| 25 October 2011
Midwest Division
Peoria Rivermen (STL)
The Rivermen took 5 out of 6 points this weekend and improved their record to 2-3-1-1.
Friday night, the Rivermen got their first win of the season in their 5-0 win over the San Antonio Rampage. Goalie Ben Bishop made 28 saves, while Jonathan Cheechoo scored twice, while Jay Bariball recorded his first professional goal. Brett Sterling tallied three points, one goal and two assists. TJ Hensick rounded out the scoring with his own goal. Peoria’s PP was 4-for-6, while the PK was 9-for-9.
Saturday, the Rivs took on the Texas Stars, losing 6-5 in overtime despite Phil McRae scoring his first professional hat trick. Mark Cundari and Derek Nesbitt each scored their first goals of the year. In the first, Peoria scored four goals on just 16 shots. Dan Spang gave Texas the lead a little more than half way through the second and starting goalie Jake Allen was pulled in favor of Bishop. Sterling took a high sticking penalty early on in overtime, which gave Matt Fraser the opportunity to score the game winning goal on the powerplay. Following the goal, a scrum took place at center ice. Stefan Della Rovere was assessed a match penalty and game misconduct, leaving him suspended until further review from the league.
Back in Peoria for the final of their 3-in-3 series, the Rivermen took on the Chicago Wolves and earned a 5-2 victory. Hensick tallied two goals, while Cheechoo, Adam Cracknell and Anthony Nigro had one each. While the Rivermen were 0-for-2 on the powerplay this game, they were a perfect 5-for-5 on the penalty kill. Bishop made 29 saves to earn the win.
Charlotte Checkers (CAR)
The Checkers won two of three games this weekend, and their overall record is 4-2-1-0. Charlotte lead the Aeros 2-0 leading into the third on Friday, both goals scored by Zach Boychuk, but following Houston’s first goal, starting goalie Justin Peters left the game injured and did not return. He was replaced by Mike Murphy, who gave up two goals, one with just four seconds remaining.
Saturday, the Checkers and Aeros were back at it, this time the Checkers earned a 2-1 shootout win. Mike Murphy made 24 saves, also saving all five shootout attempts. Justin Faulk scored his first professional goal to initially put the Checkers on the board.
Mike Murphy stopped 44 shots on Sunday vs. the Norfolk Admirals to earn the 3-1 win for the Checkers. Michal Jordan scored his first goal of the season while Cedric McNicoll and Drayson Bowman also contributed goals.
Rockford IceHogs (CHI)
The IceHogs went winless in week three of the AHL season, playing both games against the Chicago Wolves. Alexander Salak, Ben Smith and Philippe Paradis all made their 2011-12 debuts on Friday in Chicago against the Wolves. Salak stopped 28 shots in Friday’s 2-0 shutout loss to the Wolves. Philippe Paradis scored the lone goal of the weekend in Saturday’s 4-1 loss. The IceHogs are now 3-3-0-0 for the season.
Chicago Wolves (VAN)
The Wolves earned their first win of the season on Friday with their 2-0 win over the Rockford IceHogs. Goalie Eddie Lack stopped all 25 shots while Darren Haydar and Kevin Connauton contributed offensively.
Saturday, Matt Climie was in net as the Wolves prepared the face the IceHogs for the second time in as many nights. He made a career-high 47 saves and the Wolves won 4-1. Mike Duco tallied two goals, while Bill Sweatt and Dustin Friesen each contributed one. Philippe Paradis scored for Rockford at 11:20 in the third to end Climie’s shutout.
Eddie Lack was once again in net as the Wolves faced the Peoria Rivermen Sunday night. Lack made 32 saves in the 5-2 loss. Kevin Connauton and Mark Mancari each scored one goal a piece. The Wolves are now 2-3-0-2.
Milwaukee Admirals (NSH)
The Milwaukee Admirals suffered their first loss of the year in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Abbottsford Heat. Their record is 4-0-0-1. Ryan Thang scored in the second period to pu the Ads on the board. Immediately following the goal, Thang was slammed into the boards by Heat forward Paul Byron. Thang skated off the ice under his own power, but did not return to the game. Juuso Puustinen was the lone scorer in the shootout.
The Admirals and heat were back at it again on Sunday, this time, the Ads earned a 3-1 victory. Back up goalie Atte Engren made his first appearance and stopped 24 shots. Milwaukee staged a come from behind win in the third period with goals from Michael Latta, Victor Bartley and Taylor Beck. The Admirals currently hold first place in the Central Division.
West Division
Houston Aeros (MIN)
Starting the week without forward Carson McMillan, who has been for four games as a consequence of an illegal check to the head in their game vs. San Antonio on Oct. 15., the Aeros still managed to win 2 of 3 and take top spot in the West Division 4-1-0-2. On Friday, the Aeros won the road trip at the Charlotte Checkers home, 3-2 by way of a third period rally. Casey Wellman and David McIntyre scored goals eight seconds apart, narrowly missing the franchise record for fastest two goals scored previously set in 1997. Jeff Taffe scored with four seconds left in regulation to bring in the win, his first goal in an Aeros uniform.
Saturdays rematch earned the Aeros a standings point after a 2-1 shootout loss to the Checkers. Jon DiSalvatore scored with 41 second left in regulation to force overtime making him the sixth all-time goal scorer in franchise history with 51.
Back in Houston, the Aeros went on to defeat the Grand Rapids Griffins 3-1 on Sunday. Goaltender Dennis Endras made 31 saves in his first win of the season, Kris Foucault scoring his first goal of the season as well in the win. David McIntyre and Justin Fontaine also scored to keep the Aeros rolling.
Houston will play at San Antonio on Friday, Saturday at home against Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City Barons (EDM)
The Barons hosted a series at home with the Grand Rapids Griffins, ending up with a split decision. Friday nights game had OKC defeating the Griffins 4-1 while Saturdays game was much closer, ending in a 3-2 shootout loss for the Barons. Philippe Cornet scored two goals on Friday, marking the second straight game he scored two goals and Teemu Hartikainen ended the weekend with two goals. Saturdays loss ends the Barons 4 game win streak.
The Barons finish their five-game home stretch Friday when they host the Charlotte Checkers, then they travel to Houston Saturday, Sunday San Antonio.
Abbotsford Heat (CGY)
With a 2-1 shootout win over the previously unbeaten Milwaukee Admirals on Friday night, the Heat have had their best franchise start to a season. T.J. Brodie would score just 6:21 into the game, his first of the season in the AHL, after scoring five the previous season, as a rookie. Tender Leland Irving stopped four of five shootout attempts, 20 shots on the night, earning his fourth win. Ben Walter and Greg Nemisz each netted goals in the shootout.
In Saturdays rematch, the Admirals would this time take the win by way of a 3-1 win over the Heat. Clay Wilson netted his first of the season and first with the Heat. Tender Leland Irving drew an assist on the goal and would finish with 25 saves on 28 shots. The game would also see the welcome back to the ice of Raitis Ivanans, playing for the first time since suffering a concussion in the opening game of the Calgary Flames' 2010-11.
The Heat hit the road for nine days starting on Wednesday night in Toronto, Friday in Grand Rapids and Sunday in Hamilton.
San Antonio Rampage (FLA)
San Antonio would take a 4-3 win over the Texas Stars Thursday night. Michal Repik tallied his first goal of the season, Scott Timmins scoring twice. Former Texas Stars forward Greg Rallo scored his first goal of season against his former team, helping earn the win for the Rampage. Brian Foster stopped 36 in the win. Things didn't fair a well for the Rampage on Friday night, the Peoria Rivermen visiting and shutting out San Antonio 5-0 in front of 7,527 fans. Foster would stop 23 shots put on him.
Next up for the Rampage, Houston on Friday, Charlotte in Saturday and Oklahoma City on Sunday.
Texas Stars (DAL)
The Stars were defeated by the San Antonio Rampage 4-3 in front of 3,758 home fans on Thursday night. Tomas Vincour ended with a two goals evening and defenseman Brad Lukowich registered an assist in his 100th game with Texas. Goalie Richard Bachman stopped 15 of the 19 shots he faced in the loss.
Texas would defeat the Peoria Rivermen 6-5 in overtime on Saturday. Matt Fraser would score twice, his second goal of the night the game winner at 2:00 into overtime. Center Travis Morin had a goal and three assists, while right wing Ray Sawada added a goal and an assist. All would combine for nine points on the evening, ending the Stars three-game losing streak. Richard Bachman would stop 34 of 39 shots and also registered an assist in the victory.
Texas starts a four-game road trip, first in Rockford on Tuesday, Peoria on Thursday, Chicago Saturday then Sunday at Milwaukee.
North Division
Toronto Marlies (TOR)
The Marlies held onto their division-leading record this weekend despite splitting their two games as strong performances from AHL Player of the Week Joey Crabb and a heroic performance from former P-Bruin Joe Colborne got things rolling. In a 5-4 OT win against Rochester, the Marlies were down 4-2 with three minutes left in the game, thanks to two bad turnovers by Colborne. But the Marlies rallied, and Colborne got the chance to redeem himself by scoring the winner in OT.
Against Lake Erie for the third time in four games, the Marlies lost by the same score - 5-4 in overtime - despite two goals from Crabb, one from Colborne, and one from Mike Zigomanis. The Marlies' PK was perfect until this game, when Lake Erie scored 1:21 into the game on a power play.
Crabb had a five-point weekend, and goaltender Ben Scrivens was recalled to Toronto (NHL) after the weekend's games ended, upon an injury to goaltender James Reimer. The Marlies face the Abbottsford Heat next, on Wednesday.
Hamilton Bulldogs (MTL)
Last week, the Hamilton Bulldogs split the two games they played, losing to the Grand Rapids Griffins and then beating the Rochester Americans. The Bulldogs faced the Griffins on Tuesday, October 18th, and were shutout by a score of 3-0. Joey MacDonald made 31 saves for the shutout. Hamilton then travelled to Rochester, New York on Friday, October 21st where they edged the Americans 3-2 in a shootout. Zack Fitzgerald scored his first goal as a Bulldog, his first goal in 141 games since November 13th, 2009, while T.J. Fast collected his first ever point as a Bulldog. Mike Blunden collected two assists and UNH product Phil DeSimone scored his team-leading third goal of the season. Gabriel Dumont scored the shootout winner for the Bulldogs and Nathan Lawson made 29 saves for the win.
The Canadiens called up Michael Blunden on Sunday and reassigned Aaron Palushaj, while also trading Brock Trotter to Phoenix for Petteri Nokelainen and Garrett Stafford. Stafford will likely report to the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs face the Rochester Americans next, on Thursday.
Rochester Americans (BUF)
The new-look Amerks are second in the division after this weekend, after going 0-1-1-1 in their 3-in-3 this weekend, recording a loss of each type, but no wins. On Friday they lost to the Hamilton Bulldogs in a shootout, with Corey Tropp scoring both of Rochester's goals. The Amerks then travelled to the Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto, where they were bested 5-4 in overtime after being up 4-2 in the third period, having capitalized on a pair of bad turnovers. Derek Whitmore scored two goals and was a +3 in the loss, earning third-star honors. On Sunday, the Amerks managed only one goal in their only regulation loss of the weekend against the Adirondack Phantoms.
The Amerks will play three road games next weekend, starting with Hamilton on Friday and continuing on for two games against Binghamton Saturday and Sunday.
Grand Rapids Griffins (DET)
The Griffins continue to struggle a bit after taking only two of six possible points on their three-game road trip this weekend, with the win coming in overtime against the Oklahoma City Barons. On Friday, the Griffins fell 3-1 to the Barons, with Yann Danis stopping 26 of 27 shots, Chris Conner potting the only goal, and Joey Macdonald stopping 32 of 35 in the loss. On Saturday, the Griffins earned a bit of revenge, beating the Barons in a shootout. A win is a win, and Macdonald stopped 33 of 35 in this one - he also surpassed Jimmy Howard as the Griffins' all time leader in minutes played. In a Sunday tilt against Houston, after an overnight bus ride the Griffins fell 3-1 to the Aeros. Andrej Nestracil scored his second goal in two consecutive games, but it wasn't enough.
The Griffins come home again finally for their second game of the season friday, as one of only two teams to only have played one home game this late in the season (the other is Milwaukee). They will face off against the Abbotsford Heat.
Lake Erie Monsters (COL)
The Monsters have only won 2 games to this point, but all five of their points came this weekend. The Monsters went to overtime three nights in a row. On Friday, the team broke their pointless streak with an overtime loss to Syracuse. On Saturday, however, rookie blueliner Stefan Eliot recorded the game winner against Syracuse for the first win of the season, and on Sunday, the Monsters' Tyson Barrie gave the team a boost with a game winner at 1:21 of overtime for the 5-4 win over the Marlies.
Lake Erie next faces Syracuse for the third time in four games, on Friday.
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