Sports stats

AHL Norfolk Admirals

Admirals Look To Rebound In Final Road Trip Of Regular Season

March 31, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


NORFOLK, Va. - The Norfolk Admirals will head into their final road trip of the 2009-10 regular season hoping to gain ground in the East Division playoff race.

Last week, the Admirals fell in three games at Scope. On Wednesday, Penguins goaltender Brad Thiessen stopped all 31 shots he faced as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton shut out Norfolk 3-0. In the Friday rematch, Matt Lashoff scored Norfolk's lone goal as the Admirals fell to the Penguins 3-1. Despite out-shooting their opponent 46-25 on Saturday, Norfolk was unable to solve Worcester goaltender Alex Stalock as the Sharks topped the Admirals 2-0.

This week, the Admirals play their final road games of the 2009-10 regular season with three games in three days this weekend. The trip begins on Friday in Albany with a 7:00 tilt against the River Rats. On Saturday, Norfolk visits Binghamton for a 7:05 meeting with the Senators. The Admirals close out the trip on Sunday evening in Hershey with a 6:00 game against the Bears.

The Admirals will return to Scope for their final three games of the regular season on Wednesday, April 7 against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins before hosting the Hershey Bears on Friday and Saturday, April 9-10.

*EAST DIVISION STANDINGS*

At 36-32-3-3 (78 points with six games remaining), the Admirals are in fourth place in the American Hockey League's East Division.

The Hershey Bears (56-14-0-3, 115 points with seven games remaining) have clinched the East Division title. The Albany River Rats (41-27-3-5, 90 points with four games remaining) are 12 points ahead of the Admirals for second place but Norfolk has two games in hand. The Admirals trail the third-place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (38-31-2-3, 81 points with six games remaining) by three points. The fifth-place Binghamton Senators (32-34-5-3, 72 points with six games remaining) trail Norfolk by six points. The sixth-place Adirondack Phantoms (31-36-3-4, 69 points with six games remaining) trail the Admirals by nine points. The seventh-place Syracuse Crunch (31-37-3-3, 68 points with six games remaining) trail Norfolk by ten points with one game in hand.

Typically the top four teams from each division in the AHL advance to the Calder Cup Playoffs. The first round of the playoffs is the division semifinals, as the fourth-place team plays the first-place team while the second-place team plays the third-place team. There is one possible exception to the qualification rules in 2009-10: if the fifth-place team in the Atlantic Division finishes with more points than the fourth-place team in the East Division, it would cross over and compete in the East Division playoffs. Currently, that rule would come in to effect and knock the Admirals out of the playoffs, as the Atlantic Division's fifth-place team, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (36-29-4-6, 82 points with five games remaining), have four more points than the fourth-place Admirals. Norfolk holds one game in hand over the Sound Tigers.

*THE ADMIRALS' WEEK AHEAD*

Fri., Apr. 2... at Albany River Rats (Carolina Hurricanes)... 7:00 p.m.

Sat., Apr. 3... at Binghamton Senators (Ottawa Senators)... 7:05 p.m.

Sun., Apr. 4... at Hershey Bears (Washington Capitals)... 6:00 p.m.

*ADMIRALS' LOG*

- The Admirals have lost three straight games, marking their first consecutive regulation losses since January 15-16 versus Adirondack.

- Last week, the Admirals scored just one goal in a three-game span. It marked the ninth time in AHL Admirals history that the club has scored one or fewer goals in a three-game span. The last time was December 14-19, 2007.

- After being shut out just once in their first 71 games this season, the Admirals were shut out twice in three games last week. Brad Thiessen turned in 31 saves for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in a 3-0 Penguins victory at Scope on Wednesday while Alex Stalock stopped all 46 shots he faced for Worcester in a 2-0 Sharks victory at Scope on Saturday.

- In three games against the Admirals over the past two weeks, Brad Thiessen went 3-0-0 with one shutout, a 0.67 GAA and.977 SV%, stopping 86 of 88 shots.

- Worcester goaltender Alex Stalock's 46 saves were the third-most saves recorded in a shutout of the AHL Admirals. The record for most saves by an opposing goaltender in a shutout against the AHL Admirals is 50, held by both Travis Scott (a 3-0 loss on March 19, 2003 at Manchester) and Peter Budaj (a 5-0 loss on December 26, 2004 at Hershey).

- Defenseman Vladimir Mihalik was recalled by the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.

*WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7 IS VALUE NIGHT AT SCOPE!*

When the Admirals return to Scope on Wednesday, April 7, it will be another Family Fun Pack Night and Student Rush Night. 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, brought to you by Pit Bull Energy Drink and Baxter's Sports Lounge, provide $8 White Level Tickets (normally $12) for high school and college students with a valid current high school or college ID. In addition, when you buy a Student Rush Night Ticket, you get a buy-one, get-one free offer for the next Student Rush Night. On top of that, you get discounted food at Baxter's Sports Lounge (located across the street from Scope) on the day of the game.

Admirals 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.

*FRIDAY, APRIL 9 IS ADMIRALS HAT GIVEAWAY NIGHT COURTESY OF BANK OF THE COMMONWEALTH AND NEWSCHANNEL3*

On Friday, April 9, the first 2,500 fans through the gates will receive an Admirals hat courtesy of Bank of the Commonwealth and WTKR NewsChannel3.

*FRIDAY, APRIL 9 IS LIFENET HEALTH FOUNDATION FUNDRAISER NIGHT*

Friday, April 9 is also LifeNet Health Foundation Fundraiser Night. Fans may purchase discounted fundraising tickets for the game on norfolkadmirals.comwith a portion of the ticket cost going back to the LifeNet Health Foundation.

*FRIDAY, APRIL 9 IS WAAR KICKBALL NIGHT OUT WITH THE ADMIRALS*

On Friday, April 9, the Admirals will hold WAAR (World Association of Adult Recreation) Kickball Night Out with the Admirals. Anyone wearing their WAAR tee shirts will receive $10 tickets to the game at the Scope Box Office and will be seated in the same section with other WAAR members. Intermission contests will also take place involving WAAR members.

*SATURDAY, APRIL 10 IS FAN APPRECIATION NIGHT *

The Admirals will close out the 2009-10 regular season schedule by thanking the most important members of the team - the fans - with Fan Appreciation Night. Come out for a fun night of hockey and you may leave with exciting prizes!

*SATURDAY, APRIL 10 IS ADMIRALS MINI STICK GIVEAWAY COURTESY OF UNCLE BOB'S SELF STORAGE*

On Saturday, April 10, the first 1,500 fans through the gates will receive an Admirals mini stick courtesy of Uncle Bob's Self Storage.

*THIS WEEK ON THE ADMIRALS HOUR RADIO SHOW*

The final *Admirals Hour* of the 2009-10 season will air on ESPN Radio 94.1-FM tonight from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. The Voice of the Admirals Pete Michaud will be in the studio with Admirals head coach Leigh Mendelson.

*SCOUTING REPORT*

The Admirals will visit the Albany River Rats on Friday for the final game between the clubs in the 2009-10 regular season. The River Rats occupy second place in the East Division and have won five of the seven previous meetings against Norfolk this season. If in Friday's game the Admirals lose in regulation or the game goes into overtime (win or lose), Norfolk will officially be eliminated from contention for second place. Albany has won three straight games including a 5-1 win on Sunday at Springfield in their last game played. They do not play again before hosting the Admirals on Friday.

The Admirals then move southwest across New York to Binghamton where they will face the Senators for the final time in the 2009-10 regular season on Saturday. The Senators occupy fifth place in the East Division and are six points back of the #4 Admirals. Norfolk has won four of the seven meetings between the clubs this season - including two of the three games played at the venerable Broome County Veteran's Memorial Arena. Senators forward Zach Smith has six goals and seven points in the previous seven games between the clubs. The Senators have won four of their last six games, but lost in their previous game with a 3-2 setback at Hershey on Sunday. They host Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday before welcoming the Admirals on Saturday.

The Admirals play the final road game of the 2009-10 regular season on Sunday evening when they play the Hershey Bears for the eighth of ten meetings in the regular season series. The Bears have won six of the previous seven games in the season series. AHL leading scorer Keith Aucoin has 11 points (4G, 7A) in the seven games against Norfolk this season. Hershey has won six of its last seven games including their 3-2 victory at home over the Senators on Sunday. The Bears visit Syracuse on Wednesday and Rochester on Friday before hosting the Crunch on Saturday and Norfolk on Sunday.

*NORFOLK LEADERS*

*Goals*: Ryan Craig (22)

*Assists*: Dana Tyrell (25)

*Points*: Ryan Craig (42)

*Games*: Adam Hall, Ty Wishart (73)

*PP goals*: Brandon Bochenski, Juraj Simek (7)

*SH goals*: Several (1)

*+/- Rating*: Dana Tyrell (+9)

*PIM*: Mitch Fritz (133)

*GAA*: Jaroslav Janus (2.07)

*Spct*: Jaroslav Janus (.922)

*Wins*: Dustin Tokarski (24)

*Losses*: Dustin Tokarski (22)

*GPI*: Dustin Tokarski (49)

*Minutes*: Dustin Tokarski (2961)

*ALBANY LEADERS*

*Goals*: Jerome Samson (37)

*Assists*: Jerome Samson (39)**

*Points*: Jerome Samson (76)

*Games*: Nick Dodge, Chris Terry (76)

*PP goals*: Jerome Samson (10)

*SH goals*: Pat Dwyer (2)

*+/- Rating*: Nick Dodge (+17)

*PIM*: Zack FitzGerald (291)

*GAA*: Justin Peters (2.54)

*Spct*: Justin Peters (.917)

*Wins*: Justin Peters (24)

*Losses*: Justin Peters (16)

*GPI*: Justin Peters (43)

*Minutes*: Justin Peters (2524)

*BINGHAMTON LEADERS*

*Goals*: Ryan Keller (31)

*Assists*: Martin St. Pierre (43)**

*Points*: Martin St. Pierre (66)

*Games*: Erik Condra (74)

*PP goals*: Denis Hamel (11)

*SH goals*: Josh Hennessy (4)

*+/- Rating*: Geoff Kinrade (+23)

*PIM*: Tim Spencer (136)

*GAA*: Chris Holt (2.95)

*Spct*: Chris Holt (.905)

*Wins*: Chris Holt (16)

*Losses*: Chris Holt (15)

*GPI*: Chris Holt (33)

*Minutes*: Chris Holt (1872)

*HERSHEY LEADERS*

*Goals*: Alexandre Giroux (42)

*Assists*: Keith Aucoin (63)**

*Points*: Keith Aucoin (98)

*Games*: Andrew Gordon (72)

*PP goals*: Andrew Gordon (18)

*SH goals*: Steve Pinizzotto (5)

*+/- Rating*: John Carlson, Steve Pinizzotto (+37)

*PIM*: Greg Amadio (158)

*GAA*: Michal Neuvirth (2.31)

*Spct*: Michal Neuvirth (.918)

*Wins*: Braden Holtby (23)

*Losses*: Braden Holtby, Michal Neuvirth (6)

*GPI*: Braden Holtby (33)

*Minutes*: Braden Holtby (1907)

*TRANSACTIONS OF THE PAST WEEK*

*March 29, 2010* ADD G Tyler Sims - Signed to Professional Tryout Contract (PTO)

ADD D Matt Case - Signed to Amateur Tryout Contract (ATO)

*March 28, 2010* DELETE G Zane Kalemba - Released from Amateur Tryout Contract (ATO)

*March 27, 2010* DELETE D Vladimir Mihalik - Recalled from loan by Tampa Bay (NHL)

*TICKETS*

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 1-800-745-3000 or visit Ticketmaster online at ticketmaster.com. Don't miss a minute of the action by purchasing your 2010-11 season tickets today. Affordable monthly payment plans are available for a limited time only! 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

*ON THE RADIO/INTERNET*

All eighty regular season games will air live on STAR 1310-AM and will stream online free of charge at star1310.com. AHL Live will carry online video of every Admirals game on a pay-per-view or season pass basis. Fans can log in to watch or get more information about AHL Live's online video features at ahllive.com.

Check out the Norfolk Admirals Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from March 31, 2010


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Norfolk Admirals Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central