Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2012 13:24:50 GMT -6
AT
(2)St. John's IceCaps at (7)Syracuse Crunch
Game 1, Eastern Conference Quarterfinal
April 20, 2012
Onondaga County War Memorial at Oncenter
Syracuse, New York
6:30 CDT
Best of five series tied 0-0
St. John's Affiliate: Winnipeg Jets
Syracuse Affiliate: Anaheim Ducks
--
And thus, it begins.
The last time a St. John's AHL team came into the league, the Maple Leafs came within just two games of the Calder Cup.
This year, the IceCaps look to win those games and the quest starts tonight at Oncenter against a red-hot Syracuse Crunch team.
The IceCaps had the third best record in the Eastern Conference, and won the Atlantic Division by a landslide. My theory is that the IceCaps tanked the end of the season after they clinched the Atlantic since they knew they couldn't catch Norfolk, who is STILL on a 28 game winning streak.
The Crunch, meanwhile, started poorly but ended the season on a tear behind the solid goaltending of former Sharks goalie Antero Niittymaki.
The IceCaps play two this weekend in Syracuse before heading home for Games 3, 4, and 5, the latter two if necessary.
Mark Scheifele will likely join the team back in St. John's, for the record.
Likely goaltending matchup will be Antero Niittymaki versus Eddie Pasquale. The last time Niittymaki started in the AHL playoffs against a rookie, it didn't end well: in 2004, his Philadelphia Phantoms were knocked out in six games by archrival Wilkes-Barre, AND he was one-punch KO'd by rookie Andy Chiodo. Meanwhile, Pasquale has some playoff experience from his days with the Saginaw Spirit in the OHL, but now it's time to show it in the pros.
THE BRACKET
Eastern Conference
(1) Norfolk (TB) vs (8) Manchester (LA)
Tied 0-0
Game 1 - 4/20
(2) ST. JOHN'S (WPG) vs (7) Syracuse (ANA)
Tied 0-0
Game 1 - 4/20
(3) Bridgeport (NYI) vs (6) Connecticut (NYR)
Whale Leads 1-0
Game 1 - CT 3 @ BRI 0
Game 2 - 4/21
(4) W-B/Scranton (PIT) vs (5) Hershey (WSH)
Tied 0-0
Game 1 - 4/20
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City (EDM) vs (8) Houston (MIN)
Barons Lead 1-0
Game 1 - OKC 5 @ HOU 0
Game 2 - 4/20
(2) Toronto (TOR) vs (7) Rochester (BUF)
Marlies Lead 1-0
Game 1 - ROC 3 @ TOR 4
Game 2 - 4/21
(3) Chicago (VAN) vs (6) San Antonio (FLA)
Rampage Lead 1-0
Game 1 - CHI 4 @ SA 5 (OT)
Game 2 - 4/21
(4) Abbotsford (CGY) vs (5) Milwaukee (NSH)
Tied 0-0
Game 1 - 4/20
(2)St. John's IceCaps at (7)Syracuse Crunch
Game 1, Eastern Conference Quarterfinal
April 20, 2012
Onondaga County War Memorial at Oncenter
Syracuse, New York
6:30 CDT
Best of five series tied 0-0
St. John's Affiliate: Winnipeg Jets
Syracuse Affiliate: Anaheim Ducks
--
And thus, it begins.
The last time a St. John's AHL team came into the league, the Maple Leafs came within just two games of the Calder Cup.
This year, the IceCaps look to win those games and the quest starts tonight at Oncenter against a red-hot Syracuse Crunch team.
The IceCaps had the third best record in the Eastern Conference, and won the Atlantic Division by a landslide. My theory is that the IceCaps tanked the end of the season after they clinched the Atlantic since they knew they couldn't catch Norfolk, who is STILL on a 28 game winning streak.
The Crunch, meanwhile, started poorly but ended the season on a tear behind the solid goaltending of former Sharks goalie Antero Niittymaki.
The IceCaps play two this weekend in Syracuse before heading home for Games 3, 4, and 5, the latter two if necessary.
Mark Scheifele will likely join the team back in St. John's, for the record.
Likely goaltending matchup will be Antero Niittymaki versus Eddie Pasquale. The last time Niittymaki started in the AHL playoffs against a rookie, it didn't end well: in 2004, his Philadelphia Phantoms were knocked out in six games by archrival Wilkes-Barre, AND he was one-punch KO'd by rookie Andy Chiodo. Meanwhile, Pasquale has some playoff experience from his days with the Saginaw Spirit in the OHL, but now it's time to show it in the pros.
THE BRACKET
Eastern Conference
(1) Norfolk (TB) vs (8) Manchester (LA)
Tied 0-0
Game 1 - 4/20
(2) ST. JOHN'S (WPG) vs (7) Syracuse (ANA)
Tied 0-0
Game 1 - 4/20
(3) Bridgeport (NYI) vs (6) Connecticut (NYR)
Whale Leads 1-0
Game 1 - CT 3 @ BRI 0
Game 2 - 4/21
(4) W-B/Scranton (PIT) vs (5) Hershey (WSH)
Tied 0-0
Game 1 - 4/20
Western Conference
(1) Oklahoma City (EDM) vs (8) Houston (MIN)
Barons Lead 1-0
Game 1 - OKC 5 @ HOU 0
Game 2 - 4/20
(2) Toronto (TOR) vs (7) Rochester (BUF)
Marlies Lead 1-0
Game 1 - ROC 3 @ TOR 4
Game 2 - 4/21
(3) Chicago (VAN) vs (6) San Antonio (FLA)
Rampage Lead 1-0
Game 1 - CHI 4 @ SA 5 (OT)
Game 2 - 4/21
(4) Abbotsford (CGY) vs (5) Milwaukee (NSH)
Tied 0-0
Game 1 - 4/20