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Norfolk Admirals

Denis Backstops Admirals to 4-3 Win Over Pirates

March 14, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


NORFOLK, VA - Marc Denis made 43 saves and Adam Henrich and Rob Klinkhammer each recorded a goal and an assist as the Norfolk Admirals (24-36-2-5) won their fourth straight home game with a 4-3 victory over the Portland Pirates (40-21-2-4) on Friday night at the Norfolk Scope Arena.

Norfolk jumped out to a 1-0 lead 6:22 into the opening period. Henrich and Radek Smolenak broke in on Anaheim goaltender Jean-Sebastien Aubin two-on-one. Henrich sent a pass to Smolenak at the top of the circles and Smolenak sent a backhand shot from the right hashmarks that beat Aubin top-shelf, glove-side.

The Pirates evened the score at 1-1 less than two minutes later. Drew Miller emerged from behind the goal line to Denis' right. Denis attempted to poke check the puck off his stick. However, Miller got around the poke check, skated to the top of the goalmouth and sent a shot five-hole on Denis at 7:55.

Norfolk used a fruitful second stanza to take a 4-1 lead into the final frame. Former Pirate Brandon Segal scored against his former mates at 6:45. He accepted a pass at the right half-wall and rifled a slap shot through the legs of a Portland defenseman and then Aubin's leg pads for his second goal as an Admiral.

Klinkhammer doubled Norfolk's lead under one minute later. Blair Jones sent a backhanded centering pass from the left corner toward the slot. Klinkhammer one-timed the pass into the cage at 7:31.

Klinkhammer then set up the fourth Admirals' goal by getting the puck to Henrich. Henrich maneuvered through the Portland defense and stuffed a shot against Aubin's leg pads. The rebound caromed back to the slot where it bounced off Portland's Jason King and into the net at 18:15.

The Pirates attempted a comeback in the final frame. King found the back of the net at 9:38 with a shot from the slot that beat Denis stick-side. Andrew Ebbett pulled Portland to within one goal of the Admirals when he scored at 17:47.

However, Denis and the Norfolk penalty kill weathered a third period Portland onslaught to earn the victory.

Denis stopped 43 of 46 shots - including 22 saves in the third period alone - to earn the victory. Jean-Sebastien Aubin (21 shots, 17 saves) picked up the loss.

Norfolk was 0-3 on the power play. Portland was 0-6.

The Admirals and Pirates will face off again tomorrow night at Scope. The first 1,500 kids through the gates will receive a voucher to receive an Admirals St. Patty's Day puck courtesy of Liberty Tax Service upon exiting the building.

To purchase tickets to any Admirals game, you may visit the Scope Box Office weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., visit any Ticketmaster outlet, call Ticketmaster at (757) 671-8100 or visit Ticketmaster online at www.ticketmaster.com. To purchase Admirals season tickets, ten packs or group tickets, please stop by the Admirals' Administrative Offices at Scope or call (757) 640-1212 weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Three Stars:

1. Adam Henrich - NOR

2. Marc Denis - NOR

3. Andrew Ebbett - POR

Box Score

Notes: The Admirals have won their last four home games, tying a season high ... Norfolk tied a franchise record by giving up 24 shots in the third period, marking the second time this season (02/16 vs. WOR, 1st pd.) that they had tied the original record (02/16/02 at Cincinnati, 2nd pd) ... Denis has faced 40 or more shots in four of his last five games. During that span, he is 3-2-0 with a 2.40 goals-against average (GAA) and .942 save percentage (SV%). Also in that span, Denis has improved his season GAA from 3.53 to 3.09 and his season SV% from .892 to .905 ... With a goal and an assist, forward Adam Henrich has points in six of his last seven games (4-4-8) and goals in four of his last six games (4G) ... With an assist, forward Bracken Kearns has points in four of his last six games (2-3-5) ... With a goal, forward Radek Smolenak has goals and points in four of his last seven games (4-1-5) ... With an assist, forward Blair Jones has points in four of his last seven games (2-3-5) ... Defenseman Mario Scalzo left the game in the first period with a lower-body injury and did not return ... F Norm Milley, D Andy Rogers and F Paul Szczechura missed the game due to injury while F/D Mike Egener was a healthy scratch ... Attendance: 3,445.

Pronunciations:

Denis: deh-NEE

Henrich: HEHN-rihch

Klinkhammer: KLEENK-ham-uhr

Segal: SEE-guhl

Smolenak: smoh-LAN-ak

Check out the Norfolk Admirals Statistics

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