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Norfolk Admirals

Admirals Playoff Push Continues At Scope This Week

March 8, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


NORFOLK, Va. - The third-place Norfolk Admirals will continue their push to return to the Calder Cup Playoffs this week as they host the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at Scope on Friday and Saturday nights.

Last week, the Admirals went 1-2-0-0 against East Division opponents. On Wednesday in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, goals by Adam Hall and Blair Jones were not enough as the Admirals fell to the Penguins 4-2. On Friday at Scope, four of five Admirals shooters converted their shootout opportunities as Norfolk edged the Albany River Rats 3-2. In the Saturday rematch, the River Rats doubled up the Admirals 4-2.

The Admirals will host the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Friday and Saturday nights at Scope. The first 2,000 fans through the gates on Saturday night will receive the final set of Admirals Trading Cards courtesy of 96X. Also, Saturday CHKD Night to benefit the Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters. Discounted fundraising tickets are available and special events will take place during the game. For more details, please see below.

EAST DIVISION STANDINGS

At 34-28-3-1 (72 points in 66 games), the Admirals are in third place in the American Hockey League's East Division. The top four teams will advance to the Calder Cup Playoffs (see the "Scouting Report" section for further clarification). Only five weeks remain in the American Hockey League's regular season and Norfolk has just 14 games remaining on its schedule.

The East is led by the Hershey Bears (49-12-0-2, 100 points in 63 games), who became the first AHL team to clinch a playoff spot last weekend. The Albany River Rats (34-24-3-4, 75 points in 65 games) are three points ahead of the Admirals for second place with one game in hand. The Admirals lead the fourth-place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (31-29-1-2, 65 points in 63 games) by seven points, but the Penguins have three games in hand. The fifth-place Syracuse Crunch (29-29-3-3, 64 points in 64 games) trail the Admirals by eight points with two games in hand. The sixth-place Adirondack Phantoms (28-32-2-2, 60 points in 64 games) trail Norfolk by 12 points with two games in hand. The seventh-place Binghamton Senators (25-30-5-3, 58 points in 63 games) round out the division 14 points back of the Admirals with three games in hand.

THE ADMIRALS' WEEK AHEAD

Fri., Mar. 12 ... vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers (New York Islanders) ... 7:15 p.m.

Sat., Mar. 13 ... vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers (New York Islanders) ... 7:15 p.m.

ADMIRALS' LOG

- Norfolk is 17-5-1-1 since the All-Star Break

- The Admirals have won six of their last seven games at Norfolk Scope Arena and have ten home games in their last 14 regular season games.

- Top forwards Brandon Bochenski, Mark Parrish and Paul Szczechura were each recalled by the parent Tampa Bay Lightning last week

- Norfolk has out-shot its opponents in 18 of its last 24 games and nine of its last ten games.

- The Admirals rank fifth in average shots taken per game (32.64) and have allowed the seventh-fewest average shots per game (28.79) in the American Hockey League this season.

- Rookie forward Dana Tyrell has points in four straight games (2G, 3A) and in ten of his last 13 games (4G, 11A).

- Veteran forward Adam Hall has points in three straight (2G, 1A) and five of his last seven games (2G, 4A).

- Jaroslav Janus has posted a 1.56 goals-against average and .940 save percentage during a five-game winning streak dating back to February 5.

ADMIRALS PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEE

Dana Tyrell: 3 GP, 1 G, 3 A, 4 PTS

Rookie forward Dana Tyrell paced Norfolk with four points in three games last week. On Wednesday in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, he registered an assist. On Friday versus Albany, he notched two helpers and became tied for the team lead in assists. On Saturday versus Albany, he scored the first goal of the game.

Tyrell has six goals and 20 assists in 60 games for the Admirals this season. He has points in four straight games (2G, 3A) and in ten of his last 13 games (4G, 11A). He leads all Admirals rookies in goals, assists, points and plus/minus (+3) while tying for the overall team lead in assists and tying for second in plus/minus among forwards.

NEW PARKING OPTION AVAILABLE FOR ADMIRALS GAMES

Last week, the Bank Street Garage opened to parkers. The new garage, located at 441 Bank Street, has 1,372 parking spaces to accommodate downtown monthly and transient parkers. The garage will also provide additional parking for patrons of downtown venues. For additional information about Norfolk's parking facilities, please call 664-6222 or visit www.norfolk.gov/parking.

SATURDAY NIGHT IS CHKD NIGHT

Join us for CHKD Night at Scope as the Admirals take on the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Saturday. Special discounted fundraising tickets are available with proceeds going back to CHKD. Tickets may be purchased at norfolkadmirals.com. Please note that the discounted tickets are only available for advance purchase. Please contact the Admirals for deadline information.

As a special part of the event, fans can participate in a silent auction to win dinner with Admirals players Ty Wishart, Chris Lawrence and Scott Jackson and Admirals Strength & Conditioning/Video Coach Ben Eaves. Look for the silent auction on the Scope concourse on Saturday!

ADMIRALS TRADING CARD GIVEAWAY, COURTESY OF 96X

The first 2,000 fans through the gates on Saturday night will receive the final set of 2009-10 Admirals trading cards, courtesy of 96X.

THIS WEEK ON THE ADMIRALS HOUR RADIO SHOW

The Admirals Hour will air on Thursday evening from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. on ESPN Radio 94.1-FM. "The Voice of the Admirals" Pete Michaud will be in the studio hosting the show with a guest. Stay tuned to norfolkadmirals.com and to Facebook.com/NorfolkAdmirals and Twitter.com/NorfolkAdmirals for more information.

SCOUTING REPORT

The Bridgeport Sound Tigers will play their only two games at Norfolk Scope Arena on Friday and Saturday as they take on the Admirals at 7:15 p.m. both nights. Bridgeport, the top affiliate of the New York Islanders, currently resides in fifth place in the AHL's Atlantic Division with a 30-27-3-6 record (69 points in 66 games). Despite the fact that the Sound Tigers are in the Atlantic Division, these games do have potential impacts on Norfolk's playoff chase.

Typically the top four teams from each division in the AHL advance to the Calder Cup Playoffs. In the first round of the playoffs, the fourth-place team plays the first-place team in the division semifinals, while the second-place team plays the third-place team. There is one possible exception to the qualification rules in 2009-10: if the fifth-place team in the Atlantic Division finishes with more points than the fourth-place team in the East Division, it would cross over and compete in the East Division playoffs. If the playoffs began today, the Sound Tigers would cross over into the East Division Semifinals because they have more points than the East Division's fourth-place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

The Admirals claimed 2-1 victories in both match-ups of the season series in Bridgeport including a 2-1 shootout verdict in the last meeting on January 31. Dustin Tokarski is 2-0-0 with a 0.96 goals-against average and .969 save percentage against Bridgeport this season. Norfolk is 7-2-0-1 against Bridgeport over the last two seasons.

Bridgeport is led offensively by forward Greg Mauldin's 21 goals and 47 points. Goaltenders Nathan Lawson (13-12-3, 2.47, .925) and Scott Munroe (14-14-3, 2.61, .918) have put up respectable numbers between the pipes this season. The Sound Tigers have won three straight games including a 2-1 overtime win at Manchester yesterday. Like the Admirals, the Sound Tigers are off until playing at Scope on Friday and Saturday.

NORFOLK LEADERS

Goals: Brandon Bochenski (21)

Assists: Mark Parrish, Dana Tyrell (20)

Points: Brandon Bochenski (40)

Games: Adam Hall, Juraj Simek, Ty Wishart (65)

PP goals: Brandon Bochenski, Juraj Simek (7)

SH goals: Several (1)

+/- Rating: Zach Tarkir (+8)

PIM: Mitch Fritz (114)

GAA: Jaroslav Janus (2.07)

Spct: Jaroslav Janus (.922)

Wins: Dustin Tokarski (22)

Losses: Dustin Tokarski (18)

GPI: Dustin Tokarski (41)

Minutes: Dustin Tokarski (2474)

BRIDGEPORT LEADERS

Goals: Greg Mauldin (21)

Assists: Jesse Joensuu (28)

Points: Greg Mauldin (47)

Games: Sean Bentivoglio, Trevor Smith (66)

PP goals: Mark Flood (7)

SH goals: Sean Bentivoglio, Tyler Haskins, Greg Moore (2)

+/- Rating: Sean Bentivoglio, Greg Mauldin (+9)

PIM: Trevor Gillies (169)

GAA: Nathan Lawson (2.47)

Spct: Nathan Lawson (.925)

Wins: Scott Munroe (14)

Losses: Scott Munroe (14)

GPI: Scott Munroe (33)

Minutes: Scott Munroe (1884)

TRANSACTIONS OF THE PAST WEEK

March 2, 2010 DELETE RW Brandon Bochenski - Recalled from loan by Tampa Bay (NHL)

March 3, 2010 ADD F Ryan Cruthers - Signed to Professional Tryout Contract (PTO)

ADD RW Mark Parrish - Returned on loan by Tampa Bay (NHL)

DELETE RW Mark Parrish - Recalled from loan by Tampa Bay (NHL)

March 6, 2010 DELETE C Paul Szczechura - Recalled from loan by Tampa Bay (NHL)

TICKETS

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 1-800-745-3000 or visit Ticketmaster online at ticketmaster.com. Don't miss a minute of the action by purchasing your 2009-10 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.

ON THE RADIO/INTERNET

All eighty regular season games will air live on STAR 1310-AM and will stream online free of charge at star1310.com. AHL Live will carry online video of every Admirals game on a pay-per-view or season pass basis. Fans can log in to watch or get more information about AHL Live's online video features at ahllive.com.

Check out the Norfolk Admirals Statistics

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