In a battle for first place, the recently surging Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are making a push for the division lead, currently tied with the Binghamton Senators entering Saturday's games. The Norfolk Admirals and Hershey Bears are in a battle on a whole different level, as the two teams are fighting for their playoff lives in 8th and 9th place in the conference, respectively.
East Division Standings (Conference Position)
1. Binghamton (3rd) - 86 points, 8 games remaining
2. PENGUINS (5th) - 86 points, 7 games remaining
3. Norfolk (8th) - 79 points, 8 games remaining
4. Hershey (9th) - 78 points, 8 games remaining
5. Syracuse (12th) - 67 points, 7 games remaining
Friday Night Around East Division
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton - 3, Bridgeport - 0
The Penguins took advantage of an under-manned and out-gunned Bridgeport team, shutting out the Sound Tigers 3-0 and moving into a tie with Binghamton for first place in the East Division.
The Penguins best continued to lead the way tonight. Chuck Kobasew scored his 8th goal in 8 AHL games and Peter Mannino stopped all 17 shots he faced for his third shutout of the season. The Penguins host Albany tomorrow night before an East Division showdown in Binghamton against the Senators on Sunday afternoon.
Norfolk - 2, Adirondack - 1 SO
In a goaltender's duel between Norfolk's John Gibson and Adirondack's Cal Heeter, the Admirals needed a game-tying third period goal from rookie Matt Bailey (his first AHL goal) and a successful shootout attempt from Andre Petersson to sneak past the Phantoms and keep pace in the Eastern Conference 's playoff race.
Norfolk travels to Binghamton to take on the Senators, while the Phantoms remain home to face off against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers tonight at 7:00 ET.
Rochester - 4, Binghamton - 3
The Americans went ahead on a third period goal from captain Kevin Porter and Andrey Makarov stopped all 23 third period shots he faced to preserve the much-needed win for Rochester, who are on the outside looking in in the Western Conference's playoff picture.
Derek Grant led the way offensively with a pair of second period goals for the BSens, who begin the first of two East Division grudge matches tonight at home against Norfolk. Rochester heads to Toronto for a 3:00 p.m. ET face-off with the North Division rival Toronto Marlies.
Syracuse - 2, Albany - 1
The Devils jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a power play goal from Harri Pesonen midway through the 2nd period, but it was the Crunch who came away with the two points Friday night.
Cedric Paquette tied the game at 1-1 in the waning moments of the middle frame and Evan Rankin put the Crunch ahead 8:21 into the 3rd. Kirsters Gudlevskis stopped 16 of 17 Devils' shots for his 17th win of the season.
Syracuse hosts Utica tonight while Albany travels to Pennsylvania to take on the red-hot Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at 7:05 p.m. ET.
Other Eastern Conference Scores
Springfield - 8, St. John's - 7 OT
Hartford - 2, Manchester - 0
Providence - 3, Worcester - 2 SO
Saturday's Schedule (Eastern Conference)
Portland @ Manchester at 3:00 p.m. ET
Springfield @ St. John's at 6:00 p.m. ET
Bridgeport @ Adirondack at 7:00 p.m. ET
Providence @ Hartford at 7:00 p.m. ET
Utica @ Syracuse at 7:00 p.m. ET
Hershey @ Worcester at 7:00 p.m. ET
Norfolk @ Binghamton at 7:05 p.m. ET
Albany @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at 7:05 p.m. ET
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