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 Norfolk Admirals

Crucial Weekend Ahead for Admirals

December 12, 2011 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


NORFOLK, Va. - After winning two games in last week's three-game road trip, the Norfolk Admirals are in a three-way tie for first place in the American Hockey League's East Division. This week, they play three games against the teams they are tied with - the Hershey Bears and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

The Admirals opened last week with back-to-back games in Binghamton, New York. Each game featured three-point performances from Trevor Smith, as the Admirals defeated the Senators, 5-1 on Friday and 5-2 on Saturday. Last night, it was Cory Conacher posting three points, but the Admirals fell to the Hershey Bears, 6-3, in Pennsylvania.

This week's schedule features a visit from the Bears at Scope on Friday followed by games in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Saturday and in Hershey on Sunday. Friday's game marks the Admirals' annual Toy Toss. Please see below for more details.

STANDINGS UPDATE

At 16-10-0-1 (33 points), the Admirals are tied with the Hershey Bears (14-7-3-2) and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (14-7-1-4) for first place in the East Division. Those three teams are also tied for second place in the Eastern Conference. The Syracuse Crunch (11-10-2-1, 25 points) and Binghamton Senators (9-16-1-1, 20 points) round out the East Division.

THE ADMIRALS' WEEK AHEAD

Fri., Dec. 16 ... vs. Hershey Bears (Washington Capitals) ... 7:30 p.m.

Sat., Dec. 17 ... at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh Penguins) ... 7:05 p.m.

Sun., Dec. 18 ... at Hershey Bears (Washington Capitals) ... 5:00 p.m.

ADMIRALS' LOG

- Norfolk has won six of its last eight games.

- A rookie has scored a goal in 25 of Norfolk's first 27 games this season - including each of the last 16 games.

- Three of Norfolk's top five scorers are rookies: Cory Conacher (16G, 16A, 32PTS), Carter Ashton (13G, 9A, 22PTS) and Tyler Johnson (10G, 8A, 18PTS).

- Conacher (1st), Ashton (T-3rd) and Johnson (T-8th) each rank in the top-10 of AHL scoring by rookies.

- Johnson has points in five of his last six games (4G, 2A) - including two game-winning goals.

- Conacher has points in three consecutive games (4G, 3A) and has six goals in his last six games. Conacher now leads the Admirals in goals (16) and ranks second in goals in the AHL.

- Admirals netminder Dustin Tokarski had a five-game winning streak snapped yesterday in Hershey. During the streak, Tokarski posted a 1.40 goals-against average and .931 save percentage. It tied the longest winning streak of Tokarski's professional career (January 13 - 31, 2010) and was the longest winning streak by a Norfolk netminder since Cedrick Desjardins won six consecutive games from November 19 - December 4 last season.

- Trevor Smith led the AHL with eight points (3G, 5A) in three games last week. Conacher was tied for second in the AHL with seven points (4G, 3A) last week.

- Smith (13G, 20A) now leads the Admirals with 33 points and is tied for third in the AHL in scoring. His plus-17 rating also leads Norfolk and is second in the AHL.

- Friday's game in Binghamton marked the return of two veteran forwards to the Norfolk lineup. Michel Ouellet returned after missing 15 games due to an injury sustained on October 28 at Providence. Alexandre Picard returned after missing 12 games due to an injury sustained on November 5 at Bridgeport.

- Sunday's loss in Hershey was the first road loss by the Admirals against an East Division opponent this season (5-1-0-0).

- Norfolk is 7-2-0-1 on Saturdays this season.

TOY TOSS

The Norfolk Admirals are pleased to announce that their annual Toy Toss will take place Friday night, December 16, when the Admirals take on the Hershey Bears at Scope at 7:30 p.m. Admirals fans are asked to bring new stuffed toys to that game to throw onto the ice after the Admirals score their first goal.

NORFOLK LEADERS

Goals: Cory Conacher (16)

Assists: Trevor Smith (20)

Points: Trevor Smith (33)

Games: Carter Ashton, Trevor Smith (27)

PP goals: Cory Conacher (6)

SH goals: J.T. Wyman (2)

+/- Rating: Trevor Smith (+17)

PIM: Radko Gudas (58)

GAA: Dustin Tokarski (2.43)

Spct: Dustin Tokarski (.901)

Wins: Dustin Tokarski (10)

Losses: Dustin Tokarski (6)

GPI: Dustin Tokarski (16)

Minutes: Dustin Tokarski (937)

HERSHEY LEADERS

Goals: Chris Bourque (14)

Assists: Keith Aucoin (35)

Points: Keith Aucoin (43)

Games: Keith Aucoin, Chris Bourque, Christian Hanson, Jacob Mickflikier (26)

PP goals: Chris Bourque, Graham Mink (8)

SH goals: Keith Aucoin, Chris Bourque, Christian Hanson (1)

+/- Rating: Boyd Kane (+10)

PIM: Joel Rechlicz (85)

GAA: Braden Holtby (2.60)

Spct: Dany Sabourin (.899)

Wins: Braden Holtby (8)

Losses: Braden Holtby (6)

GPI: Braden Holtby (16)

Minutes: Braden Holtby (947)

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON LEADERS

Goals: Bryan Lerg, Eric Tangradi (10)

Assists: Colin McDonald, Jason Williams (14)

Points: Bryan Lerg, Colin McDonald (20)

Games: Bryan Lerg (26)

PP goals: Niko Dimitrakos, Ben Street, Eric Tangradi, Geoff Walker (3)

SH goals: Bryan Lerg (2)

+/- Rating: Bryan Lerg, Colin McDonald (+10)

PIM: Joey Mormina (39)

GAA: Scott Munroe (2.14)

Spct: Scott Munroe (.919)

Wins: Brad Thiessen (10)

Losses: Brad Thiessen (6)

GPI: Brad Theissen (19)

Minutes: Brad Thiessen (1052)

RECENT TRANSACTIONS

On December 2, 2011, the Tampa Bay Lightning acquired defensemen Evan Oberg and Mike Kostka from the Florida Panthers in exchange for forward James Wright and defenseman Mike Vernace. Oberg and Kostka were assigned to Norfolk.

December 2, 2011 ADD C Philip-Michael Devos - Recalled from loan to Florida (ECHL)

ADD D Mike Kostka - Loaned by Tampa Bay (NHL)

ADD D Evan Oberg - Loaned by Tampa Bay (NHL)

DELETE D Mike Vernace - Recalled from loan by Tampa Bay (NHL)

DELETE C James Wright - Recalled from loan by Tampa Bay (NHL)

December 6, 2011 DELETE D Evan Oberg - Recalled from loan by Tampa Bay (NHL)

December 8, 2011 DELETE C Blair Jones - Recalled from loan by Tampa Bay (NHL)

December 9, 2011 ADD D Evan Oberg - Returned on loan by Tampa Bay (NHL)

TICKETS

Individual tickets are now on sale for all Admirals regular season home games 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 2011-12 season tickets or 10-packs 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 regular season games will air live on "The Game" 102.1-FM, 1490-AM and online at 1021TheGame.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.


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