Admirals Earn Point in Seesaw Battle
February 23, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release
MANCHESTER, NH - The Norfolk Admirals (20-30-2-5) erased a three-goal deficit but fell in a shootout to the Manchester Monarchs (25-24-4-4) 7-6 on Saturday night at the Verizon Wireless Arena. The Admirals have now earned points in 12 of their last 15 games (9-3-1-2).
The Admirals took a 1-0 lead on their first offensive flurry of the game. Vladimir Mihalik took a shot from the slot that rebounded off Manchester goaltender Daniel Taylor to the right corner where Justin Keller put another shot on net. Taylor stopped Keller's shot but could not stop Junior Lessard from stashing home the rebound from the goalmouth at 2:36 of the first period.
However, the rest of the opening frame belonged to the Monarchs. The AHL's top-ranked power play unit knotted the score at 1-1 just over four minutes later. Matt Moulson sent a centering feed from the right corner to Brian Boyle at the goalmouth, and Boyle chipped a shot over the right leg of Norfolk netminder Marc Denis at 6:44.
The Monarchs went ahead 2-1 on their next shot in the game. John Zeiler sent a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle that glanced off Denis' right shoulder and went into the net at 7:39.
Manchester's lead doubled with a four-on-three power play goal at 13:42 of the opening period. Lauri Tukonen sent a pass from the left corner to Moulson in the high slot, and Moulson tapped the backdoor pass into the net.
A shorthanded goal with four seconds left in the first period gave the Monarchs a 4-1 lead heading into the first intermission. David Meckler sent a shot from the high slot that got through Denis' leg pads.
The Admirals came to life in the second stanza. Norm Milley cut the Admirals' deficit to two goals just 14 seconds into the period. He sent a shot from the right faceoff circle through a screen that beat Taylor far-side as a Manchester penalty expired.
Milley then brought the Admirals to within a goal of Manchester at 14:38. Keller created a turnover with a poke check near the right point. He got the puck to Milley at the right circle, and Milley sent a snap shot five-hole on Taylor that trimmed Manchester's lead to 4-3.
The Monarchs' lead evaporated at 16:03. As the Admirals entered the attacking zone, Karl Stewart sent a pass from the blue line to Kyle Wanvig in the slot. Wanvig chipped a backhand shot over Taylor's right leg from the bottom of the left circle to knot the score at 4-4 heading into the third period.
Milley's magic continued 2:52 into the third period. He stole the puck behind the Manchester net and centered it to the slot where Blair Jones sent a quick shot past Taylor for a 5-4 Norfolk lead.
The Monarchs clawed back to tie the game at 5:34, as Moulson's shot from the top of the left faceoff circle glanced off the crossbar and went into the net.
The Admirals claimed a 6-5 lead in the last five minutes of regulation. Radek Smolenak stole the puck in the Manchester zone and left it in the slot for Paul Szczechura, who sent a shot past Taylor at 15:52.
However, a late Norfolk penalty led to Manchester's sixth goal with only eight seconds remaining in regulation, as Gabe Gauthier scored on a goalmouth scramble at 19:52.
In the shootout, Boyle, Meckler and Moulson converted on their attempts while only Szczechura scored for Norfolk, as Manchester came out on top 3-1 in the shootout and won the game 7-6.
Marc Denis (37 shots, 31 saves) got the shootout loss. Daniel Taylor (23 shots, 17 saves) got the victory.
Norfolk was 0-5 on the power play. Manchester was 3-4.
The Admirals now travel to Portland, Maine, to square off against the Pirates on Sunday afternoon and Tuesday evening. The puck drops at 4:05 p.m. on Sunday and 7:05 p.m. on Tuesday.
The Admirals return to Scope on March 7 against the Philadelphia Phantoms. 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 (757) 671-8100 or visit Ticketmaster online at www.ticketmaster.com. To purchase Admirals season tickets, ten packs or group tickets, please stop by the Admirals' Administrative Offices at Scope or call (757) 640-1212 weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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