Mighty Ducks-Barons Preview

Published on April 6, 2002 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Cincinnati RailRaiders News Release


GAME: Cincinnati Mighty Ducks (33-33-10-3) vs. Cleveland Barons (28-40-6-4)

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

TV/RADIO: ESPN 1160-AM (WBOB)

The Cincinnati Mighty Ducks play the 400th game in franchise history and their 80th and final game of the 2001-2002 regular season as they finish a three-game series with the Cleveland Barons.

Cincinnati snapped a three-game losing and five-game winless streak with a 4-2 win yesterday over the Barons at the Cincinnati Gardens. The Ducks have qualified for a post-season berth for a second consecutive season as the 10th and final seed in the Western Conference. They will play a best-of-three qualifying playoff series next week against either Chicago, Hershey or Philadelphia.

Goaltender Jason Elliott has been spectacular in his last four starts for Cincinnati, stopping 157 of the 164 shots he has faced. He has a 1.84 goals-against average and .945 save percentage in his last 12 appearances.

Cleveland is 3-4-0-0 in its last seven games and out of playoff contention.

STANDINGS: Ducks - 79 points, 3rd place, 15 PB Central Division. Barons - 66 points, 4th place, 28 PB Central Division.

TEAM LEADERS: Ducks - Steve Brule, 21 goals, 42 assists, 63 points; Travis Brigley 22 goals and 43 points; Garrett Burnett 175 PIM. Barons - Mike Craig 35 goals, 25 assists 60 points; Ryan Kraft 19 goals, 39 assists, 58 points; Matt Carkner 312 PIM.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Ducks - Power play: 16.3 percent (53-for-325), 16th in AHL. Penalty killing: 86.6 percent (307-for-352), 2nd. Barons - Power play: 16.1 percent (63-for-392), 17th. Penalty Killing: 86.1 percent (402-for-467), 5th.

GOALTENDERS: Ducks - Ilja Bryzgalov (20-16-4, 4 SO, 2.48 GAA); Jason Elliott (11-16-6, 1 SO, 2.59 GAA). Barons - Vesa Toskala (19-33-6, 3 SO, 3.01 GAA); Seamus Kotyk (5-11-0, 1 SO, 3.91 GAA).

SEASON SERIES: Ducks lead, 7-3-1-0 (3-1-1-0 at Cincinnati Gardens).

LAST MEETING: Jarrett Smith had a goal and two assists and Jason Elliott made 32 saves as the Mighty Ducks ended a five-game winless streak with a 4-2 victory over the Barons yesterday at the Cincinnati Gardens. Antti-Jussi Niemi scored what proved to be the winning goal in the third period and added an assist and Tomas Kopecky netted his first professional goal 1:15 into the opening period for Cincinnati, which improved to 7-3-1-0 against Cleveland this season. Jesse Fibiger and Mike Craig scored for Cleveland. Vesa Toskala, who blanked the Ducks 1-0 on Wednesday at Gund Arena, had 35 saves in the losing effort.

ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Barons - 12-18-63 on the road; Ducks 19-12-6-2 at home.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 6, 2002


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