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Norfolk Admirals

Norfolk Admirals Weekly

November 25, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


NORFOLK, Va. - After winning their most recent game coming into last weekend, Norfolk was intending to ride the momentum. However, a combination of injuries and defensive gaffes contributed to the Admirals ' two defeats to the Portland Pirates.

Friday ' s matchup belonged to Portland goaltender Mike McKenna, who stopped 37 of 38 shots. The Pirates struck first when Jordan Martinook trickled a backhand through the legs of Norfolk ' s Yann Danis. Former Admiral Evan Oberg notched what would be the game-winner in the second period, shortly after the Admirals killed two consecutive penalties. Chris Wagner capitalized on one of Norfolk ' s 15 shots that period in his first game since being reassigned from Anaheim as he shoved in a puck through McKenna ' s pads. Despite a late 5-on-3 power play, the Admirals weren ' t able to put another on the scoreboard, and fell to the Pirates, 2-1.

Hoping to get over the hump in Saturday ' s game, Norfolk started Danis for the fourth straight time, but after being dominated for large portions on Friday, Portland was not to be denied. Although Matthew Pistilli found the net for his first goal as an Admiral, the Pirates took a 4-1 lead through two periods as well as a 27-13 edge in shots. Igor Bobkov replaced Danis for the final frame, but the netminder change did not provide a spark. Portland scored five unanswered goals following Pistilli ' s marker, and eventually capped the game, 7-1.

The Admirals are currently last in the East Division and Eastern Conference with a 6-11-0-0 record and 12 points, and sit four points behind the 14th-place Binghamton Senators.

This week, Norfolk will host Charlotte on Wednesday before embarking on a six-game road trip which begins with a contest at Hartford on Friday and another on Saturday at Lehigh Valley. Wednesday's home start is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. The duel with Hartford gets underway at 7 p.m. and the first meeting with Lehigh Valley of the season kicks off at 7:05 p.m.

ON THE RADIO/INTERNET

All regular-season games will air live on 1650 AM WHKT "The Answer" and online at 1650theanswer.com. AHL Live will also carry online video of every Admirals game on a pay-per-view or season pass basis. Fans can log in to watch, listen or get more information about AHL Live's online audio and video features at ahllive.com.

Tune in live to 1650 AM "The Answer" every Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. for the "Admirals Hour" with the "Voice of the Admirals" Pete Michaud and the "Original Admiral" Dennis McEwen. Michaud and McEwen discuss the latest in Norfolk Admirals hockey, speak with guests, update you on the Anaheim Ducks, as well as answer any calls during the show. Ask Pete and Dennis your questions by calling in to the studio at 757-454-1650.

STANDINGS UPDATE

At 6-11-0-0 (12 points), the Admirals are in 5th place in the East Division and are in 15th place in the Eastern Conference.

Eight teams in each conference shall qualify for the 2015 Calder Cup Playoffs. Following the conclusion of each team's 76-game regular season, the three division winners in each conference will be seeded 1-3 (in order of regular-season points) and the next five best teams (in order of regular-season points) will be seeded 4-8.

THE ADMIRALS' WEEK AHEAD

Wed., Nov. 26 ... vs. Charlotte Checkers (Carolina Hurricanes) ... 7:15 p.m.

Fri., Nov. 28 ... at Hartford Wolf Pack (New York Rangers) ... 7 p.m.

Sat., Nov. 29 ... at Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Philadelphia Flyers) ... 7:05 p.m.

NORFOLK LEADERS

Chris Wagner (7)

Assists: Dave Steckel (7)

Points: Chris Wagner (10)

Games: Six players tied (17)

PP Goals: Louis Leblanc, Brad Winchester (2)

SH Goals: Chris Wagner (2)

+/- Rating: Nathan McIver (0)

0 Nathan McIver (63)

0 Yann Danis (3.85)

A0 Yann Danis (.883)

A0 Igor Bobkov, Yann Danis (1)

Losses: Igor Bobkov (4)

0 Igor Bobkov (6)

Minutes: Igor Bobkov (319:21)

ABOUT THIS WEEK'S MATCHUPS .

The Admirals host the Checkers tomorrow evening before traveling to Hartford and Lehigh Valley for the first two games of a six-game road trip. Norfolk last faced Charlotte a week ago where they were routed 6-2 away from home, despite goals from John Kurtz and Antoine Laganiere. They will then travel to Hartford and Lehigh Valley for a back-to-back away series. The Admirals have faced the Wolf Pack once this year, being shut out 3-0, but have not yet played the Phantoms. Known as the Adirondack Phantoms in 2013-14, Norfolk took their series 3-1.

Norfolk will need to get some offense back in their game, having lost six of the last eight contests and been outscored by a 33-18 margin. The Anaheim Ducks sent down Emerson Etem and William Karlsson on Monday, which should help to spark the attack. Last season, Etem was second on the team in points with 54 (24 goals, 30 assists) and led with a +14 plus-minus rating, while Karlsson put up nine points in nine games. Newly-signed winger Austin Smith and defenseman Jared Nightingale will be put right in the thick of things, and with a combined 431 AHL games, hope to lend a hand. Chris Wagner continues to lead the team in points (10) and goals (7), despite playing seven games with Norfolk, and is the first Admiral this year to hit double-digits in points. Dave Steckel has quietly climbed up the ranks, leading the team in assists with seven, all of which have come during the month of November. With Norfolk 28th in the AHL in scoring and 29th in defense, wins this week are crucial.

The matchup tomorrow night against Charlotte will be the second of eight total contests this season, although the teams are in separate conferences. Charlotte looks to get more offense from its players as well, since they sit 29th in the AHL in that category and have lost seven of their last 10 games. They will also need to improve on the road, having won only two of their nine away games. Greg Nemisz leads the charge, notching a three-point game in his last outing against Norfolk and nine points overall in November, and being held scoreless only three times in that span. However, outside of Nemisz and Chad LaRose, the rest of the Checkers ' skaters have seven or fewer points on the year.

CHARLOTTE LEADERS

Greg Nemisz (8)

Assists: Chad LaRose (7)

Points: Greg Nemisz (13)

Games: Seven players tied (16)

PP Goals: Justin Shugg (2)

SH Goals: Greg Nemisz (2)

+/- Rating: Phil Di Giuseppe, Rasmus Rissanen (5)

0 Kyle Hagel (46)

0 John Muse (2.72)

A0 Drew MacIntyre (.907)

A0 Drew MacIntyre (4)

Losses: Drew MacIntyre (8; 1 in OT)

0 Drew MacIntyre (12)

Minutes: Drew MacIntyre (672:12)

Hartford sits precariously within the playoff bracket at eighth place in the Eastern Conference with 20 points. They have been struggling over the last handful of games, suffering a five-game losing streak before squeaking out an overtime win over Bridgeport 2-1 on Saturday. Mat Bodie ' s marker was his second career professional goal as well as his second game-winner. Defenseman Conor Allen rocketed up the list with a three-point game against Syracuse, which accounts for all but one point of his total this month. Goaltenders Mackenzie Skapski and Cedrick Desjardins have been sharing duties, playing nine and eight games respectively, with Skapski recording 17 saves in the victory against Bridgeport. In the previous meeting, the Wolf Pack shut out the Admirals in Hartford, 3-0.

HARTFORD LEADERS

Oscar Lindberg (8)

Assists: Mat Bodie, J.T. Miller (9)

Points: J.T. Miller (15)

Games: Six players tied (18)

PP Goals: Oscar Lindberg (4)

SH Goals: Marek Hrivik (1)

+/- Rating: Ryan Potulny (2)

0 Dylan McIlrath (37)

0 Mackenzie Skapski (2.24)

A0 Mackenzie Skapski (.913)

A0 Cedrick Desjardins, Mackenzie Skapski (4)

Losses: Mackenzie Skapski (4; 1 in OT)

0 Mackenzie Skapski (9)

Minutes: Mackenzie Skapski (481:28)

Lehigh Valley has enjoyed success of late, claiming seven of a possible eight points in the last four games. Norfolk will be playing in a difficult barn, as the Phantoms are currently 5-3 at home and have garnered at least one standings point in all but one tilt inside the brand new PPL Center. Goaltender Rob Zepp has been equally successful, allowing only two goals against eight times in the last 12 games. After having a nine-point October, Nick Cousins has slowed down in the scoring department with just three points in nine games. The Norfolk Admirals franchise leader in points, Blair Jones, faces his old team for the first time since being traded from Tampa Bay to Calgary during the 2011-12 season. It's Jones' first season in Philadelphia's organization.

LEHIGH VALLEY LEADERS

Goals: Scott Laughton (6)

Assists: Nick Cousins, Robert Hagg (8)

Points: Nick Cousins (12)

Games: Nine players tied (16)

PP Goals: Nick Cousins, Scott Laughton, Brandon Manning (2)

SH Goals: Robert Hagg, Scott Laughton (1)

+/- Rating: Nick Cousins (6)

PIM: Jay Rosehill (59)

GAA: Anthony Stolarz (2.28)

Spct: Anthony Stolarz (.933)

Wins: Rob Zepp (7)

Losses: Rob Zepp (5; 2 in OT)

GPl: Rob Zepp (12)

Minutes: Rob Zepp (740:19)

**UPCOMING EVENTS AND PROMOTIONS**

Friday, November 26 vs. Charlotte Checkers

- Family Fun Pack

Get four (4) Red Level tickets, four (4) sodas, four (4) hot dogs, and four (4) popcorns all for just $54!

-$9 Student Rush Tickets

Students can show a student ID at the Scope Box Office and receive a $9 Red Level ticket.

TICKETS

Individual tickets are on sale now at the Scope Box Office, all Ticketmaster Outlets, charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000, and online at ticketmaster.com. Don't miss a minute of Admirals action by purchasing your season tickets today. Stop by the Admirals' Administrative Offices at Scope, call (757) 640-1212 weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or visit norfolkadmirals.com anytime.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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