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AHL Norfolk Admirals

Admirals Seek Revenge In Pivotal East Division Tilts This Week

December 28, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


NORFOLK, Va. - The Norfolk Admirals will be out for revenge this week as they play two of their next three games against East Division Rivals who handed them tough losses over the past two weeks.

In their last home contest on December 19, the Admirals fell to the Binghamton Senators 5-4 despite erasing a two-goal third-period deficit. Last night, the Hershey Bears handed the Admirals a 7-1 defeat at Giant Center.

The Admirals will first seek to avenge last night's loss to the Bears when they host Hershey at Norfolk Scope Arena tomorrow night at 7:15 p.m. Then, they will close out the 2009 calendar year on New Year's Eve when they square off against the Senators in Binghamton Thursday evening. Norfolk closes out its week in Adirondack on Saturday night with a game against the Phantoms.

EAST DIVISION STANDINGS

At 15-17-1-0 (31 points), the Admirals are in fifth place in the American Hockey League's East Division. The East is led by the Hershey Bears (23-8-0-2, 48 pts). They are followed by the Albany River Rats (18-13-1-2, 39 pts), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (16-14-1-1, 34 pts) and Binghamton Senators (14-13-3-1, 32 pts). The Adirondack Phantoms (14-13-2-0, 30 pts) are sixth and the Syracuse Crunch (10-18-2-2, 24 pts) round out the division in seventh.

THE ADMIRALS' WEEK AHEAD

Tues., Dec. 29... vs. Hershey Bears (Washington Capitals)... 7:15 p.m.

Thurs., Dec. 31... at Binghamton Senators (Ottawa Senators)... 5:00 p.m.

Sat., Jan. 2... at Adirondack Phantoms (Philadelphia Flyers)... 7:00 p.m.

ADMIRALS' LOG

- Veteran forward Mark Parrish has points in six straight games (5G, 4A) and goals in four of his last six games.

- Brandon Bochenski remains one goal shy of tying Casey Hankinson's AHL Admirals record of 76 career goals.

- Bochenski is tied for third in the AHL in goals (15) and is tied for ninth in the AHL in points (31).

- Veteran defenseman Lukas Krajicek registered his first point as an Admiral on Mark Parrish's second period goal on Sunday evening in Hershey. It was his first American Hockey League point since an assist on April 16, 2005 with the San Antonio Rampage at Grand Rapids.

- Keith Aucoin's first period penalty shot goal on Sunday evening in Hershey was just the fourth penalty shot goal allowed on 14 attempts in the ten-season history of the AHL Admirals.

- The Admirals will look to rebound from Sunday's 7-1 defeat in Hershey with a rematch against the Bears on Tuesday night at Scope. Norfolk has points in six of seven games (3-1-2-1-0) and has out-scored its opponents 28-17 in the game after a contest with a margin of defeat of six or more goals since joining the AHL.

- Defenseman Mike Lundin was recalled by the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday and scored his first career NHL goal in the Lightning's 4-3 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers that night.

- Norfolk will play a New Year's Eve road game for the third straight year on Thursday evening in Binghamton. The Admirals have played a New Year's Eve game in all but one season since December 31, 2002. Norfolk is 2-4-0-0-0 all-time on New Year's Eve.

- The Admirals will play their first ever game at the Glens Falls Civic Center on Saturday. Norfolk defeated Adirondack 2-1 in overtime on December 4 in its first game against the relocated Phantoms. However, the game was played at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia. Norfolk will host Adirondack for the first time this season January 15-16 at Norfolk Scope Arena.

ADMIRALS FAMILY FUN PACKS

When the Admirals take on the Hershey Bears at Scope tomorrow it will be another Admirals Family Fun Pack Night. Family Fun Packs include four Red Level tickets for just $48 plus four free hot dogs, four free popcorns and four free sodas. That is a savings of $37! This great deal is available for all Tuesday and Wednesday night home games. The offer is available at the Scope Box Office, any Ticketmaster outlet, charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000 or online at ticketmaster.com.

STUDENT RUSH NIGHTS

When the Admirals take on the Hershey Bears at Scope tomorrow it will also be another Student Rush Night, brought to you by Pit Bull Energy Drink and Baxter's Sports Lounge. All students have to do is show their valid, current student ID at the Scope Box Office after 2:00 p.m. on the day of the game and receive a White Level ticket for just $8 (normally $12). Plus, students will receive a buy one, get one free offer for the next Student Rush night. High School and College IDs are accepted. This offer is not available anywhere other than the Scope Box Office. This great deal is available for all Tuesday and Wednesday night home games.

Student Rush tickets will also get students $5.99 menu items at Baxter's Sports Lounge before and after the game that night. Baxter's Sports Lounge is located just behind Norfolk Scope at 500 Granby Street. Students of any age with Student Rush tickets will be permitted into Baxter's prior to game time. After the game, only students over age 21 with Student Rush ticket stubs will be permitted unless a parent or guardian accompanies them.

THIS WEEK ON THE ADMIRALS HOUR RADIO SHOW

Due to the holidays, there will not be an Admirals Hour this Thursday, December 31. The next Admirals Hour will be on Friday, January 8. More details will be announced next week.

SCOUTING REPORT

On Tuesday, the Admirals will face the Hershey Bears for the first time at Scope this season. The Admirals have dropped all four meetings with the Bears thus far this season including last night's 7-1 setback. The perennial top scoring duo of Keith Aucoin (16+1935) and Alexandre Giroux (11+2334) remain at the top of the Hershey scoring charts. Goaltender Braden Holtby has put up impressive numbers in limited time with the Bears this season, going 7-1-1 with a 1.22 goals-against average and.956 save percentage in nine games. Jason Bacashihua (6-2-1, 2.66,.906) is also manning the pipes for the Bears at this time. Michal Neuvirth (10-5-0, 1.99,.929) is currently on NHL recall to the Washington Capitals. Hershey has won six straight games.

The Admirals will meet the Binghamton Senators for the fifth time this season by invading the Broome County Veteran's Memorial Arena for the first time this season on New Year's Eve. Both teams have two victories to their credit in the season series. Former Admiral Martin St. Pierre leads Binghamton in assists (21) and points (34) and is tied for the team lead in goals (13) with Denis Hamel and Ryan Keller. Former Admirals goaltender Mike Brodeur (5-5-1, 3.03,.892) is back after his recent recall to the Ottawa Senators. The Senators have lost five of their last seven games (2-4-1-0) including a 5-3 loss at Rochester last night. They will visit the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Wednesday before hosting the Admirals on Thursday.

Norfolk visits the Glens Falls Civic Center for the first time in team history on Saturday night as they face the Adirondack Phantoms for the first time this season. The Admirals claimed a 2-1 overtime win on December 4 at Philadelphia's Wachovia Center. Jon Matsumoto leads Adirondack in points with 24 and is tied with Stefan Legein for the team lead with 12 goals. First-year North American professional goaltender Johan Backlund (8-8-0, 2.77,.907) leads the Phantoms with eight wins. He is joined between the pipes by veteran John Grahame (0-1-0, 4.00,.826). Adirondack has won five of its last seven games (5-2-0-0) including a 3-2 win at Binghamton on Saturday night. They will play three games before hosting the Admirals on Saturday, as they visit Wilkes-Barre/Scranton tonight, visit Albany on Wednesday and then host Albany on Thursday.

NORFOLK LEADERS

Goals: Brandon Bochenski (15)

Assists: Brandon Bochenski (16)

Points: Brandon Bochenski (31)

Games: Brandon Bochenski, Adam Hall, Vladimir Mihalik (33)

PP goals: Brandon Bochenski (5)

SH goals: Paul Szczechura (1)

+/- Rating: Kevin Quick (+9)

PIM: Matt Lashoff (47)

GAA: Dustin Tokarski (2.48)

Spct: Dustin Tokarski (.912)

Wins: Dustin Tokarski (10)

Losses: Dustin Tokarski (9)

GPI: Dustin Tokarski (19)

Minutes: Dustin Tokarski (1139)

HERSHEY LEADERS

Goals: Keith Aucoin (16)

Assists: John Carlson, Alexandre Giroux (23)

Points: Keith Aucoin (35)

Games: Andrew Joudrey (33)

PP goals: Andrew Gordon (8)

SH goals: Steve Pinizzotto (3)

+/- Rating: John Carlson (+17)

PIM: Greg Amadio (83)

GAA: Braden Holtby (1.22)

Spct: Braden Holtby (.956)

Wins: Michal Neuvirth (10)

Losses: Michal Neuvirth (5)

GPI: Michal Neuvirth (15)

Minutes: Michal Neuvirth (876)

BINGHAMTON LEADERS

Goals: Denis Hamel, Ryan Keller, Martin St. Pierre (13)

Assists: Martin St. Pierre (21)

Points: Martin St. Pierre (34)

Games: Several (31)

PP goals: Denis Hamel (7)

SH goals: Several (1)

+/- Rating: Josh Hennessy (+16)

PIM: Tim Spencer (100)

GAA: Andy Chiodo (2.89)

Spct: Andy Chiodo (.915)

Wins: Mike Brodeur, Andy Chiodo (5)

Losses: Andy Chiodo (10)

GPI: Mike Brodeur (17)

Minutes: Mike Brodeur (812)

ADIRONDACK LEADERS

Goals: Stefan Legein, Jon Matsumoto (12)

Assists: Patrick Maroon (16)

Points: Jon Matsumoto (24)

Games: Jon Matsumoto, Patrick Maroon (29)

PP goals: Jon Matsumoto (5)

SH goals: Stefan Legein (2)

+/- Rating: Jason Ward (+3)

PIM: Matt Clackson (95)

GAA: Johan Backlund (2.77)

Spct: Johan Backlund (.907)

Wins: Johan Backlund (8)

Losses: Johan Backlund (8)

GPI: Johan Backlund (17)

Minutes: Johan Backlund (995)

TRANSACTIONS OF THE PAST WEEK

December 26, 2009 DELETE D Mike Lundin - Recalled from loan by Tampa Bay (NHL)

DELETE G Riku Helenius - Recalled from loan by Tampa Bay (NHL)

December 27, 2009 ADD G Shane Connelly - Signed to Professional Tryout Contract (PTO)

December 28, 2009 ADD G Riku Helenius - Returned on loan by Tampa Bay (NHL)

DELETE G Shane Connelly - Released from Professional Tryout Contract (PTO)

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 2009-10 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 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 December 28, 2009


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