AHL Norfolk Admirals

Admirals Clinch Division, Set Eyes on Conference and League

Published on April 2, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


NORFOLK, Va. - Having clinched their first division title since 2002-03, the Norfolk Admirals have their eyes set on their first ever conference title and look to extend their 22-game winning streak in the final three home games of the regular season this weekend at Scope.

Last week, the Admirals extended their North American professional hockey record winning streak to 22 games with a pair of victories over the St. John's IceCaps. On Wednesday night, Dustin Tokarski made 32 saves en route to his 10th straight victory and his fifth shutout of the season, as the Admirals defeated the IceCaps, 2-0. Two nights later, Jaroslav Janus stopped 20 of 21 shots and Ondrej Palat and Philip-Michael Devos each scored as Norfolk erased an early deficit and skated away with a 2-1 victory over St. John's.

The Admirals conclude the home portion of the regular season this week with a set of games against divisional opponents. On Tuesday night, the Admirals face off against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for the final time this season in the last Admirals Value Night of 2011-12. Norfolk closes out their season-long homestand on Friday and Saturday nights as the Binghamton Senators return to Scope for the first time since October. Saturday night is Fan Appreciation Night with a party on the Scope Plaza beginning at 4:30. Fans will also receive a team poster on Saturday, courtesy of SUPERCUTS.

STANDINGS UPDATE

The Admirals (49-18-1-2, 101 points in 70 games) have clinched their first division title since 2002-03. Norfolk continues to lead the Eastern Conference and the overall American Hockey League standings. Norfolk leads the St. John's IceCaps (40-21-5-3, 88 points in 69 games) by 13 points for first place in the Eastern Conference. The Admirals hold an eight-point lead over the Oklahoma City Barons (42-19-4-5, 93 points in 70 games) for the best record in the American Hockey League.

Rank

Team GP W L OTL SL PTS PCT

1 * Y Norfolk Admirals 70 49 18 1 2 101 0.721

2 * Y St. John's IceCaps 69 40 21 5 3 88 0.638

3 * Bridgeport Sound Tigers 70 37 24 3 6 83 0.593

4 X Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 70 41 22 2 5 89 0.636

5 X Hershey Bears 70 38 21 4 7 87 0.621

6 Connecticut Whale 70 34 24 7 5 80 0.571

7 Syracuse Crunch 70 33 27 5 5 76 0.543

8 Manchester Monarchs 71 36 31 1 3 76 0.535

9 Portland Pirates 70 32 29 4 5 73 0.521

10 Adirondack Phantoms 70 34 32 2 2 72 0.514

11 Springfield Falcons 71 33 32 3 3 72 0.507

12 Albany Devils 70 30 29 6 5 71 0.507

13 Providence Bruins 71 32 32 3 4 71 0.500

14 Worcester Sharks 69 28 30 4 7 67 0.486

15 Binghamton Senators 71 28 37 4 2 62 0.437

x Clinched Playoff Berth

Y Clinched Division Title

*Division Leader

Eight teams in each conference shall qualify for the 2012 Calder Cup Playoffs. Following the conclusion of each team's 76-game regular season, the three division winners in each conference will be seeded first through third (in order of regular-season points) and the next five best teams (in order of regular-season points) will be seeded fourth through eighth.

Norfolk's magic number to clinch the Eastern Conference title is one point over the St. John's IceCaps. Their magic number to clinch the best record in the American Hockey League is four points over the Oklahoma City Barons.

THE ADMIRALS' WEEK AHEAD

Tues., April 3 ... vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh Penguins) ... 7:15 p.m.

Fri., April 6 ... vs. Binghamton Senators (Ottawa Senators) ... 7:30 p.m.

Sat., April 7 ... vs. Binghamton Senators (Ottawa Senators) ... 7:15 p.m.

ADMIRALS' LOG

- The Admirals clinched their third division title (and first East Division title) on Saturday night by virtue of Hershey's loss to St. John's.

- The Admirals can clinch the Eastern Conference title with a win or overtime/shootout loss on Tuesday night, or a St. John's loss of any type on Tuesday vs. Portland.

- The Admirals can clinch the MacGregor Kilpatrick Trophy, which is awarded to the AHL's regular season points champion, with a win against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton tomorrow coupled with a regulation loss by Oklahoma City tomorrow vs. Hamilton.

- Norfolk's 22-game winning streak, which dates back to Feb. 10 vs. Adirondack, is the longest winning streak in the history of North American professional hockey.

- Norfolk has now won 16 consecutive games in regulation - equaling the 1984-85 Baltimore Skipjacks' AHL record of 16 straight wins in regulation/overtime. Prior to the inception of the shootout in 2004-05, games tied after overtime finished as ties. The Admirals have won 21 of 22 games during the winning streak in regulation and only one game in a shootout (Feb. 18 vs. Syracuse).

- Norfolk has surpassed 100 standings points in a season for the second time in the 12-season franchise history. The team joins the 2006-07 Norfolk Admirals (50-22-6-2, 108 pts in 80 games) as the only 100-point teams in franchise history.

- Norfolk's last loss of any kind came on Feb. 5 in Springfield - a 4-2 defeat at the MassMutual Center by the Falcons.

- Norfolk has not lost on home ice since Jan. 28th - a 3-2 defeat by the Hershey Bears.

- The Admirals have outscored their opponents 86-34 over their last 22 games, including 52-17 on even strength. The Admirals have scored 14 more power play goals than they have allowed since the winning streak began.

- This is the latest that the Admirals have ever held first place overall in the American Hockey League.

- Norfolk (24-9-1-1) holds the best home record in the AHL.

- On Friday night, Norfolk won its sixth game of the 22-game winning streak when tied or trailing after two periods. The Admirals also won their seventh game during the streak when surrendering the game's first goal.

- Tyler Johnson leads the Admirals in points during the team's winning streak with 14 goals and 35.

- Jean-Philippe Cote leads the Admirals with a plus/minus rating of +23 over the last 22 games.

- Earlier today, the Admirals signed forward Maxime Langelier-Parent to an AHL Standard Player's contract. The contract begins next season and has a club option for the 2013-14 season. Langelier-Parent is expected to join the Admirals on an Amateur Tryout Contract later this month following the conclusions of his final exams at McGill University.

NORFOLK'S WINNING STREAK BY THE NUMBERS

The following numbers are for Norfolk during its 20-game winning streak from February 10 to March 24, 2012:

- 290 saves by Jaroslav Janus

- 245 saves by Dustin Tokarski

- 84.0% penalty kill efficiency (77/91)

- 86 total goals scored

- +52 goal differential

- 52 goals scored at even strength

- 45 goals scored by rookies

- 34 total goals allowed

- 35 points by Tyler Johnson, leading the team

- 25.4% power play efficiency (28/104)

- 26 different skaters have appeared in at least one game

- 24 different skaters have an even or better plus/minus rating

- 22 different skaters have points

- +22 plus/minus rating by Tyler Johnson, leading the team

- 20 different skaters have goals

- 17 goals allowed at even strength

- 15 different skaters have game-winning goals

- 14 goals scored by Tyler Johnson, leading the team

- 11 different skaters are rookies

- 12 consecutive wins by Jaroslav Janus

- 12 consecutive wins at home

- 10 consecutive wins by Dustin Tokarski

- 10 consecutive wins on the road

- 8 different skaters have appeared in all 22 games

- 2 different skaters are averaging at least one point per game

- 1.70 goals-against average by Dustin Tokarski

- 1.41 goals-against average by Jaroslav Janus

- .945 save percentage by Jaroslav Janus

- .935 save percentage by Dustin Tokarski

TYLER JOHNSON NAMED REEBOK/AHL PLAYER OF THE MONTH

The American Hockey League announced today that Norfolk Admirals center Tyler Johnson has been named the Reebok/AHL Player of the Month for March. Johnson led all AHL skaters with 22 points in 12 games, recording 11 goals, 11 assists and a plus-13 rating during Norfolk's historic month.

Johnson stretched his scoring streak to 13 games, the longest by an AHL rookie in more than six years, and scored a goal in nine consecutive games from Mar. 3-24. He had back-to-back two-goal games on Mar. 3 vs. Springfield and Mar. 9 at Adirondack, and set personal season highs with three assists and four points in a 6-3 win at Bridgeport on Mar. 11 to secure Reebok/AHL Player of the Week honors. Johnson scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Albany on Mar. 23 as Norfolk established a professional hockey

ERIC NEILSON NAMED NORFOLK ADMIRALS 2011-12 IOA/AMERICAN SPECIALTY AHL MAN OF THE YEAR

The Norfolk Admirals are proud to announce that Eric Neilson has been named the team's winner of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Hampton Roads community during the 2011-12 season.

To read about Neilson's efforts in the community, please visit norfolkadmirals.com.

FINAL ADMIRALS VALUE NIGHT OF THE SEASON

Family Fun Packs include four discounted Red Level Tickets for just $48 plus four free hot dogs, four free popcorns and four free sodas. Fans get all of that for just $48 - that's a savings of $37!

Student Rush Nights provide $8 White Level Tickets (normally $12) for students with a valid current high school or college ID.

Family Fun Packs are available at the Scope Box Office, all Ticketmaster Outlets, charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000 or online at Ticketmaster.com. Student Rush Night Tickets are available ONLY at the Scope Box Office after 2:00 p.m. on the day of the game.

FAN APPRECATION NIGHT

The Admirals will conclude the home portion of the regular season on Saturday night, April 7, by thanking the most important members of the team - the fans - with Fan Appreciation Night.

Beginning at 4:30 p.m., Admirals fans are invited to a pre-game party outside on the plaza at Scope, including music and games for the whole family. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

2011-12 TEAM POSTER GIVEAWAY

On Saturday, April 7th, as the Admirals battle the Binghamton Senators, fans will receive a 2011-12 Admirals Team Poster courtesy of SUPERCUTS.

NORFOLK LEADERS

Goals : Cory Conacher (34)

Assists : Mark Barberio (46)

Points : Cory Conacher (73)

Games : Cory Conacher, Tyler Johnson (69)

PP goals : Cory Conacher (14)

SH goals : Tyler Johnson, J.T. Wyman (2)

+/- Rating : Pierre-Cedric Labrie (+31)

PIM 2 Radko Gudas (177)

GAA 2 Dustin Tokarski (2.30)

Spct 2 Jaroslav Janus (0.912)

Wins : Dustin Tokarski (29)

Losses : Dustin Tokarski (11)

GPI 2 Dustin Tokarski (412)

Minutes : Dustin Tokarski (2402)

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON LEADERS

Goals: Ben Street (26)

Assists: Colin MacDonald (35)

Points: Ben Street (54)

Games: Brian Gibbons, Ben Street (66)

PP goals: Brian Street, Geoff Walker (10)

SH goals: Bryan Lerg (4)

+/- Rating: Nick Peterson (+14)

0 Geoff Walker (112)

0 Scott Munroe (2.60)

A0 Scott Munroe (.904)

A0 Brad Thiessen (21)

Losses: Brad Thiessen (14)

0 Brad Thiessen (38)

Minutes: Brad Thiessen (2144)

BINGHAMTON LEADERS

Goals: Andre Petersson (23)

Assists: Corey Locke (31)

Points: Mike Hoffman (47)

Games: Pat Cannone, Wacey Hamilton, Mike Hoffmann (71)

PP goals: Mike Hoffman (9)

SH goals: Jim O'Brien (3)

+/- Rating: Tim Conboy (+5)

0 Tim Conboy (171)

0 Mike McKenna (2.98)

A0 Mike McKenna (.917)

A0 Mike McKenna (14)

Losses: Mike McKenna, Robin Lehner (20)

0 Mike McKenna (39)

Minutes: Mike McKenna (2076)

TRANSACTIONS OF THE PAST WEEK

April 1, 2012

ADD C Trevor Smith - Returned on loan by Tampa Bay (NHL)

April 2, 2012

DELETE F Bryan Brutlag - Released from Professional Tryout Contract (PTO)

TICKETS

Individual tickets for all regular season games start at just $12. Tickets are available now at the Scope Box Office, all Ticketmaster Outlets, charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000 and online at ticketmaster.com .

Reserve your 2012-13 season tickets with a deposit of as little as $100 per seat today. Current season ticket holders may also reserve 2012 Calder Cup Playoff Packages now. 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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