AHL Norfolk Admirals

Admirals Earn Five of Eight Possible Points to Start Road Trip

Published on February 25, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


NORFOLK, VA - The Norfolk Admirals kicked off their season-long nine-game, 17-day road trip by earning five of a possible eight points in their first four games last week.

On Wednesday in Bridgeport, former Admiral Matt Keith scored the game-winner in the third period as the Sound Tigers came from behind to defeat Norfolk 4-3. On Friday in Manchester, Jonathan Boutin made 41 saves and Junior Lessard scored in the seventh round of the shootout to lift the Admirals to a 3-2 victory over the Monarchs. The Admirals erased a three-goal deficit and earned a point, but Manchester defeated Norfolk 7-6 in a shootout on Saturday night. Yesterday, Boutin made 29 saves and Radek Smolenak scored twice as the Admirals defeated Portland 5-1.

The road trip continues with a rematch against Portland on Tuesday night and stops in Hartford on Friday, Lowell on Saturday and Worcester on Sunday. The Admirals, B2 Networks and Baxter's Sports Lounge will team up to bring Friday's game back to Norfolk via B2 Nights at Baxter's. Watch the Admirals and Wolf Pack on the big screen at Baxter's at 7:00. See below for more details.

EAST DIVISION STANDINGS

At 21-30-2-5, the Admirals are seventh in the East Division with 49 points. The East is led by the Philadelphia Phantoms (37-18-2-2, 78 pts). The Hershey Bears (31-19-1-5, 68 pts), Albany River Rats (31-24-1-3, 66 pts) and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (31-22-0-3, 65 pts) are currently in playoff positions seeded second, third and fourth, respectively. The Bridgeport Sound Tigers (30-26-1-1, 62 pts) and Binghamton Senators (26-23-5-4, 61 pts) sit in fifth and sixth spots, respectively.

THE ADMIRALS' WEEK AHEAD

Tues., Feb. 26 ... at Portland Pirates (Anaheim Ducks) ... 7:05 p.m.

Fri., Feb. 29 ... at Hartford Wolf Pack (New York Rangers) ... 7:00 p.m. B2 Night at Baxter's

Sat., Mar. 1 ... at Lowell Devils (New Jersey Devils) ... 7:05 p.m.

Sun., Mar. 2 ... at Worcester Sharks (San Jose Sharks) ... 4:05 p.m.

ADMIRALS' LOG

- Norfolk has points in 13 of its last 16 games (10-3-1-2).

- The Admirals have earned five of a possible eight points in the first four games of their season-high nine-game road trip.

- Norfolk has wins in five of its last seven road games and points in six of those games (5-1-0-1). Prior to that run, the Admirals had points in only six of 22 road games (3-16-1-2).

- In Norfolk's four games last week, 18 of 19 skaters picked up points.

- The only skater who did not register a point last was defenseman Kevin Quick, who played only one game - his professional debut on Sunday at Portland.

- Jonathan Boutin is on a five-game winning streak. He is also unbeaten in his last seven games (6-0-1) with a 1.32 GAA, .954 SV% and two shutouts in that span. He is one win/shootout loss off Norfolk's franchise record unbeaten streak held by Corey Crawford, Craig Anderson and Michael Leighton. Last week, Boutin went 2-0-0 with a 1.45 GAA and .959 SV%.

- Paul Szczechura has points in six of his last seven games (4-3-7) and 16 of the 18 games he has played with Norfolk (11-10-21) since being acquired from Iowa on January 15.

- Defenseman Vladimir Mihalik had a pair of +3 games last week (Saturday at Manchester and Sunday at Portland), raising his season point total to +6. The rookie blueliner leads the team with a +15 rating during their recent stretch of earning points in 13 of 16 games. The Admirals are 19-20-2-5 with Mihalik in the lineup and 2-10-0-0 without Mihalik in the lineup.

- Norm Milley (Saturday at Manchester) and Radek Smolenak (Sunday at Manchester) each had two-goal games for the Admirals last week. The last time before then that Norfolk had a multi-goal performer was on December 2 when Adam Henrich picked up a pair of goals at Hershey.

- Milley (53 GP, 18-27-45) is now just one goal, one assist and two points off the team leads in each category held by Kyle Wanvig (45 GP, 19-28-47).

- Junior Lessard has points in five of seven games (2-4-6).

- Radek Smolenak points in four of five games (3-2-5).

- Norm Milley has points in four of his last six games (5-4-9).

- Justin Keller has points in four of six games (1-6-7).

- Mario Scalzo has points in four of six games (1-4-5).

ADMIRALS RBK/AHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEE

Norfolk All Star Left Wing Justin Keller netted six points to lead the Admirals in scoring during the first four games of their nine-game road trip last week. On Wednesday in Bridgeport, he scored the game's first goal and assisted on a go-ahead tally, but the Admirals fell 4-3 to the Sound Tigers. On Saturday in Manchester, he was an integral part of the Admirals erasing a 4-1 deficit to salvage a point, as he led the team with three assists and a +4 rating in a 7-6 shootout setback to the Monarchs. On Sunday afternoon in Portland, Keller assisted on the game-winning tally in a 5-1 victory.

The sophomore pro's five assists and +7 rating led the American Hockey League last week and his six points were tied for third in the league. Keller now has ten goals and 18 assists for 28 points in 51 games this season. On Saturday, he surpassed the point total from his rookie campaign (60 GP, 13-11-24).

NORFOLK LEADERS

Goals: Kyle Wanvig (19) Assists: Kyle Wanvig (28)

Points: Kyle Wanvig (47) Games: Karl Stewart (57)

PP goals: Kyle Wanvig (8) SH goals: Karl Stewart (2)

+/- Rating: Jay Leach (+12) PIM: Jay Rosehill (133)

GAA: Jonathan Boutin (2.95) Spct: Jonathan Boutin (.910)

Wins: Jonathan Boutin (12) Losses: Jonathan Boutin (11)

GPI: Jonathan Boutin (29) Minutes: Jonathan Boutin (1589)

PORTLAND LEADERS

Goals: Jason King (23) Assists: Andrew Ebbett (42)

Points: Andrew Ebbett (55) Games: Stephen Dixon (58)

PP goals: Jason King (10) SH goals: Ryan Carter, Matt Christie (1)

+/- Rating: Brian Salcido, Andy Schneider (+15) PIM: Andy Schneider (77)

GAA: J.P. Levasseur (2.50) Spct: Mike McKenna (.915)

Wins: Mike McKenna (18) Losses: Gerald Coleman, Mike McKenna (7)

GPI: Mike McKenna (29) Minutes: Mike McKenna (1619)

HARTFORD LEADERS

Goals: Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau (24) Assists: Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau (34)

Points: Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau (58) Games: Corey Potter (59)

PP goals: Andrew Hutchinson, Thomas Pock (16) SH goals: Greg Moore (4)

+/- Rating: Corey Potter (+26) PIM: Dane Byers (149)

GAA: Miika Wiikman (2.32) Spct: Miika Wiikman (.917)

Wins: Al Montoya (16) Losses: Al Montoya (8)

GPI: Al Montoya (31) Minutes: Al Montoya (1704)

LOWELL LEADERS

Goals: Barry Tallackson (19) Assists: Petr Vrana (33)

Points: Petr Vrana (42) Games: Mark Fraser, Petr Vrana (57)

PP goals: Noah Clarke (8) SH goals: Rosario Ruggeri (1)

+/- Rating: Nicklas Bergfors, Rod Pelley (+2) PIM: Mark Fraser (85)

GAA: Frank Doyle (2.97) Spct: Frank Doyle (.906)

Wins: Frank Doyle (12) Losses: Frank Doyle (22)

GPI: Frank Doyle (37) Minutes: Frank Doyle (2201)

WORCESTER LEADERS

Goals: Mike Iggulden (19) Assists: Mike Iggulden (25)

Points: Mike Iggulden (44) Games: Several (54)

PP goals: Graham Mink (7) SH goals: Several (1)

+/- Rating: Tomas Plihal (+5) PIM: Brennan Evans (162)

GAA: Dimitri Patzold (3.12) Spct: Dimitri Patzold (.897)

Wins: Thomas Greiss (13) Losses: Thomas Greiss (14)

GPI: Thomas Greiss (28) Minutes: Thomas Greiss (1651)

TRANSACTIONS OF THE LAST WEEK

None

UPCOMING EVENTS/PROMOTIONS

Friday, February 29 (at Hartford Wolf Pack)

- B2 Night at Baxter's - Join your fellow Admirals fans at Baxter's Sports Lounge in Downtown Norfolk on Friday night for another Admirals B2 Night at Baxter's. Watch the Admirals square off against Pierre Parenteau, Al Montoya and the rest of the Hartford Wolf Pack on the big screen starting at 7:00 p.m. For more details, please visit norfolkadmirals.com.

THIS WEEK ON THE IN MOTION PHYSICAL THERAPY ADMIRALS HOUR

Tune in to the In Motion Physical Therapy Admirals Hour on Thursday evening at 6:00 p.m. on ESPN Radio 1310 WGH-AM. "The Voice of the Admirals" Pete Michaud and Admirals Vice President and Assistant General Manager Mark Bernard and will host the show from the road. Due to technical difficulties, the Admirals will be unable to accept phone calls during this week's radio show.

ADMIRALS MEDIA GUIDES AVAILABLE

The Admirals are pleased to announce that the first ever Norfolk Admirals Media Guide is now available for purchase. With detailed information on the history of the AHL Admirals, biographies of current players, coaching staff and management, as well as a look at Norfolk's history against its opponents, an Admirals media guide is an excellent companion for any diehard fan while watching or listening to games. Admirals Media Guides are available for $15 at the Admirals Center Ice Souvenir Stand during games or at the Admirals Online Merchandise store at norfolkadmirals.com.

TICKETS

To purchase tickets to any Admirals game, you may visit the Scope Box Office weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., visit any Ticketmaster outlet, call Ticketmaster at (757) 671-8100 or visit Ticketmaster online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Save money by purchasing Admirals season tickets, ten packs or group tickets! Stop by the Admirals' Administrative Offices at Scope or call (757) 640-1212 weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

ON THE RADIO/INTERNET

All games are broadcast on ESPN Radio 1310 WGH-AM. The games are also cybercast at SportsJuice.com. Go to SportsJuice.com, or click on the link at norfolkadmirals.com. Broadcasts begin 15 minutes prior to game time.

Games are also viewable through the Internet on a pay-per-view basis through B2 Networks for anyone with a high-speed cable modem, T1 or DSL broadband connection and Windows Media Player 9 or higher. Visit norfolkadmirals.com and click the B2 Networks banner to view all Admirals' home and away games.

Check out the Norfolk Admirals Statistics

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