Eastern Conference
(4) St. John's IceCaps defeat (8) Norfolk Admirals 4-2
(6) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins defeat (7) Providence Bruins 4-3
Conference Championship
(4) St. John's IceCaps vs. (6) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Western Conference
(1) Texas Stars defeat (4) Grand Rapids Griffins 4-2
(3) Toronto Marlies defeat (2) Chicago Wolves 4-0
Conference Championship
(1) Texas Stars vs. (3) Toronto Marlies
Analysis
After a few upsets in the 1st round, the quarterfinals didn't have any upsets. Norfolk was giving St. John's all it could handle until John Gibson, one of the best prospects in the Anaheim Ducks' system, was called up to the Ducks to help them against the Kings. After that, except for game 5, St. John's dominated the series. The other Eastern series was much closer. It started out with two blowout wins (one for each team), but the rest of the games were much closer. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton had a huge lead in game 7, but Providence was able to make it close. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton ended up winning that game 5-4.
In the West, the series that I found the most interesting was a great series until the final game. Texas had a 3-2 series lead over Grand Rapids going into game 6, and it seemed like the series would go to a game 7. Texas made sure that didn't happen, as they won the game 7-1. The other series had one game go to overtime, but otherwise, Toronto continued their dominance in the playoffs so far, as they have yet to lose a game.
Each of the series should be a good one, but I have a feeling that the Western Conference series will be a great one. Texas had the best record in the regular season, and Toronto has been the best team in the playoffs. That will be a great battle to see. In my opinion, it will be St. John's vs. Toronto in the Calder Cup Final. What do you think?
Friday, May 23, 2014
Friday, May 16, 2014
Resignings and Other News
Resignings
When it comes to the Bears and resignings, there have been two so far, and they just happened in the last couple days. On Tuesday, the Capitals resigned Garrett Mitchell to a one-year, two-way contract. Mitchell was one of the Bears' alternate captains when he played, but he wasn't able to play much in an injury-shortened season. Today, the Bears made sure they still kept the captain of their team. Dane Byers was resigned to a one-year deal by the Bears. The team's MVP (award given to him in a pregame ceremony before the final game of the year), Byers had 37 points and a team-leading 211 penalty minutes. It's safe to say that Byers will continue to be the captain of the team next season.
Other News
In a previous blog post, I mentioned that the Calgary Flames were moving their AHL team from Abbotsford to Glens Falls. Today, it was announced that the new team will be called the Adirondack Flames.
When it comes to the Bears and resignings, there have been two so far, and they just happened in the last couple days. On Tuesday, the Capitals resigned Garrett Mitchell to a one-year, two-way contract. Mitchell was one of the Bears' alternate captains when he played, but he wasn't able to play much in an injury-shortened season. Today, the Bears made sure they still kept the captain of their team. Dane Byers was resigned to a one-year deal by the Bears. The team's MVP (award given to him in a pregame ceremony before the final game of the year), Byers had 37 points and a team-leading 211 penalty minutes. It's safe to say that Byers will continue to be the captain of the team next season.
Other News
In a previous blog post, I mentioned that the Calgary Flames were moving their AHL team from Abbotsford to Glens Falls. Today, it was announced that the new team will be called the Adirondack Flames.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Capitals Extend Affiliation with Bears
According to the Hershey Bears website, the Bears and the Washington Capitals have extended their affiliation through the 2014-15 season. Here is the link to the article: http://www.hersheybears.com/news/detail.php?id=4408
Friday, May 9, 2014
Head Coach Mike Haviland Steps Down
According to the Hershey Bears website, Mike Haviland has stepped down from his position as head coach. Here is the link to the article: http://www.hersheybears.com/news/detail.php?id=4407
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
First Round of 2014 AHL Playoffs
Eastern Conference
(8) Norfolk Admirals defeat (1) Manchester Monarchs 3-1
(7) Providence Bruins defeat (2) Springfield Falcons 3-2
(6) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins defeat (3) Binghamton Senators 3-1
(4) St. John's IceCaps defeat (5) Albany Devils 3-1
Quarterfinal Matchups
(4) St. John's IceCaps vs. (8) Norfolk Admirals
(6) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. (7) Providence Bruins
Western Conference
(1) Texas Stars defeat (8) Oklahoma City Barons 3-0
(2) Chicago Wolves defeat (7) Rochester Americans 3-2
(3) Toronto Marlies defeat (6) Milwaukee Admirals 3-0
(4) Grand Rapids Griffins defeat (5) Abbotsford Heat 3-1
Quarterfinal Matchups
(1) Texas Stars vs. (4) Grand Rapids Griffins
(2) Chicago Wolves vs. (3) Toronto Marlies
Analysis
The first round of the AHL playoffs was very interesting. In the East, all three division winners lost, while the West had the top 4 seeds advance. Norfolk, who beat out the Bears for the final spot in the playoffs, rode out great performances by John Gibson to defeat the top team in the East. After being down 2 games to 1 against Springfield, Providence was able to dominate games 4 and 5 by outscoring the Falcons 12-6 in those games. After going to overtime in the first three games of the series, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton decided to end the series early in game 4, as they dominated that game 5-1 against Binghamton. In the only non-upset of the East, St. John's took advantage of home ice by winning games 3 and 4 at home against Albany to win the series.
In the West, except for one tough series, the top 4 seeds had a pretty clean slate. Oklahoma city was able to take Texas to overtime in the first two games, but they could never get a win against the top team in the league. In the tough series of the West, Chicago was able to get past a blowout loss in game 4 to win the deciding game 5 against Rochester. Toronto's sweep of Milwaukee can be explained by saying that Toronto outscored the Admirals 13-4. It wasn't a close series at all. The final series was trouble for Grand Rapids with travel (if driving, Abbotsford is 34 hours away from Grand Rapids), but they were able to control the series pretty well anyways.
If there had to be a series to pick to be the most exciting, I'd say it would be a tie between two of them. St. John's vs. Norfolk will be a great series. St. John's is a strong team (led by former Bear Andrew Gordon), and Norfolk is full of NHL prospects (including goalie John Gibson). The other one would be Texas vs. Grand Rapids. The best team in the regular season plays against the defending Calder Cup champs.
Other News
It was announced yesterday that the Calgary Flames will be moving their AHL team (Heat) from Abbotsford, British Columbia to Glen Falls, New York. This is now the 2nd team relocating for next season, as the Phantoms (Flyers' AHL team) moved from Glen Falls to Allentown, Pennsylvania to become the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. It has not been announced if the team will still be the Heat, or if their name will be changed.
(8) Norfolk Admirals defeat (1) Manchester Monarchs 3-1
(7) Providence Bruins defeat (2) Springfield Falcons 3-2
(6) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins defeat (3) Binghamton Senators 3-1
(4) St. John's IceCaps defeat (5) Albany Devils 3-1
Quarterfinal Matchups
(4) St. John's IceCaps vs. (8) Norfolk Admirals
(6) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. (7) Providence Bruins
Western Conference
(1) Texas Stars defeat (8) Oklahoma City Barons 3-0
(2) Chicago Wolves defeat (7) Rochester Americans 3-2
(3) Toronto Marlies defeat (6) Milwaukee Admirals 3-0
(4) Grand Rapids Griffins defeat (5) Abbotsford Heat 3-1
Quarterfinal Matchups
(1) Texas Stars vs. (4) Grand Rapids Griffins
(2) Chicago Wolves vs. (3) Toronto Marlies
Analysis
The first round of the AHL playoffs was very interesting. In the East, all three division winners lost, while the West had the top 4 seeds advance. Norfolk, who beat out the Bears for the final spot in the playoffs, rode out great performances by John Gibson to defeat the top team in the East. After being down 2 games to 1 against Springfield, Providence was able to dominate games 4 and 5 by outscoring the Falcons 12-6 in those games. After going to overtime in the first three games of the series, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton decided to end the series early in game 4, as they dominated that game 5-1 against Binghamton. In the only non-upset of the East, St. John's took advantage of home ice by winning games 3 and 4 at home against Albany to win the series.
In the West, except for one tough series, the top 4 seeds had a pretty clean slate. Oklahoma city was able to take Texas to overtime in the first two games, but they could never get a win against the top team in the league. In the tough series of the West, Chicago was able to get past a blowout loss in game 4 to win the deciding game 5 against Rochester. Toronto's sweep of Milwaukee can be explained by saying that Toronto outscored the Admirals 13-4. It wasn't a close series at all. The final series was trouble for Grand Rapids with travel (if driving, Abbotsford is 34 hours away from Grand Rapids), but they were able to control the series pretty well anyways.
If there had to be a series to pick to be the most exciting, I'd say it would be a tie between two of them. St. John's vs. Norfolk will be a great series. St. John's is a strong team (led by former Bear Andrew Gordon), and Norfolk is full of NHL prospects (including goalie John Gibson). The other one would be Texas vs. Grand Rapids. The best team in the regular season plays against the defending Calder Cup champs.
Other News
It was announced yesterday that the Calgary Flames will be moving their AHL team (Heat) from Abbotsford, British Columbia to Glen Falls, New York. This is now the 2nd team relocating for next season, as the Phantoms (Flyers' AHL team) moved from Glen Falls to Allentown, Pennsylvania to become the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. It has not been announced if the team will still be the Heat, or if their name will be changed.
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