AHL Today is a roundup of the night that was, the day ahead, and anything you may have missed. Your quick look at what’s going on around the league.
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Weekend Watch:
- GRAND RAPIDS at TEXAS: Tops in the Western Conference, the Grand Rapids Griffins head into Cedar Park tonight with their sights set on putting some distance between themselves and the Texas Stars. With the injuries to Detroit, the Griffins roster has been picked over, but the Stars have been moving along at a steady clip and could have their offence bolstered by Dustin Jeffery as soon as tonight.
– In all likelihood, Tom McCollum will get the call between the pipes for the Griffins, going up against the Stars’ Josh Robinson, who made ten saves in a relief appearance for injured Christopher Nilstorp, who went down in the Stars 4-3 shootout victory over the Iowa Wild.
– The Griffins are won both meetings with the Stars, outscoring Dallas’ farm team 10-5 in a weekend set.
– Notables: Robinson hasn’t suited up against the Griffins this season. Travis Morin has eight points over the last three games, and rookie Curtis McKenzie has points in three straight, including a four assist night on Jan. 17 when the Stars took on the Checkers. Jordin Tootoo comes into the game riding a three-game point streak, and scored the game winner in the Nov. 29 meeting between these two.
Full schedule, news, and notes after the jump.
Evening Schedule:
7:00 PM EST
Oklahoma City (16-21-1-5) at Charlotte (20-19-0-1)
Time Warner Cable Arena – Charlotte, NC
7:00 PM EST
Springfield (28-8-1-3) at Hartford (12-21-0-5)
XL Center – Hartford, CT
7:00 PM EST
Worcester (19-15-3-1) at Manchester (26-12-2-4)
Verizon Wireless Arena – Manchester, NH
7:00 PM EST
Bridgeport (15-22-1-4) at Portland (15-16-1-6)
Androscoggin Bank Colisee – Lewiston, ME
7:00 PM EST
Hershey (19-14-3-3) at Syracuse (17-15-2-4)
Onondaga County War Memorial Arena – Syracuse, NY
7:05 PM EST
Albany (23-11-3-3) at Binghamton (25-12-0-3)
Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena – Binghamton, NY
7:05 PM EST
St. John’s (21-16-1-2) at Providence (21-15-1-5)
Dunkin’ Donuts Center – Providence, RI
7:30 PM EST
Toronto (23-12-2-2) at Hamilton (19-16-0-4)
Copps Coliseum – Hamilton, ON
7:30 PM EST
W-B/Scranton (24-12-1-3) at Norfolk (21-13-1-6)
Norfolk Scope – Norfolk, VA
8:00 PM EST
Rockford (18-19-4-2) at Milwaukee (19-12-5-3)
BMO Harris Bradley Center – Milwaukee, WI
8:30 PM EST
Iowa (17-16-3-3) at San Antonio (15-21-1-3)
AT&T Center – San Antonio, TX
8:30 PM EST
Grand Rapids (27-11-1-2) at Texas (26-11-2-3)
Cedar Park Center – Cedar Park, TX
10:00 PM EST
Utica (13-20-2-3) at Abbotsford (26-14-1-1)
Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre – Abbotsford, BC
Last night:
- OKLAHOMA CITY at CHARLOTTE: The Checkers buried four before the second period ended, and it looked as if the rout was on, but the Barons tightened up in the third and kept the deficit at least somewhat respectable.
– John Muse had 31 stops for the shutout, turning aside 18 shots in the second frame alone. Greg Nemisz had the winner just under eight minutes into the game with the assist going to Aaron Palushaj. Winger Jack Combs lead all Barons shooters with five shots.
– Ben Eager pulled a Ben Eager, picking up two (!) abuse of official misconducts, the second one getting him booted from the game. Unlikely he sees any supplemental discipline, but those just aren’t penalties you can be taking.
News & Notes:
MOVES:
Zach Trotman (D) From: Providence Bruins To: Boston Bruins (Recalled)
Pat Nagle (G) From: Idaho Steelheads To: Texas Stars (Recalled)
Joe Whitney (F) From: Albany Devils To: New Jersey Devils (Recalled)
Jonathon Blum (D) From: Minnesota Wild To: Iowa Wild (Reassigned)
Adam Cracknell (F) From: St. Louis Blues To: Chicago Wolves (Reassigned)
David LeNeveu (G) From: New York Rangers To: Hartford Wolf Pack (Reassigned)
Zach Sill (F) From: Pittsburgh Penguins To: Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins (Reassigned)
Maxim Kitsyn (F) From: Manchester Monarchs To: Ontario Reign (Reassigned)
Bobby Shea (D) From: Rockford IceHogs To: Toledo Walleye (Reassigned)
Cameron Burt (D) From: Manchester Monarchs To: Ontario Reign (Released)
Jeff Jakaitis (G) From: Providence Bruins To: South Carolina Stingrays (Released)
C.J. Severyn (F) From: Utica Comets To: Orlando Solar Bears (Released)
- Frank Seravalli with a great story on Eric Wellwood, whose career remains in question after a gruesome cut from a skate. [Philly.com]
- Kyle Cicerella spoke with Steve Spott about what Brandon Kozun will bring to the Marlies roster. [Kyle The Reporter]
(Cover image via @CheckersInGame)
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