News

Oh if they had only sent Milley down a couple of weeks earlier! LOW-0 SPR-4 Ladies and gentlemen, Jonathan Boutin's first AHL shutout. He stopped all 26 shots faced for the win and was named first star of the game. Ryan Vesce was the second star with a goal and an assist. Gerard Dicaire had an assist and was the game's third star. Norm Milley extended his point streak to four games with a helper and Doug O'Brien and Timo Helbling had assists from the blueline while Marek Kvapil also stayed hot with an assist. Darren Reid scored into the empty net to put the icing on the cake. Game sheet from [url=http://ahl.leaguestat.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1001929]TheAHL.com.[/url]

The Johnstown Chiefs have signed goaltender Gabe Winer out of UMASS. Winer was a four year starter for the Minutemen who just completed his best statistical season going 9-11-1 with a 2.48 GAA and .920 sv%. With UMASS out of contention in the NCAA postseason, Winer was a free agent. The 5'10" 220 lb. 21 year old is in net tonight as the Chiefs take on Reading.

Anton But was held scoreless in Yaroslavl's 4-2 victory over Novosibirsk. Yaroslavl wins the opening round series 3-1 and advances to the quarterfinals. Lada Togliatti defeated Moscow Dynamo 3-2 in overtime to clinch a 3-1 series victory and a berth in the Superleague quarterfinals. Vasily Koshechkin was between the pipes as he claimed his first career playoff series victory. Dimitry Kazionov scored his first career playoff goal for Dynamo but Albert Vishnyakov was held scoreless. For Kazionov and Vishnyakov, the season is over. CSKA defeated Cherepovets today to clinch a 3-1 series win and will now move on to the quarterfinals. Alexander Polushin, who was a scratch, sees his season come to an end. Khimik MO fell 3-2 today to Nizhnekamsk to extend their series to a fifth and deciding match on Sunday. Alexei Glukhov scored his first career playoff goal in the match. Khimik and Neftekhimik are the only teams to move the full five games in the opening round. Avangard Omsk had already secured a spot in the quarterfinals by virtue of a 3-0 series sweep of SKA St Petersburg.

Lulea spanked Linkopings 5-2 today to knot the two team's opening round playoff series at 2 games each. Linkopings outshot Lulea a remarkable 48-18 but were unable to capitalize on their opportunity to seize a near insurmountable series lead. Goaltender Fredrik Norrena allowed 4 goals on just 17 shots faced before Lulea's Lubos Bartecko scored an empty net shorthanded goal to seal the game. Andreas Holmqvist and Shane Willis were held scoreless in the game. Holmqvist has been playing on the first pair with Mikko Luoma while Willis is playing on Linkopings' second line with Fredrik Emwall and Jussi Tarvainen.

Mike Lundin will make his return tonight to the Maine Black Bears lineup after missing two weeks with a lacerated finger. According to a report today from the [i]Bangor Daily News[/i], Lundin's right pinky finger was slashed after making a pass in a game vs. Merrimack. The cut was so bad doctors had to actually re-attach the finger after the game. Lundin also suffered a fractured bone. He will wear a soft-cast on his hand tonight in the Hockey East semifnal vs. Boston College. Lundin is Maine's second-leading scorer among defensemen with two goals and 12 assists in 32 games. "Mike is a difference-maker for us," Maine coach Tim Whitehead told the [i]Daily News.[/i] "He logs more ice time than any other defenseman.