Admirals Exorcize Demons in Win Over Devils
March 21, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release
NORFOLK, VA - Radek Smolenak had two goals and Marc Denis made 34 saves as the Norfolk Admirals (25-38-2-5) exorcized the demons of their Wednesday loss to Providence with a 6-1 victory over the Lowell Devils (21-36-7-4) on Friday night at Norfolk Scope Arena.
Despite being out-shot 19-5 in the period, the Admirals took a 1-0 lead into the dressing room after one period thanks to effective special teams and solid netminding by Denis. After killing a Lowell five-on-three power play midway through the period, Norfolk took the lead with less than two minutes remaining in the frame on the power play. Smolenak tipped a Blair Jones point shot past Lowell goaltender Dave Caruso at 18:11.
Lowell briefly tied the game at 1-1 midway through the second period when Nicklas Bergfors scored a power play goal at 9:27.
However, the rest of the period belonged to the Admirals. Sean Hurley picked up his first professional point by taking a shot from the left point that Caruso stopped. However, Justin Keller found the rebound between Caruso's legs and sent it into the net at 12:09.
Smolenak netted his second goal of the game just under five minutes later to make the game 3-1. He emerged from behind the goal line in the right corner with his back to the goal, spun around and sent a shot that ricocheted off of Caruso and went between his legs at 17:00.
Brandon Segal emerged from the penalty box and gave the Admirals a three-goal lead in the period's final minute. He deked around a defender in the left circle and sent a wrist shot five-hole on Caruso at 19:29.
Eighteen-year-old Dana Tyrell picked up his first professional point early in the third period on a Blair Jones goal. Jones sent a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle five-hole for a 5-1 lead at 3:05 of the final frame.
Rob Klinkhammer closed out scoring in the final minute of the game. Klinkhammer re-directed a Justin Keller pass into the net at 19:24.
Marc Denis (35 shots, 34 saves) earned the victory. Dave Caruso (23 shots, 17 saves) got the loss.
Norfolk was 1-2 on the power play. Lowell was 1-6.
The Admirals and Devils will square off again tomorrow night at Scope at 7:15.
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.
Three Stars:
1. Radek Smolenak - NOR
2. Marc Denis - NOR
3. Brandon Segal - NOR
Box Score
Notes: The Admirals are 8-4-1-1 in their last 14 games at Scope ... Norfolk tied its largest margin of victory in 2007-08 (five goals, February 8 vs. Binghamton) ... The game marked the fourth time this season that the Admirals scored at least six goals ... Ten of eleven Admirals forwards had points in the game with six multipoint performances ... Fourteen of seventeen Norfolk skaters were at least +1 in the game ... C Dana Tyrell made his professional debut, becoming the youngest player in Norfolk Admirals history at 18 years, 10 months and 28 days old. He picked up his first professional point with an assist on Blair Jones' third period goal ... D Sean Hurley made his Admirals debut and scored his first pro point in his second pro game with an assist on Justin Keller's second period goal. Hurley was also a team-best +3 ... The Admirals have killed 41 of their last 45 penalties (91.1%) over their last eight games ... LW Smolenak's first period power play goal broke an 0-20 drought on the power play ... F Norm Milley, D Andy Rogers, F Paul Szczechura and D Mario Scalzo missed the game due to injury while F Andy Contois and F Kyle Wanvig were healthy scratches ... Attendance: 3,506.
Pronunciations:
Denis: deh-NEE
Klinkhammer: KLEENK-ham-uhr
Segal: SEE-guhl
Smolenak: smoh-LAN-ak
Dana Tyrell: DAYN-uh tigh-REHL
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