Weekly Wrap-Up - North Division (Week 3)
Consider signing up for a subscription so we can continue to bring you exclusive first-reports, prospect features and stories from around the American Hockey League (AHL).
Quick. Easy. Support original journalism!
Editor's Note: Tracey takes a look around last week's AHL North Division action, and outlines the week ahead for all seven teams.
Belleville Senators (Ottawa Senators)
Belleville had a 3 in 3 weekend in New England, going 1-1-0-1.
The Senators' lone win came in Hartford on Friday night, a 5-1 victory over the Wolfpack. Five different skaters scored goals, while Danny Taylor stopped 34 of 35 Hartford shots.
On Saturday in Providence, Belleville jumped out to a 2-0 lead after two periods, but a late third period rally by the Bruins would send the game to overtime and a shootout, one that saw Providence prevail 3-2. Andrew Hammond would stop 39 of 41 Bruin shots in 65 minutes, but would give up the game winning shootout goal in the third round to Jordan Szwarz.
Sunday afternoon, the Senators would drop a 7-4 decision to the Thunderbirds, Springfield’s first win of the season after starting 0-6. Special teams would not be kind to Belleville, as their power play went 0 for 10 on the afternoon. The Senators have two games left on their 9 game road trip before finally returning home to open Yardmen Arena in November.
Binghamton Devils (New Jersey Devils)
Binghamton would go 1-1 on the week, including their first loss in regulation.
On Friday night in Syracuse, John Quenneville would score just 11 seconds after puck drop, Blake Speers added his first pro goal, and Nick Lappin added his 4th all within the first 11:49 of the contest. But the Devils nearly blew the lead to the Crunch after giving up 2 shorthanded goals in a 1:32 span, and escaped with a 3-2 win. Mackenzie Blackwood picked up his second win after Scott Wedgewood was recalled to New Jersey earlier in the day.
Back in the Southern Tier on Saturday, the Devils hosted Lehigh Valley and would find themselves down 3-2 after the first 20 minutes in a first period that saw them get outshot 22-9. The Phantoms would hold on for the 4-3 win after the teams exchanged third period goals. Rookie Brandon Gignac picked up his first pro goal, while Blake Pietila and Bracken Kearns had first period tallies.
Laval Rocket (Montreal Canadiens)
It was a weekend of mixed results for Laval, as the Rocket would go 1-1-1 in a road 3 in 3 weekend.
Friday night in Wilkes-Barre, Laval would blow two separate 1 goal leads, give up a hat trick to Daniel Sprong, and lose 6-5 in overtime. Five different Rocket skaters would each have a goal, while three others added two assists apiece.
Saturday in Bridgeport, the Rocket would put up 3 in the first en route to a 6-3 win over the Sound Tigers. Defenseman Tom Parisi would score twice, while Byron Froese and Daniel Carr would each have a goal and two assists. All but seven skaters would pick up at least one point. Sunday the road trip would head to Providence, where the Bruins would take a 4-1 win.
Laval played without forwards Nikita Scherbak and Michael McCarron, who were recalled to Montreal.
Rochester Americans (Buffalo Sabres)
Rochester finds themselves on a 3 game losing streak after dropping a pair of games at home.
On Friday, the Amerks had a 2-0 lead on Charlotte after one period, but the Checkers would go on to score five unanswered goals through the final 40 minutes en route to a 5-2 win.
Saturday against Utica, the Amerks peppered goaltender Thatcher Demko with 22 shots, but couldn’t score. They only allowed 6 shots to the Comets, but 3 would find their way into the net, pushing Utica to a 5-1 win. In both games, goaltenders Linus Ullmark and Adam Wilcox would get one start, but both were eventually pulled for each other.
Syracuse Crunch (Tampa Bay Lightning)
After dropping three straight, the Crunch look to be getting back on track.
Finding themselves in a 3-0 hole on Friday night against Binghamton, Syracuse looked to rally after picking up a pair of shorthanded goals on the same penalty kill in the second, but would ultimately lose 3-2. Michael Leighton started the game, but was pulled just 3:57 into the contest in favor of rookie Connor Ingram. Ingram rebounded nicely from a disastrous start last weekend against the Penguins, stopping 19 of 20 in relief.
Ingram got the start in net Saturday against the winless Thunderbirds and had 22 saves in a 4-1 Crunch win, his first as a professional. Michael Bournival would score twice, while Jason Akeson picked up his first goal and Tye McGinn scored his second.
Toronto Marlies (Toronto Maple Leafs)
Toronto returned home from their New England road trip with a pair of games against Charlotte.
On Saturday, Marlies goaltender Garret Sparks would pick up a 4-0 shutout win, stopping all 24 Checker shots. Mason Marchment would score twice in the win.
Charlotte would get their revenge on Sunday afternoon in the rematch, winning 6-4 in a game that saw the Checkers blow a 2-1 lead, only to score three unanswered goals in the third. Four different Marlies picked up goals, while Chris Mueller and Andrew Nielsen had two assists each.
Utica Comets (Vancouver Canucks)
Utica had just one game on the schedule this week, and they made it count with a 5-1 win in Rochester. Despite just six shots in the first period, the Comets would score three times, lead by Reid Boucher’s two power play goals in a span of 1:43. Thatcher Demko would pick up his third win of the season with 40 saves on 41 shots. Utica’s special teams would go 4 for 8 on the power play. The Comets have two games remaining on their 7 game road trip to start the season.
North Division Standings through 10/24's games
(PCT = Points Percentage):
- Toronto: 7 GP, 5-2-0-0, 10 points (.714 PCT)
- Binghamton: 5 GP, 3-1-1-0, 7 points, (.700)
- Laval: 7 GP, 4-2-1-0, 9 points, (.643)
- Utica: 5 GP, 3-2-0-0, 6 points, (.600)
- Rochester: 5 GP, 2-3-0-0, 4 points, (.400)
- Syracuse: 7 GP, 2-4-1-0, 5 points, (.357)
- Belleville: 7 GP, 2-4-0-1, 5 points, (.357)
This Week’s Schedule:
(all times Eastern)
Wednesday, October 25th
Rochester @ Laval, 7:30 PM
Friday, October 27th
Providence @ Binghamton, 7:05 PM Laval @ Rochester, 7:05 PM Toronto @ Syracuse, 7:00 PM Belleville @ Manitoba, 8:00 PM
Saturday, October 28th
Laval @ Toronto, 4:00 PM Springfield @ Binghamton, 7:05 PM Syracuse @ Rochester, 7:05 PM Utica @ Charlotte, 6:00 PM Belleville @ Manitoba, 8:00 PM
Sunday, October 29th
Utica @ Charlotte, 1:00 PM
