Price signs with Habs

[Stay-Puft]

http://www.hamiltonbulldogs.com/inde...isplay&nid=559

'DOGS WIN; ADVANCE TO ROUND 2

Saturday, April 28, 2007 - 11:07PM


HAMILTON 6 ROCHESTER 2

AUDIO - Ryan O'Byrne's first career goal turns out to be the game and series-winner

AUDIO - The Hamilton Bulldogs defeat the Rochester Americans 6-2 in game six and 4-2 in their North Division Semi-Final series

HAMILTON, ON – Maxim Lapierre scored two goals to lead the Hamilton Bulldogs to a 6-2 win over the Rochester Americans in Game 6 of their playoff series on Saturday night at Copps Coliseum. Hamilton wins the North Division Semi-Final series 4-2 and advances to the North Division Final against either the Grand Rapids Griffins or the Manitoba Moose. (Grand Rapids lead s that series 3-2)

The Bulldogs opened the scoring when Eric Manlow notched his second goal of the playoffs at the 8:55 mark of the first period. Mikhail Grabovski chipped the puck to Manlow who turned and fired a shot past Rochester goaltender Craig Anderson. Also assisting on the play was Andrew Archer.

At 14:46 of the first frame, the Americans evened the score 1-1 when defenceman Timo Helbling took a shot from the point that found its way through a crowd and past Hamilton netminder Carey Price. Dylan Hunter and Stefan Meyer assisted on Helbling’s second goal of the post-season.

The teams exchanged goals early in the second period. At 4:57, Maxim Lapierre picked up his own rebound and banked in his third goal of the playoffs to give the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead. The Americans responded just 1:13 later when Clarke MacArthur tipped home a pass from Janis Sprukts to tie the score 2-2.

Hamilton regained its lead at the 7:57 mark of the third stanza when Ryan O’Byrne’s centering attempt from the far right boards deflected off a Rochester defenceman and into the back of the net. The unassisted game-winning goal was the first of O’Byrne’s professional career.

The Bulldogs added three more goals late in the third period to seal the series win.

On the power play, Maxim Lapierre notched his second goal of the game and fourth of the playoffs from Corey Locke and Duncan Milroy at the 16:17 mark. With Rochester’s net empty, Kyle Chipchura registered his first professional post-season goal at 19:11. Then with only 11 seconds remaining, Corey Locke scored a breakaway goal to round out the scoring at 6-2.

Between the pipes, Price made 25 saves on 27 shots and picked up the win for Hamilton, while Rochester’s Anderson turned aside 27 of the 33 shots he faced in a losing effort.

The Bulldogs were 1-for-6 on the power play while the Americans went 0-for-3 with the man advantage.

If Grand Rapids defeats Manitoba in the other North Division Semi-Final series, the Hamilton Bulldogs will continue their quest for the Calder Cup next Thursday and Friday nights, when they’ll take on the Griffins in Games 1 and 2 of the North Division Final at Copps Coliseum. But, if Manitoba wins Games 6 and 7 of their best-of-seven series against Grand Rapids, the Hamilton Bulldogs will continue their quest for the Calder Cup next Saturday and Sunday nights, when they’ll take on the Moose in Games 1 and 2 of the North Division Final at the MTS Centre, before the scene of the series shifts to Copps Coliseum for Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday, May 8 and Saturday, May 12.

Fans can purchase tickets for ‘Dogs home games “A” and “B” of the North Division Final beginning on Monday at 12-noon at the Copps Coliseum Box Office, any Ticketmaster Outlet, online at ticketmaster.ca, or through charge-by-phone at 905-527-7666.

Scoring Summary:

1st Period:
1. HAM – Eric Manlow-2 (Mikhail Grabovski, Andrew Archer) – 8:55
2. ROC – Timo Helbling-2 (Dylan Hunter, Stefan Meyer) – 14:46

2nd Period:
3. HAM – Maxim Lapierre-3 (Corey Locke) – 4:57
4. ROC – Clarke MacArthur-2 (Janis Sprukts, Mark Mancari) – 6:10

3rd Period:
5. HAM – Ryan O’Byrne-1 (unassisted) – 7:57
6. HAM – Maxim Lapierre-4 (Corey Locke, Duncan Milroy) – 16:17 (pp)
7. HAM – Kyle Chipchura-1 (Carey Price) – 19:11 (en)
8. HAM – Corey Locke-5 (Jonathan Ferland, Mathieu Biron) – 19:49

Scoring:
Hamilton: 1-1-4--6
Rochester: 1-1-0--2

Shots:
Hamilton: 10-7-16--33
Rochester: 9-10-8--27

Goaltending:
Hamilton: Carey Price (27 shots, 25 saves)
Rochester: Craig Anderson (32 shots, 27 saves)

Power Play:
Hamilton: 1-for-6
Rochester: 0-for-3

Attendance: 3,221

Three Stars:
1. HAM – Maxim Lapierre
2. HAM – Ryan O’Byrne
3. ROC – Clarke MacArthur

Pearson Dunn Player of the Game: Eric Manlow

[habsfan12]

Thats Great News for HABS fans. I enjoy watching Carey play......He's got tremendous talent, and im glad hes a part of the Canadiens organiztion. Good Luck Carey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pbj dancing pi

[WestLEAFfan]

Thats Great News for HABS fans. I enjoy watching Carey play......He's got tremendous talent, and im glad hes a part of the Canadiens organiztion. Good Luck Carey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pbj dancing pi

Hey Habber, don't you think he'd look better in the blue and white of the mighty LEAFS?!? Come on now, you now you agree, just admit it!

[habsfan12]

Sorry Westleafsfan, I cant admit, that will be the day I admit that the leafs are a decent team, but i have a feeling it wont EVER happy.... pbj

[Stay-Puft]

From http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=...ticleid=310678 via www.amshockey.com

James Murphy | NHL.com correspondent May 23, 2007, 12:30 PM EDT

Montreal forward Maxim Lapierre is back playing for the Hamilton Bulldogs,
who are deep into the AHL Playoffs.

Montreal Canadiens fans longing to see playoff hockey live, may want to hop on the Hamilton Bulldogs website (www.hamiltonbulldogs.com), right away and order tickets. The Canadiens’ AHL affiliate is on a magical playoff run right now and enters tonight’s Western Conference Final Game 3 with a 2-0 lead on the Chicago Wolves. While fans will get to enjoy a playoff hockey atmosphere they were deprived of in Montreal, they will also get a glimpse of the organization’s future, which if this spring is any indication, could be arriving in the fall.

Forwards Maxim Lapierre and Andrei Kostitsyn, as well as goaltender Jaroslav Halak came up from Hamilton this past season and made an impact, but Bulldogs coach Don Lever is convinced that the future is even brighter.

“I could see a number of the kids I have here going into camp and pushing the veterans and even making the team," Lever said. "If they continue to progress, they’ll be called up during the season, but I wouldn’t be surprised if some of them aren’t here at all.”

Lever pointed to the similar development and success of Lapierre, Kostitsyn and Halak.

“You see what they did in their time here and when it was their time, they were called up,” Lever said. “I’m seeing the same thing now with some other players.”


James Murphy reports on the Northeast Division every week throughout the 2006-2007 regular season..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

More by James Murphy:
[Northeast Notes archive]
More NHL features

2006-07 player stats

Five players who have demonstrated they are on similar paths, maybe even shorter paths to the NHL, are goaltender Carey Price and forwards Corey Locke, Kyle Chipchura, Duncan Milroy and Mikhail Grabovski. All four had sensational seasons and have continued to play well in the playoffs, while Price has simply come in and performed above the high expectations surrounding him after his sensational performance at the World Junior Championships back in December.

“Here’s a kid who had pretty much zero experience at this level, took over the starting role in the playoffs, and hasn’t looked back,” Lever said of Price who is 9-4 with a 2.37 goals-against average and .922 save percentage.

“Considering that he basically played only junior before the playoffs, you have to be pretty impressed with the job he’s done.”

What’s impressed Lever most about Price has been his calm demeanor on and off the ice.

“I tell you, this kid is one calm, cool cucumber,” Lever said. “His mental toughness immediately earned the respect of his teammates and he’s been a calming presence back there.”

When Price arrived in Hamilton, Lever took a realistic approach and figured this would be the beginning of at least a year of seasoning at the AHL level for the much-heralded netminder. But his performance thus far has him wondering if Price will be back next fall?

“Let’s just say, and this is no knock on them, but if I’m Jaro (Halak) or (Cristobal) Huet, I’d be ready for a real challenge in training camp,” Lever said.

Price has also benefited from the team in front of him, one that has no shortage of firepower. Milroy, who led the team in scoring this season with 58 points, and Corey Locke, who finished second in scoring with 55 points, have continued to shine in the playoffs. Locke leads the team in playoff scoring with 14 points, while Milroy has eight points heading into tonight’s Game 3 at Copps Coliseum.

“His work ethic has been really unbelievable in the playoffs and that’s what we’ve noticed most,” Lever said of Locke. “We didn’t see that as much in the regular season, which is common with junior players coming up for their first season. But now that he’s doing all the little things, he’ll be even better.”

Milroy may have led the team in scoring, but his best attribute according to Lever is that aforementioned work ethic and is ability to be a two-way player.


"I could see a number of the kids I have here going into camp and pushing the veterans and even making the team,"
-- Hamilton head coach Don Lever

“Duncan may not be scoring as much in the playoffs, but he’s a good defensive player too and he’s been contributing that way,” Lever said.

Lever is confident that Milroy and his linemates, Grabovski and Matt D’Agostini, will breakout soon but is already happy with what they’ve brought so far in the playoffs.

“That line brings a great combination of skill and hard work and we’re just waiting for them to take off,” he said. "Grabovski is such a good passer and D’Agostini; I don’t think enough people know about this kid. He’s been a great all-around player and really stepped up for us.”

Another player that has caught Lever’s eye and could very well be ready to take it to the next level next season is Chipchura, the Canadiens’ first round pick in 2004. Chipchura had 39 points in the regular season and is the second leading scorer on the team during the playoffs with nine.

“He was huge in Game 1 of this series and has made big strides this season,” Lever said. “I really think this kid is coming into his own here. He’s grown a lot on and off the ice.”

On defense, Lever pointed out the play of Ryan O’Byrne.

“This is a big, mobile kid, who when he hits, you feel it and remember it,” he said of the 6-foot-5, 228-pounder.

Following the end of the Canadiens' season, General Manager Bob Gainey said he was looking forward to watching the team’s AHL prospects play in the Calder Cup playoffs and felt it was a good chance for them to learn how to play under pressure. Well, it appears that Gainey has gotten what he wished for.

Lever also has enjoyed watching these players, but he also looks forward to and believes they will be doing the same thing in the NHL quite possibly in the 2007-08 season.

“Seeing these kids mature and get that competitive edge has been great,” Lever said. “I think everyone in the Montreal organization and the fans have to be excited about the prospects we have here and in the system.”

[rinkrat]

Way to go Carey.
Great story!

[Section_Z]

Great story, and great run...Price has taken the Bulldogs to the Calder Final....starts Friday.

[Stay-Puft]

http://www.hamiltonbulldogs.com/inde...isplay&nid=581

HAMILTON, ON – Danny Groulx had a goal and an assist to lead the Hamilton Bulldogs to a 3-1 win over the Chicago Wolves on Saturday night at Copps Coliseum in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final. With the win the ‘Dogs take the best-of-seven series over the Wolves 4-1 and advance to the 2007 Calder Cup Final against the Hershey Bears. The Bears captured the Eastern Conference Championship by sweeping the Manchester Monarchs in four games with a 3-1 win Saturday night.

Groulx opened the scoring for the Bulldogs at the 12:13 mark of the first period, ending goaltender Fred Brathwaite’s shutout streak at 89:43. Groulx’s shot from the point deflected off a Wolves defender and found its way to the back of the net. Duncan Milroy and Matt D’Agostini assisted on the goal.

At 1:50 of the middle stanza, the ‘Dogs took a 2-0 lead when Mikhail Grabovski took a long-lead pass from Groulx and fired a wrist shot past Brathwaite. The goal was the eventual game-winner and was Grabovski’s second tally of the post-season.

Hamilton had its lead cut in half at 2-1 at the 16:41 mark of the second frame when Chicago’s Trevor Byrne took a slapshot from the point and beat a screened Hamilton netminder Carey Price. Jordan LaVallee and Niko Dimitrakos assisted on Byrne’s second goal of the playoffs.

Kyle Chipchura iced the win for the Bulldogs by scoring a short-handed empty-net goal at 18:59 of the third period to make the score 3-1. The unassisted marker was Chipchura’s fifth of the post-season.

The Bulldogs went 0-for-7 on the power play, but also went a perfect 6-for-6 on the penalty-kill.

Between the pipes, Price was named the game’s first star with 32 saves on 33 shots for Hamilton, while Brathwaite stopped 21 of the 23 shots he faced for Chicago in a losing effort.

With the win, Hamilton returns to the Calder Cup Final for the third time in franchise history, losing each of their last two appearances. In the Bulldogs inaugural season in 1997, they lost 4-1 in five games to the Hershey Bears, and in 2003 the Houston Aeros upset the ‘Dogs 4-3 in seven games.

The Bulldogs have now won the Robert W. Clarke Trophy as the AHL’s Western Conference champions for 2006-07. It is the second conference championship in five seasons for the Bulldogs and the third in the franchise’s 11 seasons.

The Hamilton Bulldogs will continue their quest for the Calder Cup at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 1st when they travel to Hershey to take on the Bears in Game 1 of the Calder Cup Final at the Giant Center. Fans can listen to the game on the flagship station of the Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Network, 820 CHAM “The Legend,” beginning with the Park's Furniture Pre-Game Show at 6:30 p.m. Fans can also listen or watch at www.hamiltonbulldogs.com by clicking on the ‘B2 Networks’ or ‘820 CHAM’ icon on the ‘Dogs website.

The ‘Dogs next home game will be Game 3 of the Calder Cup Final when the Hershey Bears invade Copps Coliseum at 7:00 p.m. Tickets go on sale this Monday (May 28th) at noon at the Copps Coliseum Box Office, any Ticketmaster Outlet, online at ticketmaster.ca, or through charge-by-phone at 905-527-7666. For Season Ticket Holders, Game 3 will be Round 4, Home Game A.

The following is the full 2007 Calder Cup Final schedule (All times Eastern; *if necessary):

Calder Cup Final – Hamilton Bulldogs (3rd – North Division) vs. Hershey Bears (1st – East Division)
Game #1 – Friday, June 1st – 7:00 p.m. – Hamilton at Hershey (Giant Center)
Game #2 – Saturday, June 2nd – 7:00 p.m. – Hamilton at Hershey (Giant Center)
Game #3 – Monday, June 4th – 7:30 p.m. – Hershey at Hamilton (Copps Coliseum) – GAME A
Game #4 – Wednesday, June 6th – 7:30 p.m. – Hershey at Hamilton (Copps Coliseum) – GAME B
*Game #5 – Thursday, June 7th – 7:30 p.m. – Hershey at Hamilton (Copps Coliseum) – GAME C
*Game #6 – Tuesday, June 12th – 7:00 p.m. – Hamilton at Hershey (Giant Center)
*Game #7 – Friday, June 15th – 7:00 p.m. – Hamilton at Hershey (Giant Center)

Scoring Summary:

1st Period:
1. HAM – Danny Groulx-4 (Duncan Milroy, Matt D’Agostini) – 12:13

2nd Period:
2. HAM – Mikhail Grabovski-2 (Danny Groulx, Andrew Archer) – 1:50
3. CHI – Trevor Byrne-2 (Jordan LaVallee, Niko Dimitrakos) – 16:41

3rd Period:
4. HAM – Kyle Chipchura-5 (unassisted) – 18:59 (en.sh)

Scoring:
Hamilton: 1-1-1--3
Chicago: 0-1-0--1

Shots:
Hamilton: 5-9-10--24
Chicago: 13-10-10--33

Goaltending:
Hamilton: Carey Price (33 shots, 32 saves)
Chicago: Fred Brathwaite (23 shots, 21 saves)

Power Play:
Hamilton: 0-for-7
Chicago: 0-for-6

Attendance: 3,607

Three Stars:
1. HAM – Carey Price
2. HAM – Danny Groulx
3. CHI – Mark Popovic

Pearson Dunn Player of the Game: Kyle Chipchura

[LifelongChiefsFan]

With the goaltending issues the Habs had this past season, Price looks like he's making an early bid to land a spot on the pro squad next season. That would be quite an accomplishment and I hope he makes it, although next season is still a good ways away and anything can happen between then and now.

Good luck Carey!

[nivek_wahs]

http://www.tsn.ca/ahl/news_story/?ID=209586&hubname=

Price sensational as Bulldogs blank Bears

Canadian Press

6/1/2007 10:56:23 PM

HERSHEY, Pa. (CP) - Carey Price blocked all 46 shots fired his way - including 20 in the final period - and Corey Locke added a pair of goals and an assist as the Hamilton Bulldogs won the opening game of the American Hockey League's Calder Cup final 4-0 on Friday night.

The Bulldogs lead the best-of-seven series 1-0 with the second game Saturday night in Hershey.

''I felt I had good puck focus but that happens when my defence plays well in front of me,'' said the 19-year-old Price. ''It's nice to get the first win in the series but we still have a long way to go.''

Following a scoreless first period, Matt D'Agostini gave the Bulldogs the lead with a power-play goal 81 seconds into the middle frame.

Mikhail Grabovski added another man-advantage marker less than three minutes later.

Locke scored his first midway through the second period and the final goal - also on the power play - at 11:35 of the third to bring his total to 10 for the post-season.

Frederic Cassivi made 21 saves in net for Hershey, which failed to capitalize on any of their nine power-play chances.

Hershey coach Bruce Bourdreau said his team was outplayed.

''They took advantage of special teams,'' he said. ''It will be interesting to see if we can rebound in Game 2.''

Hamilton converted 3-of-6 opportunities.