West Notes: Rivermen work OT, 'Hogs snap skid
November 12, 2009 theahl
Also see… East Notes: Devils surging, Ads hit the road
Schedule/Scores Player Stats
Abbotsford has not surrendered more than two goals in any of its last five games, but its four-game winning streak ended on Saturday with a 2-1 setback against Rockford… Goaltender Leland Irving has been between the pipes for each of the Heat's last five games and is tied for second in the league with seven victories thus far (7-4-1)… Rookie Mikael Backlund netted the Heat's lone goal on Saturday and has scored in three of his past four contests (3-0-3)… Jamie Lundmark has a three-game scoring streak (1-2-3) on the heels of a four-game drought… The Heat hit the road for three tilts this weekend, visiting Milwaukee, Peoria, and Rockford.
Chicago has potted 22 goals in its last six games after totaling 12 goals in its previous six match-ups… Tim Stapleton posted his first multiple-goal game of the season, including the game-winning tally, in a 4-3 triumph at Milwaukee on Nov. 4… Stapleton is on a three-game scoring streak (2-2-4) and has a point in five of his last six (4-2-6)… Defenseman Chris Chelios has averaged a point per game (1-6-7) since joining the Wolves… Chicago has thwarted 30 of its last 31 shorthanded situations and is tied for third in the AHL with four shorthanded goals on the campaign… The Wolves continue a six-game road swing this weekend with games at San Antonio, Texas, and Houston.
The Griffins' current eight-game winning streak is their longest since a franchise-record 11-game run from March 5-31, 2006… Grand Rapids' seven-game tear to begin its home schedule is its longest at Van Andel Arena since a seven-game run from Jan. 13 to Feb. 24, 2007… Kris Newbury has set a career high with a six-game assist streak (1-7-8)… In just 12 games this season, Jan Mursak doubled his goal output (four to two) and achieved more than half the point production (five to nine) of his 51-game rookie season… Jeremy Williams has netted a goal in three straight games (4-1-5)… Grand Rapids hosts Milwaukee and Rochester this weekend.
Hamilton has scored exactly one goal in each of its last three games, resulting in two losses and a 1-0 win over Binghamton in Ottawa on Sunday courtesy of Cedrick Desjardins' 31-save shutout… Sergei Kostitsyn netted the lone goal for either side in that contest… Overall, the Bulldogs have just two wins in their last six games (2-2-0-2) following a 6-0-1-1 start… The 14,702 fans that attended Friday's 2-1 loss to Binghamton at the Bell Centre in Montreal marked the second-highest crowd for a Bulldogs home game in team history… Rookie P.K. Subban recorded his first career AHL goal in that loss… The Bulldogs host Syracuse on Saturday in their lone game of the weekend, then travel to Abbotsford for games on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Houston took three-goal victories over Manitoba and San Antonio last week to extend its home-ice winning streak to three games… Goaltender Anton Khudobin was between the pipes for both wins and has surrendered two or fewer goals in each of his last four appearances and in seven of eight games on the season… Danny Irmen is riding a three-game scoring streak (2-2-4), and defenseman Maxim Noreau has four points (2-2-4) in his last two outings after totaling three assists in his first 12 contests this season… The Aeros hit the road for a pair of games at Lake Erie this weekend.
Lake Erie is winless in four straight games (0-3-0-1) after suffering a regulation and shootout loss in a recently-completed home-and-home set with Grand Rapids… The Monsters went 5-for-6 on the power play on Sunday but dropped an 8-6 decision to the Griffins… Rookie Brock Bradford has netted a goal in three straight games (3-1-4) and five of his last six (5-1-6)… Chris Durno is tied for the AHL's second-longest current scoring streak with a point in seven straight tilts (6-5-11)… The Monsters are 2-5-0-1 against fellow North Division squads thus far but show a 4-3-0-0 mark against the West Division… The Monsters host Houston for a pair of tilts this weekend.
Manitoba has dropped five straight games to begin November and has totaled four goals over that span… This marks the first time in the team's AHL history that the Moose have dropped the opening five games of a month… The Moose have gone 13 straight contests without scoring more than two goals since a 5-4 shootout win over Abbotsford on Oct. 14, and are averaging a league-low 1.89 goals per game for the season… Goaltender Cory Schneider, who has not played for the Moose since Oct. 23, was reassigned by parent-club Vancouver on Tuesday… Manitoba returns home to take on Toronto on Friday and Saturday.
Milwaukee has played just two games in the last 11 days, and its total of 12 games played is tied for fewest in the league… The Admirals face their first "three-in-three" stretch this week, hosting Abbotsford on Thursday before beginning an eight-game road swing at Grand Rapids on Friday and at Peoria on Saturday… Mike Santorelli has registered a point in three of his last four games (2-1-3) for the Admirals… Hugh Jessiman had been without a point in his first 11 outings this season prior to netting a goal on Friday in Milwaukee's 4-3 shootout loss to Peoria… Peter Olvecky snapped a six-game drought with a goal in that contest.
All three victories during Peoria's current three-game winning streak have required either overtime or a shootout… Overall, the Rivermen have gone beyond regulation time in eight of their first 14 games this season… Bryce Lampman has three goals in his last two games – including the overtime winner on Wednesday vs. Texas – after going his first 12 contests without a tally… Ryan Reaves lit the lamp on Wednesday for the first time since opening night vs. Grand Rapids on Oct. 3… The Rivermen's power play has converted five of 12 chances (41.7 percent) over their last three games… Peoria hosts Abbotsford and Milwaukee at Carver Arena this weekend.
Rochester, which has matched a franchise record with its 11-game winning streak, will go for the record against Portland on Thursday at HSBC Arena in Buffalo… Portland is currently in its second year as the top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres, which was Rochester's parent club for the previous 29 seasons… Rookie goaltender Alexander Salak has been in net for the Amerks' last seven games and is out to a 9-0-0 start (1.65, .947) with one shutout this season… Defenseman Jordan Henry had one assist in 13 games before putting up three points (1-2-3) on Tuesday vs. Hamilton… Jamie Johnson has recorded a point in five of his last six contests (5-1-6).
Rockford ended an AHL team-record seven-game road winless skid (0-6-0-1) on Saturday with a 2-1 triumph at Abbotsford… Evan Brophey recorded his second goal of the season for the game-winner in that victory… Nathan Davis, who totaled five goals in his rookie season last year, tallied his sixth of the season on Saturday against the Heat… Goaltender Joe Fallon has stopped 79 of 82 shots (.963) over his last three appearances, collecting a win, a loss, and a no-decision… Jassen Cullimore's goal on Nov. 4 was his first in the AHL since Nov. 20, 1999, with Providence… The IceHogs, who have played 12 of their first 17 on the road, open a six-game homestand against Texas and Abbotsford this weekend.
The Rampage are currently on a seven-game winless skid (0-5-1-1) and have not won since taking a 7-2 decision over Grand Rapids on Oct. 18… San Antonio has also dropped four straight road contests (0-3-0-1) since posting a three-game road winning streak from Oct. 9-13… Brett MacLean snapped a five-game goal-scoring drought with a tally in San Antonio's 5-2 loss at Houston on Sunday… Sean Sullivan is tied for second among AHL defensemen with a plus-9 rating and tied for fourth with 13 points (3-10-13) in 12 contests… The Rampage play seven of their next eight games at home, beginning with tilts this weekend against Chicago and Texas.
Texas made its first trip out of the Lone Star State on Wednesday and dropped a 5-4 overtime decision at Peoria… It marked the first time the Stars surrendered more than four goals in a game all season, and the first time they allowed four in regulation since a 4-0 loss to Lake Erie on Oct. 20… Aaron Gagnon posted two assists on Wednesday, extending his AHL season-high scoring streak to eight games (3-6-9)… Perttu Lindgren has found the scoresheet in three straight games (2-2-4) and four of his last five (3-4-7)… Greg Rallo shows four goals in his last four contests… The Stars visit Rockford on Friday, host Chicago on Saturday, and travel to San Antonio on Sunday.
Toronto's season-high three-game winning streak came to an end on Saturday in a 4-1 loss at league-leading Rochester… Mike Zigomanis' six-game assist streak (0-13-13) to begin his Marlies tenure also ended in that loss… Zigomanis is tied with rookie forward Christian Hanson (5-8-13 in 12 GP) for the team scoring lead… Viktor Stalberg had a point in three straight games (3-4-7) before being held scoreless on Saturday… The Marlies have outscored opponents 13-8 in the first period this season but have been outscored 19-8 in the second frame… Toronto's six-game road swing continues this weekend with a pair of games at Manitoba in the teams' first meeting since last spring's North Division semifinal.
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