats and sit in 4th place in the Eastern Conference with 89 points. They are 6-1-1-2 in their last 10 games and are unbeaten in their last seven games (6-0-1). Eric Healey is pacing the Monarchs and the entire AHL with 37 goals. Fourteen of those goals have come via the power play. Healey has 37 goals and 27 assists through 68 games: 68(37/27/64).

Sat., Mar. 29 @ Portland Pirates - Portland, ME IceCats vs. Pirates: IceCats Lead Season Series 3-2-1

Broadcasts: Mike Thornton on WTAG 580; worcestericecats.com
The IceCats play a crucial game against the Pirates on Saturday evening in Maine. The IceCats and the Pirates have both compiled 79 points to date. They both have won exactly the same number of games, 31, but the 'Cats sit in seventh place while Portland is in eighth. The reason behind the IceCats higher seeding is the 'Cats hold the third playoff tie breaker, head-to-head competition. Worcester has a 3-2-1 record against Portland so far and with one win in either of the two remaining games against the Pirates, this Saturday or next Saturday, the 'Cats can own the all important tie breaker in this very close battle for the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth spot in the Eastern Conference. The Pirates are in Lowell on Thursday and do not play on Friday.

PLAYOFF TIE BREAKERS AMONG TWO TEAMS: 1)The division winner shall prevail; 2)The team having won the greater amount of regular season games; 3)The team with the greater number of wins in the series between the teams tied; 4)The team having the greater goal differential (goals for minus goals against); 5)The team with the most goals in the season series between tied teams; 6)The team with the higher winning percentage within their respective conference; 7)Board of Governors conference call

CALDER CUP TOUR:

The AHL's top prize, the Calder Cup, will be on display at various locations throughout the day on Friday, April 4th. The Cup will be on display at the Quinsigamond Elementary School from 9:30-10:30, the Auburn Mall from 3-4 PM and numerous other locations throughout the Worcester area. Scratch will make a personal appearance with the Cup at the UMass Memorial Children's Medical Center from 12:30 to 1:30 that day. Stay tuned for more details on the Cups whereabouts. It will also be on display at the IceCats game starting at 6 PM on the Centrum Centre concourse.

IN THE COMMUNITY: Out and Around Worcester & Neighboring Communities

ICECATS PROMOTIONS/APPEARANCES:

ICECATS PLAYERS:

* "Tip A 'Cat For Education" Celebrity Waiter Dinner/Charity Auction - Mon., March 31st from 6-9 PM at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Downtown Worcester. Dinner will be served by the IceCats players and great items will be up for auction all to benefit the Union Hill School of Worcester. For more information or for tickets, please contact the IceCats at 508-798-5400. Tickets are also on sale at all home games prior to the event. SCRATCH:

* SKATE WITH SCRATCH! - Join us at our Annual Skate with Scratch event. Bring your skates and hang out with Scratch and other kid fans and have the opportunity to win cool prizes from the IceCats. Skate with Scratch will take place this Saturday, March 29th from 2-4 PM. It will be held at Buffone Arena (284 Lake Ave., Worcester) Admission is just $3 per person at the door and skate rentals will be available.

'CAT TAILS:

* The IceCats are 7-1-2 in their last 10 games, including a 4-0-2 streak at home.

* Last Thursday's game against Lowell was the IceCats first and only Thursday game of the season. The only day the 'Cats do not play this season is Tuesday.

* Worcester is five points behind Bridgeport for fifth place and one point behind Manitoba for sixth place in the Eastern Conference. Seeds 1-6 do not have to participate in the 'play-in' round. Teams that finish 7-10 must compete in a three game mini-series to earn a spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

* Goaltender Curtis Sanford is ranked fifth in the AHL with a 2.38 goals against average through 38 games. Sanford also checks-in with a .920 save percentage.

* Greg Day scored the IceCats ninth shorthanded goal of the season on Wednesday, March 19th.

* Matt Walker was the IceCats selection for player of the week. Walker and Eric Nickulas were recalled by the Blues on Monday.

LOOKING BACK AT WEEK 24: 2 WINS, 2 TIES

2-2 TIE - Wed., Mar. 19 vs. Providence Bruins - Worcester's Centrum Centre ATT: 2,510
GOALS: WOR: Matt Walker, Greg Day PROV: Huml
NOTES: This past Wednesday night at Worcester's Centrum Centre, the IceCats and the Providence Bruins skated to a 2-2 tie. Matt Walker scored his first goal of the season and Greg Day netted a shorthanded goal for Worcester. Curtis Sanford made 24 saves between the pipes for the IceCats. The 2-2 tie gave the 'Cats a five game unbeaten streak at home (3-0-2).

3-1 WIN - Thurs., Mar. 20 @ Lowell Lock Monsters - Lowell, MA ATT: 3,236
GOALS: WOR: Jeff Panzer, John Pohl, Eric Nickulas LOW: Dolyny
NOTES: In a rare Thursday game, the IceCats were in Lowell taking on the Lock Monsters at the Tsongas Arena. The 'Cats defeated the Lock Monsters, 3-1 and improved to 6-1-1 in their last eight games on the road. Worcester received goals from Jeff Panzer, Johnny Pohl and Eric Nickulas. Nickulas and Panzer both registered assists as well. Pohl's goal was his first since January 4th against Saint John. He had been sidelined 21 games with an injury before returning to the 'Cats lineup on Wednesday night.

4-3 WIN - Sat., Mar. 22 vs. Philadelphia Phantoms - Worcester's Centrum Centre
ATT: 7,048
GOALS: WOR: (2) John Pohl, Greg Day, Ernie Hartlieb PHIL: Seidenberg, Greig, J. Vandermeer
NOTES: The IceCats extended their home-unbeaten streak to six games Saturday night with a 4-3 come-from-behind win over Philadelphia at home. Rookie Johnny Pohl scored two goals for the 'Cats and fellow rookie Ernie Hartlieb notched the game-winner with just over a minute remaining in regulation. Greg Day registered the other goal for the 'Cats. The IceCats are now 2-20-5-1 when trailing after two this season with both wins coming over Philadelphia. The Phantoms are 24-2-1-3 when leading after two.

2-2 TIE - Sun., Mar. 23 vs. Saint John Flames - Worcester's Centrum Centre
ATT: 3,683
GOALS: WOR: Ernie Hartlieb, Eric Nickulas STJF: Lombaugh, Mottau
NOTES: The Worcester IceCats secured a spot in the postseason with a 2-2 tie against Saint John Sunday night at Worcester's Centrum Centre. Jason Dawe netted the game-tying goal in the third period after Ernie Hartlieb scored Worcester's first goal 33 seconds earlier. Curtis Sanford was excellent in net for the 'Cats, making 35 saves, including nine in overtime and extended Worcester's home-unbeaten streak to seven (4-0-3).

IceCats Leaders

Goals: 23 Sergei Varlamov
Assists: 36 Sergei Varlamov
Points: 59 Sergei Varlamov
PIM'S: 144 Igor Valeev
Plus/Minus: +16 Matt Walker

WORCESTER STANDINGS:
3rd in North Division
7th in Eastern Conference
13th Overall in AHL

Upcoming Games

* Fri., Mar. 28; 7:35 PM
Worcester IceCats @ Manchester Monarchs
Manchester, NH

* Sat., Mar. 29; 7:05 PM
Worcester IceCats @ Portland Pirates
Portland, ME

* Sun., Mar. 30; 4:05 PM
Manchester Monarchs vs. Worcester IceCats
Worcester's Centrum Centre

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