AHL Norfolk Admirals

Admirals Look to Right the Ship

Published on November 20, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


NORFOLK - The Norfolk Admirals look to get back to their winning ways as they play the Charlotte Checkers at home on Wednesday before embarking on a brief two-game road swing this weekend.

The Admirals returned to Scope following a four-game road trip last weekend. On Friday night, Patrick Maroon and Nate Guenin gave Norfolk a 2-1 lead, but Springfield's Cam Atkinson scored twice in the second period and goaltender Curtis McElhinney stopped 36 of 38 Norfolk shots as the Falcons defeated the Admirals, 3-2. The next night, Chris Wagner and Peter Holland scored, but the Eastern Conference-leading Falcons skated away with a 5-2 victory.

The Admirals host the Western Conference-leading Charlotte Checkers in the first game of the GEICO Challenge Cup on Wednesday night at Scope. It is also the first Admirals Value Night of 2012-13, with Family Fun Packs and Student Rush Night tickets available. Norfolk returns to action after Thanksgiving with a pair of road games, visiting Adirondack Friday and Connecticut Saturday.

STANDINGS UPDATE

At 7-7-0-0 (14 points), the Admirals are fourth in the East Division and tied for eighth in the Eastern Conference.

Rank

Team GP W L OTL SL PTS PCT

1 * Springfield Falcons 14 10 2 0 2 22 0.786

2 * Syracuse Crunch 14 10 2 1 1 22 0.786

3 * Worcester Sharks 15 7 6 1 1 16 0.533

4

Bridgeport Sound Tigers 14 10 4 0 0 20 0.714

5

Binghamton Senators 13 7 4 1 1 16 0.615

6

W-B/Scranton Penguins 15 8 7 0 0 16 0.533

7

Manchester Monarchs 14 7 6 0 1 15 0.536

8

Portland Pirates 14 6 6 1 1 14 0.500

9

Norfolk Admirals 14 7 7 0 0 14 0.500

10

St. John's IceCaps 15 7 8 0 0 14 0.467

11

Connecticut Whale 14 6 7 1 0 13 0.464

12

Providence Bruins 14 6 7 0 1 13 0.464

13

Hershey Bears 15 6 8 1 0 13 0.433

14

Albany Devils 13 4 5 0 4 12 0.462

15

Adirondack Phantoms 14 6 8 0 0 12 0.429

*Division Leader

Eight teams in each conference shall qualify for the 2013 Calder Cup Playoffs. Following the conclusion of each team's 76-game regular season, the three division winners in each conference will be seeded 1-3 (in order of regular-season points) and the next five best teams (in order of regular-season points) will be seeded 4-8.

THE ADMIRALS' WEEK AHEAD

Wed., Nov. 21 ... vs. Charlotte Checkers (Carolina Hurricanes) ... 7:15 p.m.

Fri., Nov. 23 ... at Adirondack Phantoms (Philadelphia Flyers) ... 7:00 p.m.

Sat., Nov. 24 ... at Connecticut Whale (New York Rangers) ... 7:00 p.m.

ADMIRALS' LOG

- Norfolk has lost two straight and seven of its last ten games (3-7-0-0). After winning their first four home games, the Admirals have posted a 1-3-0-0 record at Scope in their last four home games.

- Good starts are critical to Norfolk's success this season. The Admirals are 7-2-0-0 when scoring first and 4-1-0-0 when leading after one period this season. They are 0-5-0-0 when surrendering the game's first goal and are 1-4-0-0 when trailing after one period this season.

- The Admirals' penalty kill has stopped 16 of the last 18 opponent power plays (88.9%).

- Norfolk has allowed a shorthanded goal in four of its last five games.

- With two wins last weekend, Springfield doubled its franchise's all-time regulation wins total at Norfolk Scope Arena. Norfolk is now 16-4-0-0-1 when playing the Falcons in Hampton Roads.

- The Admirals combined to score three goals in the first periods of last weekend's two games against the Falcons. Entering the games, Springfield had allowed only three goals in the first period in their first 12 games.

- Friday's game against Springfield was the first home of the season in which neither Kyle Palmieri or Peter Holland registered at least one point. Palmieri (3g, 8a) and Holland (6g, 4a) now have points in seven of Norfolk's eight home games this season.

- Holland (7g, 7a) leads Norfolk in both goals and points (14).

- Sami Vatanen (2g, 9a) leads the Admirals in assists and ranks third among AHL rookie defensemen in points. Vatanen also ranks third among all AHL rookies in assists.

- All three games the Admirals play this week are against teams outside of the East Division. Norfolk has played just three games (all against Binghamton) against East Division opposition in their 14 games this season.

ADMIRALS VALUE NIGHTS

The Admirals return to Scope on Wednesday as they face off against the Charlotte Checkers in the first Weekday Value Night of 2012-13. The game will feature Family Fun Packs and Student Rush Nights.

Family Fun Packs include four discounted Red Level Tickets for just $54 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 $9 White Level Tickets (normally $17 on game days) 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.

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.

EMERSON ETEM IS THIS WEEK'S ADMIRALS HOUR GUEST

The Admirals Hour, presented by Michael and Son, airs on Tuesdays from 4-5 p.m. on 102.1-FM, 1490-AM and 1021TheGame.com. This week, Admirals forward #26 Emerson Etem will join "The Voice of the Admirals" Pete Michaud and "The Original Admiral" Dennis McEwen. To join in the conversation, call (757) 490-2750.

SCOPING THE COMPETITION - SCOUTING REPORT FOR UPCOMING HOME GAMES

- The Admirals play the Charlotte Checkers on Wednesday night at Scope in the first of eight meetings this season. Charlotte is the NHL affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes. This is Game 1 in the battle to win the GEICO Challenge Cup.

- The Checkers (11-3-0-2, 24 points) lead the South Division, Western Conference and overall AHL standings.

- Norfolk is 5-3-0-0 at home this season while Charlotte is 8-2-0-2 on the road. The Checkers began the season on a nine-game road trip (6-2-0-1).

- Charlotte is currently on a five-game point streak (4-0-0-1) and is 7-2-0-1 in its last ten games.

- The Checkers have the AHL's third-best offense (3.63 goals per game) and fifth-best defense (2.44 goals against per game).

- Charlotte's offense tends to awaken after the first period. In 16 games this season, Charlotte has just eight first period goals, but has 23 goals in the second period (T-1st in AHL) and 25 goals in the third period (1st in AHL).

- The Checkers are 5-0-0-0 when trailing after the first period and 3-1-0-0 when trailing after the second period. Only Charlotte, Abbotsford (3-1-0-0), Grand Rapids (3-0-0-1) and Syracuse (2-0-0-1) have winning records when trailing after the first period, while Charlotte joins Grand Rapids (3-0-0-0) as the only AHL teams to have a winning record when trailing after two periods.

- Charlotte has the top power play in the AHL (19/72, 26.4%) and the tenth-best penalty kill (10/71, 85.9%).

- Charlotte is the second least-penalized team in the AHL this season, averaging only 13.56 penalty minutes per game (217 PIM in 16 GP).

- Checkers forwards Drayson Bowman and Zach Boychuk are tied for the AHL lead with 10 goals. Four of Boychuk's goals are game-winners (1st in AHL).

- Charlotte goaltender Dan Ellis ranks third in goals-against average (1.67) and save percentage (.947) in the AHL. His creasemate Justin Peters is tied for third in the AHL in wins (7).

- Among all AHL defensemen, Checkers blueliner Justin Faulk ranks second in points (15) and fourth in assists (12).

- There are no shared alumni between the current Norfolk and Charlotte rosters.

- Norfolk's games against Charlotte are the only contests against Western Conference opposition this regular season.

NORFOLK LEADERS

Goals : Peter Holland (7)

Assists : Sami Vatanen (9)

Points : Peter Holland, Kyle Palmieri (14)

Games : Several (14)

PP goals : Patrick Maroon, Kyle Palmieri (3)

SH goals : Troy Bodie, Chris Wagner (1)

+/- Rating : Nate Guenin (+8)

PIM : Troy Bodie (41)

GAA : Frederik Andersen (2.76)

Spct : Frederik Andersen (.915)

Wins : Frederik Andersen (4)

Losses : Igor Bobkov (4)

GPI : Frederik Andersen (9)

Minutes : Frederik Andersen (501)

CHARLOTTE LEADERS

Goals: Drayson Bowman, Zach Boychuk (10)

Assists: Justin Faulk (12)

Points: Zach Boychuk, Justin Faulk (15)

Games: Several (16)

PP goals: Drayson Bowman, Zach Boychuk (4)

SH goals: Nicolas Blanchard, Chris Terry (1)

+/- Rating: Jerome Samson (+10)

PIM: Nicolas Blanchard (33)

GAA: Dan Ellis (1.67)

Spct: Dan Ellis (.947)

Wins: Justin Peters (7)

Losses: Dan Ellis (2)

GPI: Justin Peters (9)

Minutes: Justin Peters (505)

ADIRONDACK LEADERS

Goals: Brayden Schenn (8)

Assists: Brayden Schenn (9)

Points: Brayden Schenn (17)

Games: Several (14)

PP goals: Brayden Schenn (3)

SH goals: Sean Couturier, Brayden Schenn (1)

+/- Rating: Oliver Lauridsen (+5)

PIM: Marc-Andre Bourdon (55)

GAA: Scott Munroe (2.57)

Spct: Scott Munroe (.924)

Wins: Cal Heeter, Scott Munroe (3)

Losses: Cal Heeter, Scott Munroe (4)

GPI: Scott Munroe (8)

Minutes: Scott Munroe (443)

CONNECTICUT LEADERS

Goals: Several (5)

Assists: Kris Newbury (9)

Points: Kris Newbury (14)

Games: Several (14)

PP goals: Matt Gilroy, Kris Newbury (3)

SH goals: Kyle Jean, Kris Newbury (1)

+/- Rating: Sam Klassen (+3)

PIM: Kris Newbury (48)

GAA: Cameron Talbot (2.30)

Spct: Cameron Talbot (.931)

Wins: Cameron Talbot (5)

Losses: Cameron Talbot (4)

GPI: Cameron Talbot (9)

Minutes: Cameron Talbot (495)

TICKETS

Individual tickets are on sale now at the Scope Box Office, all Ticketmaster Outlets, charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000 and online at ticketmaster.com. Don't miss a minute of Admirals action by purchasing your season tickets today. 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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American Hockey League Stories from November 20, 2012


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