Saturday's AHL preseason recaps

October 6, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL) News Release

Mike Peluso scored 1:57 into overtime to give Norfolk (1-1-0) a 2-1 win over Hershey (0-1-0) in AHL preseason action on Saturday at Hersheypark Arena.

Casey Hankinson also scored for the Admirals, and Craig Andersson made 21 saves. Cail MacLean scored for the Bears.

Hershey's Peter Budaj stopped 21 of 23 shots in his AHL debut. Colorado's second-round pick in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft was 26-9-5 with a 2.29 GAA at St. Michael's (OHL) last season.

The Bears play one more preseason game at Hersheypark Arena (Sunday vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton) before officially moving into the new Giant Center on Oct. 19.

HAMILTON 3, ROCHESTER 3 (OT)

The Hamilton Bulldogs (1-1-1) concluded their 2002-03 exhibition schedule with a 3-3 tie against the Rochester Americans (1-0-1) on Saturday night in Webster, N.Y.

The Bulldogs got goals from Francois Beauchemin, Jerome Marois and Tomas Plekanec. Scoring for Rochester were Kevin Colley, Jaroslav Kristek and Milan Bartovic.

Goaltender Eric Fichaud played the entire game in net for Hamilton, stopping 22 of 25 shots. Tom Askey (22 shots/21 saves) and Jayme Platt (17 shots/15 saves) split the goaltending duties for the Amerks.

SAINT JOHN 3, PORTLAND 2

Jason Payne, Matthew Lombardi and Steve Hildenbrand scored to lead Saint John (1-1-0) to a 3-2 preseason win over Portland (3-2-0) at Harbour Station on Saturday.

J-F. Dufour scored both goals for the Pirates.

Both clubs open their 10th-anniversary seasons next weekend.

BRIDGEPORT 2, WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON 1 (OT)

Matt Higgins' goal 1:54 into overtime lifted Bridgeport (2-0-1) to a 2-1 victory over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (1-1-1) at the First Union Arena on Saturday.

Yale alumnus Jeff Hamilton also scored for the Sound Tigers, while Matt Murley found the net for the Penguins.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton outshout Bridgeport 43-42 for the game. Sebastien Caron made 40 saves in the loss, while Steve Valiquette stopped 33 of 34 shots in the first two periods for Bridgeport.

LOWELL 3, MANCHESTER 2

Tomas Kurka's goal late in the second period stood up as the difference as Lowell (2-1-1) defeated Manchester (0-3-1), 3-2, in Salem, N.H. on Saturday.

Mike Zigomanis and Brett Lysak also scored for the Lock Monsters. Manchester got goals from Pavel Rosa and Jerred Smithson.

The teams will kick off the 2002-03 regular season against each other in a home-and-home series next weekend, beginning Friday night in Manchester.

BINGHAMTON 6, SYRACUSE 3

Jeff Ulmer scored twice and Jeff Szwez added a goal and an assist as the Binghamton Senators (2-1-1) wrapped up their preseason with a 6-3 win over intrastate rival Syracuse (0-2-0) Saturday night at the Broome County Arena in Binghamton.

Ray Emery picked up the win in goal for Binghamton, going the distance for the first time this preseason. Emery stopped 21 of 24 shots while his couterpart, Karl Goehring, absorbed the loss, stopping 35 of 41 shots for the Crunch.

HOUSTON 4, SAN ANTONIO 1

Dan Cavanaugh had a goal and an assist to lead Houston (2-0-0) to a 4-1 win over San Antonio (0-2-0) in Sugar Land, Tex., on Saturday.

Cory Larose, Jeff Hoggan and Greg Crozier also scored for the Aeros, who defeated the Rampage for the second time in as many nights. Derek Gustafson made 25 saves for the win.

Chris Mason finished with 30 stops for San Antonio.

CHICAGO 3, GRAND RAPIDS 2

Steve Maltais' power play goal with 6:55 remaining gave Chicago (1-2-0) a 3-2 preseason victory over Grand Rapids (0-2-0) in Bensenville, Ill.

Derek MacKenzie and Mark Hartigan also scored for the Wolves, while Rustyn Dolyny and Nathan Robinson tallied goals for the Griffins.

PROVIDENCE 3, SPRINGFIELD 1

Matt Herr and Peter Metcalf had a goal and an assist apiece to lift Providence (3-0-0) to a 3-1 victory over Springfield (0-3-1) at the Springfield Civic Center.

Metcalf scored in the final minute of the first period to break a 1-1 tie, and Herr scored in the final minute of the second period to give the B's a two-goal cushion.

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American Hockey League Stories from October 6, 2002

• Bridgeport Sound Tigers Tie Philadelphia 3-3 In Preseason Finale - Bridgeport Islanders
• Phantoms end preseason with 3-3 tie in Bridgeport - Adirondack Phantoms
• Lock Monsters Assign Eight - Albany Devils
• Michaud released from training camp tryout - Manitoba Moose
• Monarchs Trim Roster To 22 - Manchester Monarchs
• Bridgeport Sound Tigers Announce Transactions - Bridgeport Islanders
• Saturday's AHL preseason recaps - AHL
• Flames Defeat Portland Pirates 3-2 in Pre-Season Competition - Saint John Flames

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