AHL Norfolk Admirals

Admirals Set to Battle Bears

Published on January 22, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


NORFOLK, VA - The Admirals came out of a busy stretch of five games in seven days with three victories last week. Brandon Bochenski scored twice as the Admirals erased a third period deficit to defeat the Bridgeport Sound Tigers 3-2 on Monday afternoon in Bridgeport. A Norfolk six-game winning streak ended on Wednesday night in Albany, as the River Rats defeated the Admirals 3-2. On Friday night, Martin St. Pierre and Troy Brouwer each had four points as the Admirals became the first team in the AHL to 30 wins in a 5-2 victory over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The game was played in front of an AHL Admirals' record crowd of 7,209 at Scope. Despite Brandon Bochenski's franchise-record tying 33rd goal of the season, the Admirals fell 5-4 to Wilkes Barre on Saturday night after Jonathan Filewich netted the game-winning goal in the contest's last minute. The following night, it was Dustin Byfuglien playing the hero as he netted the overtime game-winning goal to cap a comeback in an Admirals' 4-3 overtime victory over the Phantoms on Sunday evening in Philadelphia.

The Admirals now sets their sights on a home-and-home set of games against the team chasing them for the East Division lead, the Hershey Bears. The Bears visit Scope on Friday night at 7:15. The Admirals then travel to Hershey for a 7:00 game on Saturday night.

EAST DIVISION STANDINGS

RK TEAM GP W L OTL SOL PTS

1 NORFOLK ADMIRALS 46 31 10 4 1 67

2 Hershey Bears 44 28 8 3 5 64

3 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 42 28 9 2 3 61

4 Albany River Rats 43 20 20 2 1 43

5 Bridgeport Sound Tigers 40 18 17 1 4 41

6 Philadelphia Phantoms 43 15 23 2 3 35

7 Binghamton Senators 42 12 24 1 5 30

THE ADMIRALS' WEEK AHEAD

Fri., Jan. 26... vs. Hershey Bears (Washington)...7:15 p.m.

Sat., Jan. 27... @ Hershey Bears (Washington)...7:00 p.m.

NORFOLK LEADERS

Goals: Brandon Bochenski (33) Assists: Martin St. Pierre (47)

Points: Brandon Bochenski (66) Games Played: Jordan Hendry (46)

PP goals: Brandon Bochenski (16) SH goals: Craig MacDonald (3)

+/- Rating: Bryan Bickell, Jordan Hendry (+11) PIM: David Koci (138)

GAA: Patrick Lalime (2.49), Corey Crawford (2.55) Spct: Lalime (.930), Crawford (.917)

Wins: Corey Crawford (24) Losses: Corey Crawford (9)

GPI: Corey Crawford (34) Minutes: Corey Crawford (1998)

HERSHEY LEADERS

Goals: Alexandre Giroux (30) Assists: Fleischmann, Nycholat (25)

Points: Alexandre Giroux (46) Games Played: Chris Bourque (42)

PP goals: Alexandre Giroux (10) SH goals: Alexandre Giroux (4)

GAA: Frederic Cassivi (2.63) Spct: Frederic Cassivi (.913)

Wins: Frederic Cassivi, Maxime Daigneault (12) Losses: Frederic Cassivi (5)

GPI: Frederic Cassivi (23) Minutes: Frederic Cassivi (1322)

TEAM NOTEBOOK

- Brandon Bochenski tied the Norfolk franchise record for most goals in a single season with his 33rd marker of 2006-07 on Saturday night in Wilkes-Barre. He now shares the record with Rene Bourque, who had 33 goals during the 2004-05 season. Bourque was assigned to the Admirals today from Chicago for conditioning.

- Martin St. Pierre is just three assists shy of tying the franchise record for most assists in a season which he set last season (50).

- Each member of the "All-Star Line" is on a four-game scoring streak: Brandon Bochenski (4g, 5a), Troy Brouwer (3g, 4a), Martin St. Pierre (2g, 6a). On the season, the trio of Norfolk's top scorers has combined for 74 goals and 108 assists for 182 points in 118 games.

- The Admirals have tied a franchise record with ten consecutive home wins. Norfolk is now 22-1-2-0 at Scope this season - two wins shy of the franchise record for most wins at home in a single season (24 in 2000-01) and 11 wins shy of tying the AHL record for most home wins in a single season (33: Fredericton, 1987-88; Providence, 1998-99).

- Norfolk is 15-4-0-0 in its last 19 games.

- Patrick Lalime made the last appearance of his conditioning assignment in Norfolk on Sunday. In four games with the Admirals, Lalime went 3-1-0 with a 2.49 GAA and .930 save percentage. His two-week conditioning period ends on Wednesday.

- The Norfolk penalty kill is on an 83-88 (94.3%) stretch over its past 18 games.

- The Admirals won for just the second time this season when surrendering the game's first goal in a road game on Sunday in Philadelphia.

- After having ten overtime games in their first 26 games (5 OTW, 4 OTL, 1 SOL), the Admirals had 19 consecutive games that were decided in regulation before Sunday's overtime victory in Philadelphia.

- There has been only one Norfolk game this season where there was not a goal scored by an Admiral whose last name starts with the letter 'B' (November 18 vs. Binghamton). Of the 35 players to appear on the Norfolk roster this season, ten have last names starting with 'B.'

TRANSACTIONS

January 22, 2007 ADD LW Rene Bourque - Assigned to Norfolk by Chicago (NHL) on a conditioning

Loan

DELETE F Gregg Johnson - Released from Professional Tryout Contract (PTO)

January 21, 2007 ADD D Cam Barker - Returned on loan by Chicago (NHL)

ADD RW Adam Burish - Returned on loan by Chicago (NHL)

ADD D Dustin Byfuglien - Returned on loan by Chicago (NHL)

ADD C Craig MacDonald - Returned on loan by Chicago (NHL)

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS

Friday, January 26 (Admirals vs Hershey Bears, 7:15 p.m.)

- T-Shirt Giveaway, Courtesy of Liberty Tax Service - The first 2,500 fans through the gates will receive a free Admirals T-Shirt, courtesy of Liberty Tax Service.

- AJ Gator's Pre-Game Party Night - Before the game on Friday, come out to AJ Gator's for a pre-game party. With AJ Gator's Pre-Game Party Night packages, fans get a red-level seat for the night's game, a buffet at AJ Gator's on Granby Street in Downtown Norfolk, and a complimentary soft drink for only $15.00! Tickets for Saturday's party may be purchased at the Scope Box office up to one day before the Gator's Pre-Game Party Night. The buffet is served from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. AJ Gator's Sports Bar & Grill is located at 244 Granby Street in Downtown Norfolk.

- STIHL Hometown Hero Presentation - Please join the Admirals and STIHL, Inc., on Friday in recognizing an outstanding member of the Hampton Roads community with the STIHL Hometown Hero Award.

ALUMNI GAME UPDATE

The Admirals are pleased to announce two more participants in the Inaugural Admirals Alumni Game. After months of extensive negotiations, Norfolk General Manager of Hockey Operations Al MacIsaac has relented to the Admirals' pleas to participate in the Alumni Game. In addition, the fourth-leading scorer in Hampton Roads Admirals history, Dominic Maltais, will lace up his skates along with more than 20 fellow Hampton Roads Admirals alumni on Saturday, February 10 at Scope.

The Admirals Alumni Game experience is included in a ticket to the Admirals game versus the Portland Pirates later that evening. Gates will open at 4:00 with the puck dropping for the alumni game at 4:30. The game will last approximately one hour. Following the game, there will be a meet-and-greet reception in the Scope Exhibition Hall until 6:45. At 7:15, the puck will drop for the Norfolk Admirals' contest against the Portland Pirates.

For more information on the Inaugural Admirals Alumni Game, including a complete list of players who have been announced as participating so far, please click on the graphic on the right side of norfolkadmirals.com.

BURGER KING HAVE IT YOUR WAY ADMIRALS HOUR

The Burger King Have it Your Way Admirals Hour radio show will air Tuesday, January 23, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. on 670-AM WPMH, 1010-AM WRJR, 1270-AM WTJZ, 1450-AM and 1310-AM ESPN Radio. "The Voice of the Admirals" Pete Michaud will be joined by the AHL's wins leader, goaltender Corey Crawford, in the studio to take fans' calls.

ON THE RADIO/INTERNET

All games are broadcast on 670-AM WPMH, 1010-AM WRJR, 1270-AM WTJZ and 1450-AM WBVA. The games are also cybercast at SportsJuice.com. Go to www.SportsJuice.com, or click on the link at www.norfolkadmirals.com. Pre-game broadcasts begin 15 minutes prior to game starting time.

Games are also viewable through the Internet on a pay-per-view basis through B2 Networks for anyone with a high-speed cable modem, T1 or DSL broadband connection and Windows Media Player 9 or higher. Visit www.norfolkadmirals.com and click the B2 Networks banner to view all Admirals' home and away games.

TICKET INFORMATION

Individual tickets for all Admirals' home games are available at the Scope Box Office, all TicketMaster outlets, charge-by-phone at (757) 671-8100 and online at www.ticketmaster.com. Season tickets, 10-Packs and group tickets are available through the Admirals' office. For more information, visit the club's website at norfolkadmirals.com or call the Admirals at (757) 640-1212.

Check out the Norfolk Admirals Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from January 22, 2007


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