AHL Hershey Bears

Pens move on while Tigers go home, Perrin playing steady in Tampa

Published on April 26, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release


A lot of AHL news over the weekend to get to, including the Game 7 thriller between the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The Pens rallied from a 3-1 deficit to force a seventh game yesterday afternoon at the Arena at Harbor Yard. I've been told by a couple of people that the majority of the crowd for the deciding game in Bridgeport were Penguin fanatics that made the trip from northeast PA. They were not disappointed. Konstantin Koltsov scored his second goal of the game at the 11:44 mark of overtime to clinch the series for Wilkes-Barre 3-2. The Pens become the 11th team in AHL history to successfully come back from a 3-1 series deficit in a Calder Cup playoff series, and the 14th to rally from a two games to none hole. The series also set an AHL record, with five games of the seven going to overtime.

The Penguins are going to have to cool their heels for a while, because there have only been two games played in the other East Division semi-final. After losing Game 1 last Wednesday night in Philadelphia, the Norfolk Admirals rallied to even the series at a game apiece on Friday. Quintin Laing scored the winning goal 9:51 into overtime to lift the visiting Admirals to a 2-1 victory over the Phantoms in Game Two of the East Semis at the Wachovia Center. Making his first appearance of the playoffs, Craig Anderson made 28 saves to notch the win for Norfolk. His counterpart Antero Niittymaki turned aside 14-of-16 shots to suffer the loss. Philadelphia outshot the Admirals, 6-3, in overtime and had a two-minute man advantage when Duncan Keith hooked Kirby Law on a mini breakaway. Anderson robbed former Admiral Peter White during the power play on an attempt from the doorstep and the Phantoms did not threaten again.

Other Calder Cup news on this Monday, the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks have sailed into uncharted waters, and they're having the time of their lives doing it. Having never won a playoff series in team history, they dispatched the Houston Aeros last week in two straight to win the best-of-three West Division qualifying round. Now, they find themselves up two games to one in a best of seven series with the Milwaukee Admirals. Game 4 is tonight in Cincinnati. Milwaukee had the most potent offense in the entire league in the regular season, but they were blanked 1-0 Saturday night by Cincy goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov. A win tonight for the men of quack, and they could close out the series at home on Wednesday night and advance to the West Division Finals. Before the Houston series, Cincinnati had won a grand total of TWO playoff games in club history. They've already topped that this postseason, and suddenly look like a team on a roll.

In the NHL, things are rolling right along if you're a fan of the Flyers or Tampa Bay. Colorado is a different story altogether. The Flyers took a two games to none lead after beating Toronto Sunday night 2-1. You know things are going well for Philly when Donald Brashear scores the game's first goal. Tampa Bay has been near flawless against Montreal as they also lead their best-of-seven series two games to none. Vinny Lecavalier scored two goals to lead the Bolts to the win on Sunday. Eric Perrin, by the way, skated 5:09 and took four face-offs in Game 2. Overall, Perrin has played in six of seven post-season games for Tampa, averaging a little over four minutes a game playing on the fourth line with Chris Dingman and Andre Roy.

The Avalanche look like a team that might soon be on the sidelines. Perhaps the lack of depth is finally catching up with the team so many thought would be a Stanley Cup champion back in October after another lopsided loss to San Jose in their best-of-seven second round match-up. The Sharks flat out have worked harder than Colorado in the first two games, outscoring the Avs by a 9-3 margin. After surrendering the first goal to Milan Hejduk in Game 2, San Jose scored four straight to run away with it once more. The Avalanche face a must win situation tonight in Game 3 at Pepsi Center, or they will be down three games to none. Who would have thought back in October that the Avs could be down three games to the Sharks in a playoff series? Uh, no one, that's who. But that's exactly what could happen tonight. Here's what I'm talking about as far as depth goes. Did you EVER think that you would see Darby Hendrickson play in a Stanley Cup playoff game while Teemu Selanne was a healthy scratch? Hendrickson was in oblivion at the trading deadline, with the worst plus/minus for the Houston Aeros in our league. Before his trade to Colorado, he had just nine points in 31 games for Houston. Since the trade, he checked in with a minus-8 and just four points in 20 games. And he's playing ahead of Selanne? I don't think you need any more evidence that the Avs are in trouble, but here's some anyway: With Paul Kariya out due to an ankle injury and Selanne out as a coach's decision, Colorado got 10 shots from Konowalchuk and Sakic. Peter Forsberg got exactly one shot in over 18 minutes on the ice. For the record, Marek Svatos had two shots in just over 13 minutes. I hope Tony Granato can reach into his bag of tricks and find a winning combination tonight, otherwise it's all over except for the what ifs.

I've gotten a lot of e-mail from fans wondering what impact a lockout in the NHL could have on the BEARS and the American Hockey League. The following is a statement from AHL President Dave Andrews regarding next season.

"This topic has been on everyone's minds for a while now. The AHL intends to compete with a full complement of teams in 2004-2005. We are hopeful that a labor disruption in the NHL will be avoided, and it is encouraging to know that negotiations are underway between the NHL and the NHLPA. However, should there be a disruption of play in the NHL, it is our expectation that AHL clubs will operate with essentially the same player supply as is currently the case, meaning the 700 players considered to be the development base for 30 NHL clubs.

Players assigned to the American Hockey League by NHL clubs become members of the Professional Hockey Players Association, with whom we have our own Collective Bargaining Agreement. Our player base will continue to be those players assigned to AHL clubs by NHL clubs. It is in the best interest of the players and the NHL clubs to take advantage of a continued opportunity for prospects to develop, and consequently I do not expect a disruption in our player supply. In any circumstance I can assure you that our clubs will operate with the best players available outside of the NHL."

-David Andrews, American Hockey League

There are still some unknowns for next season for both the NHL and the American League since there is so much unrest, but hopefully the statement here clears up some of the questions that you may have.

Any questions, comments or other items of interest on your mind, drop me a line at jwalton@hersheypa.com. Talk to ya next week.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 26, 2004


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