AHL Milwaukee Admirals

Milwaukee battling for AHL's top spot

April 6, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Milwaukee Admirals News Release


OVERALL...The Milwaukee Admirals enter this week's action with 98 points (44-22-7-3) and have a four-point lead over the Grand Rapids Griffins in the AHL's West Division. Those 44 wins are the most in a season since 1994-95 when the team posted a 44-27-0-10 mark. The Admirals are battling for the West Division & Western Conference title, but have secured at least a second place seed in the West Division and home ice advantage in the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs. Milwaukee and Philadelphia are tied for the AHL's best record and the AHL regular season champion receives the Kilpatrick Trophy and home ice advantage throughout the Calder Cup playoffs.

THE WEEK AHEAD:

SAN ANTONIO...The Admirals are 8-1 in nine games vs. the Rampage, including 3-1 at the Bradley Center, outscoring San Antonio 14-7 in four Bradley Center confrontations. Milwaukee is 13-4-2 in 19 lifetime encounters, including 7-1-1 in Milwaukee, outscoring the Rampage 32-13 overall.

VS. UTAH...The Admirals are 6-3 overall vs. the Grizzlies this year, outscoring them 36-15 in the season series. The Ads and Grizzlies are 2-2 in the previous four games at the E Center with Milwaukee outscoring Utah, 15-6. The Admirals are 10-3-0-2 in the last 15 overall vs. Utah, 14-4-1-2 in the last 21, and 6-3 in the last nine games played at the E Center.

CHICAGO...The Admirals have won five of the first eight games between the teams outscoring the Wolves, 22-16. However, the Wolves have won the last two meetings between the two clubs. The Admirals are 3-1 vs. the Wolves at the Bradley Center outscoring them 14-7 and 2-2 at the All-State Arena being outscored, 9-8. In 100 regular season meetings between the teams the Admirals are 52-37-1-10.

LAST WEEK'S ACTION...The Admirals picked up two of a possible six points last week. They finished the week with a 4-2 victory over the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks Saturday night at the Bradley Center. Wyatt Smith, Greg Classen, Brandon Segal and Jay Henderson provided the Admirals firepower and Brian Finley stopped 26 of 28 shots. On Thursday night, the Hamilton Bulldogs defeated the Admirals, 5-3 at the Bradley Center. Curtis Murphy, Tony Hrkac and Simon Gamache tallied for Milwaukee. Gamache's goal was on a penalty shot, which was the Admirals first successful penalty shot since March 2, 1999. On Wednesday night, Milwaukee took a 2-0 lead over the Griffins in Grand Rapids, but the Griffins responded with four second period goals en route to a 6-3 victory over the Ads. Segal, Murphy and Scottie Upshall scored for Milwaukee.

HOME, SWEET HOME...The Admirals are 1-2 in the last three home games. After starting the season with an 8-8-2 mark in the first 18 home contests, Milwaukee is 15-3-2 in the last 20 home outings, outscoring their adversaries 77-39.

MAGIC NUMBERS...

WEST DIVISION AND WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP... The Admirals magic number to clinch the West Division and Western Conference Championship is currently three. Any combination of Admiral wins or Grand Rapids losses totaling three points would give the Admirals the top spot in the West Division and the John D. Chick Trophy and the top spot in the Western Conference and the Norman R. (Bud) Poile Trophy. The West Division Champion also receives a bye in the preliminary round and plays the winner of the 4th place vs. 5th place mini-series in the first round.

2003-04 ALL-STAR HONORS...For the second consecutive AHL season and for his third time professionally, Curtis Murphy has been named as a post season All-Star. Last season, Murphy earned All-Star honors as a member of the Houston Aeros. The 5'8", 185-pound, Kerrobert, Saskatchewan native was also a First Team IHL All-Star while playing with the Orlando Solar Bears during the 2000-2001 season. The 28 year old, University of North Dakota alum leads AHL defensemen with 51 points, 251 shots on goal, two shorthanders, and a +38. He ranks second among league defensemen with 17 goals and 4 game winners and third among AHL backliners with 34 assists.

2003-04 ALL-ROOKIE HONORS...Timofei Shishkanov was named to the AHL's 2003-04 All-Rookie Team. Shishkanov was second among rookies with 23 goals and 42 points before being sidelined on March 9th with an injury. He currently ranks ninth among rookie scorers and fourth among first year goal scorers despite missing the past 13 games.

WHO'S HOT...Mathieu Darche has scored at least one point in each of last five games (1g-4a) and has nine points (1g-8a), while scoring in seven of his last eight. Simon Gamache (2g-5a) has scored at least one point in each of the past five games.

ON THE PLUS SIDE...Defenseman Curtis Murphy leads the league with a +38 rating. Rookie blueliner Greg Zanon is fourth at +26, Shishkanov and veteran backliner Ray Schultz are tied for sixth at +23. Murphy, Zanon and Schultz rank first, second and fifth among AHL blueliners, while Zanon and Shishkanov rank first and third among AHL rookies.

LEAGUE LEADERS...The Admirals lead the AHL with 258 goals, 410 assists and 668 total points. They feature the league's most explosive offense at 3.39 goals per game. Mathieu Darche has 58 points (28g-30a) and ranks 18th among AHL scorers while Darren Haydar ranks 21st with 57 points (21g-36a). Brad Tiley ranks third among AHL blueliners with 46 points (13g-33a), fifth with 13 goals and ranks second among AHL defensemen with 10 power play tallies. Brian Finley ranks fifth among AHL goalies with 23 victories.

TWO PERIOD GAMES...The Admirals are 35-0-3-0 (.961) when leading after two periods of play and are the only AHL team that's undefeated when entering the third period with a lead. Conversely, the Admirals are 0-16-3-1 (.100) when trailing after two periods joining Portland and Houston as the only three teams without a third period comeback. The Admirals are 9-6-1-2 (.583) when the game is tied after two periods of play.

THIS WEEK HOME
Tuesday April 6st San Antonio Rampage 7:00 p.m.
Friday April 9th Chicago Wolves 7:00 p.m.

ROAD
Wednesday April 7th Utah Grizzlies 8:05 p.m.
Saturday April10th Chicago Wolves 6:00 p.m.

Hear all of the Admirals' games on Joy1340 (1340 am) and on the Internet at www.sportsjuice.com

Check out the Milwaukee Admirals Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from April 6, 2004


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.

OurSports Central