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Norfolk Admirals

Norfolk Admirals Weekly: Admirals Look to Build on Strong Performance

January 24, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


NORFOLK - The Norfolk Admirals will look to carry over the momentum of yesterday's 3-1 win over the Charlotte Checkers into a pair of games this weekend against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at Scope.

The Admirals have gone 2-3-0-0 in their last five games. Last Tuesday, the Admirals fell to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, 4-2. On Friday vs. St. John's, Emerson Etem scored to force overtime in the third period and Josh Britain scored the game winning-goal in the shootout for a 3-2 win over the IceCaps at Scope. The next night, a sellout crowd witnessed the Admirals fall to St. John's, 1-0, during the sixth annual "Pink in the Rink" benefitting the Tidewater Affiliate of Susan G. Komen For the Cure. Sunday's game at Charlotte provided Rod Pelley's first goal as an Admiral, but Norfolk fell to their regional rival, 6-1, at Time Warner Cable Arena. Last night provided a spark for the Admirals, as second period goals by Luca Caputi, Josh Brittain and Dan Sexton, as well as 30 saves by Igor Bobkov, powered Norfolk to 3-1 win over Charlotte.

Norfolk and Bridgeport meet tomorrow night (7:30) and Saturday night (7:15) at Scope. On Friday, the first 2,000 fans will receive Admirals trading cards at the door, courtesy of Michael and Son Services and JPM Financial Services/John's Tax Service. Saturday marks the annual "Guns and Hoses" game where the representatives of area police and fire departments square off at 4:00 p.m. to benefit the Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters (CHKD). Come see two games for the price of one, and join the Admirals after the game for a post-game skate.

STANDINGS UPDATE

At 16-21-2-1 (35 points), the Admirals are in 5th place in the East Division and 15th place in the Eastern Conference. Below are the current AHL Eastern Conference standings:

Rank Team GP W L OTL SL PTS PCT

1 * Springfield Falcons 40 25 9 3 3 56 0.700

2 * Binghamton Senators 39 25 10 1 3 54 0.692

3 * Portland Pirates 41 24 15 1 1 50 0.610

4 Syracuse Crunch 39 24 10 2 3 53 0.679

5 Manchester Monarchs 42 21 17 2 2 46 0.548

6 Providence Bruins 39 20 16 0 3 43 0.551

7 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 40 20 17 2 1 43 0.537

8 Hershey Bears 41 20 18 2 1 43 0.524

9 Bridgeport Sound Tigers 40 19 17 2 2 42 0.525

10 Worcester Sharks 40 19 17 1 3 42 0.525

11 Connecticut Whale 42 18 20 3 1 40 0.476

12 Albany Devils 38 15 14 1 8 39 0.513

13 St. John's IceCaps 42 18 21 1 2 39 0.464

14 Adirondack Phantoms 39 17 19 2 1 37 0.474

15 Norfolk Admirals 40 16 21 2 1 35 0.438

*Division Leaders

Eight teams in each conference shall qualify for the 2013 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

Fri., Jan. 25 ... vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers (New York Islanders) ... 7:30 p.m.

Sat., Jan. 26 ... vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers (New York Islanders) ... 7:15 p.m.

ADMIRALS' LOG

Eight different players recorded points in yesterday's 3-1 win over Charlotte. Norfolk's power play went 2-for-3 while the penalty kill stopped all seven Checkers power plays. Charlotte's lead in the GEICO Challenge Cup was trimmed to 3-1-0-0 with Norfolk's win last night. There are four games remaining (two in each team's home arena, all four games will be played in March). In last night's contest against Charlotte, Igor Bobkov stopped 30 of 31 shots for the win. It was his first game since January 5th vs. Syracuse and his first win since December 29th at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Bobkov improved his season save percentage to .900 and dropped his goals-against average from 3.41 to 3.26 with the #1 star performance last night. Goaltender Frederik Andersen is ranked seventh in the AHL in save percentage (.924) and is first among rookie netminders. Andersen returned to the Admirals last weekend after attending Anaheim Ducks training camp and serving as Jonas Hiller's backup for the Ducks' season-opening game. Goaltender Jeff Deslauriers made his Norfolk debut on Sunday at Charlotte. After posting a 1-2-0 record with a 1.96 goals-against average and .914 save percentage in three games, goaltender Viktor Fasth was recalled by the parent Anaheim Ducks. Last Friday vs. St. John's, Jay Rosehill surpassed the 1,000 penalty minutes benchmark in his AHL career. He now has 1008 PIM in 354 career AHL games. Last night, Rosehill scored his first goal since October 19 vs. Binghamton (the third game of Norfolk's season). After going scoreless in his first 11 games, Matt Smaby now has points in back-to-back games (2a). Prior to last night, the last time Rosehill and Smaby recorded points in the same game was March 5, 2008, in a 4-0 win at Worcester (Smaby with a goal, Rosehill with an assist) Luca Caputi, who was recalled from the ECHL's Fort Wayne Komets on Monday, scored in his return to the Admirals last night. Also last night, Dan Sexton netted his first goal as an Admiral. Sexton ranked fourth in scoring and assists with the Syracuse Crunch last season. Nate Guenin is two points away from 100 in his professional career. Norfolk's captain has two goals and 11 points in 34 games with the Admirals this season. The seventh-year pro defenseman has two goals and four points in 32 career NHL games between Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Columbus and Anaheim. In 409 career AHL games between Philadelphia, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Peoria, Springfield, Syracuse and Norfolk, Guenin has 16 goals and 94 points. Combining the two leagues gives Guenin 18 goals and 98 points in 441 career professional games. After yesterday's win over Charlotte, the Admirals improved to 12-5-1-1 when scoring first this season. Norfolk has won seven of ten games this season that have gone to overtime or a shootout. The team's .700 overtime winning percentage is tied for second-best in the AHL.

SCOPING THE COMPETITION - SCOUTING REPORT FOR UPCOMING HOME GAMES

With 42 points, Bridgeport (19-17-2-2 in 40 games, .525 winning percentage) is tied for ninth in the Eastern Conference and ranks second in the Northeast Division. The Admirals and Sound Tigers have met four times this season. Norfolk is 2-1-1-0 in those games. The first meeting of the season was an 11:00 a.m. game on November 7 at Webster Bank Arena. Brock Nelson broke a 2-2 tie late in the second period as the Sound Tigers claimed a 4-2 victory. On December 2 at Webster Bank Arena, Nate Guenin recorded the game-winning goal and an assist and Frederik Andersen made 32 saves as the Admirals defeated the Sound Tigers, 4-1. On December 14 at Scope, Casey Cizikas scored 1:21 into overtime to lead the Sound Tigers to a 4-3 win over the Admirals. Goaltender Frederik Andersen was injured on the play and missed the subsequent six games before returning on December 30 at Springfield. On December 15 at Scope, Devante Smith-Pelly scored in the eighth round of the shootout as the Admirals came back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Sound Tigers, 3-2. Igor Bobkov stopped 39 of 41 shots through regulation and overtime and seven of eight shooters in the shootout. Bridgeport's Kevin Poulin recorded 50 saves, which is tied for the most saves by a goaltender in any AHL game this season. Norfolk is 5-2-1-0 at home against the Northeast Division this season. Bridgeport is 9-11-1-1 on the road this season. The Sound Tigers have just two wins in their last eight games (2-5-1-0). Bridgeport is ranked seventh in offense (3.15 goals per game) but gives up the most goals in the league (3.28 goals per game). The Sound Tigers are ranked fourth in the AHL on the power play (21.1%). Bridgeport is the fourth-highest penalized team in the League (21.93 PIM/game). The Sound Tigers are 14-3-1-2 when they score first this season. Bridgeport's Nino Niederreiter is tied for sixth in the league in points (36) and is tied for fourth in goals (19). Sound Tigers defenseman Brett Gallant is second in the league in PIM (160) and major penalties (20). Bridgeport's Nathan McIver is tied for third in penalty minutes (157) and leads the league in minor penalties (31). McIver's 10 consecutive games recording penalty minutes is the longest active streak in the league and is just two games shy of the longest streak of the season, which McIver also holds (12 games from November 11 - December 9, 2012). Bridgeport's Blair Riley has scored a goal in three consecutive road games. Sound Tigers defenseman Jon Landry has assists in four consecutive road games. Former Admirals defenseman Ty Wishart now skates for the Sound Tigers. Wishart, who scored 14 goals and 57 points in 168 games with Norfolk from 2008-11, has registered two goals and six assists in 33 games with Bridgeport this season. There are no former Sound Tigers now playing for Norfolk.

DUCKS FLYING HIGH TO START NHL SEASON

After beginning the season with back-to-back wins, the Anaheim Ducks, NHL parent club of the Admirals, are tied for second place in the Western Conference and are tied for the Pacific Division lead. Kyle Palmieri, who remains the leading goal scorer with the Admirals this season, scored his first NHL goal of the season in Anaheim's 7-3, season-opening win in Vancouver. He then added an assist in Sunday's 5-4 win over Calgary. Former Admirals Devante Smith-Pelly (2gp, 0g, 0a) and Jordan Hendry (1gp, 0g, 0a) have also appeared in the Anaheim lineup. Former Admirals Peter Holland, Sami Vatanen and Viktor Fasth are currently on the Anaheim roster, but have not played thus far this season. The Ducks open the home portion of their season tomorrow night at Honda Center against the Vancouver Canucks.

A LOOK BACK AT "PINK IN THE RINK"

Last Saturday night, fans sold out Norfolk Scope Arena for the sixth annual Pink in the Rink to benefit the Tidewater Affiliate of Susan G. Komen For The Cure. It was the first sellout at Scope since Game 2 of the Calder Cup Finals vs. Toronto on June 2, 2012. It was also the first sellout of a Pink in the Rink in the six-year history of the event. Photos of the event can be found on the Norfolk Admirals Facebook page at facebook.com/NorfolkAdmirals. Special thanks to the fans for coming out for a great cause.

SECOND SET OF ADMIRALS TRADING CARDS GIVEN AWAY TOMORROW NIGHT

The first 2,000 fans through the gates on Friday will receive the second set of 2012-13 Admirals trading cards, courtesy of Michael and Son Services and JPM Financial Services/John's Tax Service.

ANNUAL GUNS AND HOSES NIGHT TO BENEFIT CHKD IS SATURDAY

On Saturday, the annual Guns and Hoses game to benefit Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters takes place at 4:00 p.m. before the Admirals and Sound Tigers play at 7:15 p.m. A ticket to one game gets you into the other for free.

POST-GAME SKATE AFTER SATURDAY'S ADMIRALS GAME

The Admirals will hold their third post-game skate of the season where fans can skate at Scope with their favorite Admirals following the game. A limited number of skates will be available or fans may bring their own skates.

NORFOLK LEADERS

Goals: Kyle Palmieri (13)

Assists: Peter Holland (19)

Points: Peter Holland (31)

Games: Emerson Etem, Patrick Maroon (38)

PP goals: Patrick Maroon, Kyle Palmieri (7)

SH goals: Troy Bodie, Emerson Etem, Chris Wagner (1)

+/- Rating: Chris Wagner (+8)

PIM: Patrick Maroon (102)

GAA: Frederik Andersen (2.48)

Spct: Frederik Andersen (.924)

Wins: Igor Bobkov (8)

Losses: Frederik Andersen, Igor Bobkov (10)

GPI: Frederik Andersen (21)

Minutes: Frederik Andersen (1184)

BRIDGEPORT LEADERS

Goals: Nino Niederreiter (19)

Assists: Colin McDonald (21)

Points: Nino Niederreiter (36)

Games: Aaron Ness, John Persson, Blair Riley (40)

PP goals: Nino Niederreiter (8)

SH goals: Casey Cizikas, Brandon DeFazio, Brock Nelson (1)

+/- Rating: David Ullstrom (+11)

PIM: Brett Gallant (160)

GAA: Anders Nilsson (3.03)

Spct: Kevin Poulin (.903)

Wins: Kevin Poulin (12)

Losses: Anders Nilsson, Kevin Poulin (9)

GPI: Kevin Poulin (23)

Minutes: Kevin Poulin (1310)

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.

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.

Check out the Norfolk Admirals Statistics

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