Price Near Perfect In Professional Debut
April 13, 2007 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hamilton Bulldogs News Release
HAMILTON, ON - Rookie goaltender Carey Price made 27 saves on 28 shots in his professional debut to lead the Hamilton Bulldogs to a 3-1 win over the Grand Rapids Griffins in front of a season-high crowd of 10,510 at Copps Coliseum on Friday night. With the win, Hamilton's record improves to 42-27-3-6 on the season. The 'Dogs remain one-point behind the second-place Rochester Americans in the battle for home-ice advantage in the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs.
After a scoreless first period, Hamilton opened the scoring in the middle stanza on the power play. Duncan Milroy outraced Griffins' goalkeeper Jimmy Howard to the opposite post and beat him from behind the net by banking a shot in at the 5:01 mark. Matt D'Agostini and Eric Manlow earned assists on Milroy's 24th tally of the season.
With the Bulldogs on another powerplay, Andrei Benoit's wrist shot from the right point found the back of the net at the 10:21 mark of the second frame to up the 'Dogs lead to 2-0. Maxim Lapierre and D'Agostini had the helpers on Benoit's 10th goal of the campaign.
Grand Rapids got on the board 1:34 into the third period to cut Hamilton's lead to 2-1. Jonathan Ericsson's shot went through a maze of players before beating 'Dogs netminder Price. The power-play goal was Ericsson's fifth marker this season with former Bulldog Danny Syvret and Kyle Quincey drawing assists on the goal.
Jonathan Ferland then scored his 23rd goal of the season into an empty net with three seconds left in the game to secure the Bulldogs 3-1 triumph.
Between the pipes, Price earned his first-career AHL victory while Howard made 19 saves on 21 shots in a losing effort for the Griffins.
Hamilton was 2-for-5 on the power play while Grand Rapids was 1-for-5 with the man-advantage.
Game Notes: - Andre Benoit set a regular season franchise record for Bulldogs defensemen with his 4th game-winning goal of the season. Benoit also moved into a tie with Craig Millar and James Sanford with 10 goals during the regular season. - Duncan Milroy moved into a tie for a franchise record with Michel Riesen at 26 career powerplay goals
The Bulldogs next game is on Saturday, April 14th at 7:00 p.m. when they travel to Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids to battle the Griffins. Fans can listen to the game on the flagship station of the Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Network, 820 CHAM "The Legend," beginning with the Park's Furniture Pre-Game Show at 6:40 p.m. Fans can also listen or watch at www.hamiltonbulldogs.com by clicking on the 'B2 Networks' or '820 CHAM' icon on the 'Dogs website.
American Hockey League Stories from April 13, 2007
- Admirals Fall To Wolves 4-3 - Milwaukee Admirals
- Iowa clinches playoff spot - Houston Aeros
- Stars Secure Playoff Spot - Iowa Chops
- Price Near Perfect In Professional Debut - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Devils Keep Fighting, Shut Out Portland 2-0 - Albany Devils
- Bears Clinch AHL's Best Point Total Friday - Hershey Bears
- Giroux Scores First Professional Goal In 6-3 Setback - Adirondack Phantoms
- Knights Bow To Rivermen, 4-0 - Abbotsford Heat
- Rivermen Shut Out Omaha 4-0 on the Road - Peoria Rivermen
- Bears Beat Up Pens To Win East Division Title - Hershey Bears
- Admirals Halt Winless Skid, Will Face Penguins in First Round of Playoffs - Norfolk Admirals
- Griffins Suffer 3-1 Loss to Bulldogs - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Wolf Pack Win Third Straight GEICO Connecticut Cup - Connecticut Whale
- Wolf Pack Playoff Race Will Begin In Hartford - Connecticut Whale
- Fukufuji Backstops First AHL Shutout, Earns First Point - Manchester Monarchs
- Sound Tigers Bounced From Playoff Picture - Bridgeport Islanders
- P-Bruins Defeat Sharks 4-3 - Providence Bruins
- Moose Announce Year-End Award Winners - Manitoba Moose
- Crunch President and CEO Howard Dolgon To Throw Ceremonial First Pitch - Syracuse Crunch
- Ak-Sar-Ben Knights To Hold Fan Fest - Abbotsford Heat
- Wolves Haydar Named American Hockey League Mvp - Chicago Wolves
- Wolves' Haydar wins Les Cunningham Award as AHL's MVP - AHL
- Carey Price To Make Professional Debut Tonight - Hamilton Bulldogs
- AHL Morning Skate - AHL
- Aeros Gameday - Houston Aeros
- Bears Look To Make History Friday - Hershey Bears
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