AHL Norfolk Admirals

Admirals Set Sail on Nine-Game Road Trip

Published on February 19, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


NORFOLK, VA - After wrapping up a six-game homestand with a 4-2 record, the Norfolk Admirals have now raised their anchor to embark on a season-long nine-game, 17-day road trip through the Northeast.

Last week, the Admirals won two of three games at Scope. On Wednesday, Penguins netminder Marc-Andre Fleury made the best of the first start of his conditioning stint, as the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton goalie stopped 30 of 31 shots in a 3-1 defeat of the Admirals. On Friday night, the Admirals defeated the Worcester Sharks 4-2 in a game that featured 166 penalty minutes. In the Saturday rematch with the Sharks, Marc Denis made a season-high 48 saves to lead the Admirals to a 4-2 win.

The Admirals will square off against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Wednesday, the Manchester Monarchs on Friday and Saturday and the Portland Pirates on Sunday this week in four road games. The Admirals, B2 Networks and Baxter's Sports Lounge will team up to bring Wednesday's game back to Norfolk via B2 Nights at Baxter's. Watch the Admirals and Sound Tigers on the big screen at Baxter's at 7:30. See below for more details.

EAST DIVISION STANDINGS

At 19-29-2-4, the Admirals are seventh in the East Division with 44 points. In the past three weeks, the Admirals have trimmed their deficit for the fourth and final playoff spot in the East Division from 22 points to 15 points with eight weeks remaining in the season. The East is led by the Philadelphia Phantoms (36-17-2-2, 76 pts). The Hershey Bears (29-18-0-5) and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (30-20-0-3) are tied for second place with 63 points. The Bridgeport Sound Tigers (29-24-1-0), Albany River Rats (28-24-0-3) and Binghamton Senators (25-21-5-4) are all tied for the fourth and final playoff spot with 59 points.

THE ADMIRALS' WEEK AHEAD

Wed., Feb. 20 ...at Bridgeport Sound Tigers (New York Islanders) ... 7:30 p.m. B2 Night at Baxter's

Fri., Feb. 22 ... at Manchester Monarchs (Los Angeles Kings) ... 7:05 p.m.

Sat., Feb. 23 ...at Manchester Monarchs (Los Angeles Kings) ... 7:05 p.m.

Sat., Feb. 24 ...at Portland Pirates (Anaheim Ducks) ... 4:05 p.m.

ADMIRALS' LOG

- With goals in all three games last week, Paul Szczechura now has points in 13 of his 14 games with Norfolk (10-7-17). Szczechura also has points and goals in three straight games (3-0-3) and goals in four of his last five (4G) and nine of his last 11 games (8G). Since he joined Norfolk on January 15 from Iowa, he has the most points by a rookie and is tied for the eighth-most points in the AHL (10-7-17), and he is also second in the AHL with 10 goals during that time span.

- Marc Denis stopped 48 of 50 Worcester shots on Saturday night. Last week, Denis went 1-1-0 with a 2.60 GAA and .938 SV%.

- Blair Jones netted three assists on Friday vs. Worcester - his first assists since December 2 at Hershey and his first multipoint game since another three-assist performance on November 24 vs. Springfield. He finished the week with five assists and a +5 rating in three games.

- Kyle Wanvig recorded a "Gordie Howe Hat Trick" on Saturday against Worcester (1G, 1A, 2 fights)

- The 166 combined penalty minutes between Worcester (93) and Norfolk (73) on Friday night were the most in an Admirals game since February 24, 2007 at Hartford.

- Norfolk tied a franchise record for most shots allowed in a period during the first frame on Saturday against Worcester, as the Sharks had 24 shots. The only prior time this had occurred was exactly six years ago on February 16, 2002, in Cincinnati, as the now-defunct Mighty Ducks fired two-dozen shots in the second period

- Last Friday's game against Worcester began a stretch of 17 games against Atlantic Division opponents in Norfolk's next 22 games. Prior to last Friday's game, Norfolk had only played nine games out of their own Division in 51 games.

ADMIRALS RBK/AHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEE

Veteran Right Wing Norm Milley netted five points in three games for Norfolk last week. He continues to rank second in goals (15), points (41) and assists (26) for the Admirals. After a scoreless game on Wednesday against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Milley picked up a goal and an assist in Norfolk's 4-2 win over Worcester on Friday. He followed that up with a three-point performance (1-2-3) in Saturday night's 4-2 victory over the Sharks.

NORFOLK LEADERS

Goals: Kyle Wanvig (17) Assists: Kyle Wanvig (28)

Points: Kyle Wanvig (45) Games: Karl Stewart (53)

PP goals: Justin Keller, Kyle Wanvig (7) SH goals: Karl Stewart (2)

+/- Rating: Jay Leach (+11) PIM: Jay Rosehill (131)

GAA: Marc Denis (2.88) Spct: Jonathan Boutin (.906)

Wins: Jonathan Boutin (10) Losses: Jonathan Boutin (11)

GPI: Jonathan Boutin (27) Minutes: Jonathan Boutin (1465)

BRIDGEPORT LEADERS

Goals: Jeff Tambellini (28) Assists: Ben Walter (30)

Points: Jeff Tambellini (56) Games: Matthew Spiller (54)

PP goals: Steve Regier, Ben Walter (9) SH goals: Jeff Tambellini (6)

+/- Rating: Dustin Kohn, Frans Nielsen, Ben Walter (+6) PIM: Kip Brennan (230)

GAA: Mike Morrison (2.60) Spct: Joey MacDonald (.915)

Wins: Mike Morrison (17) Losses: Joey MacDonald (14)

GPI: Mike Morrison (28) Minutes: Mike Morrison (1594)

MANCHESTER LEADERS

Goals: Brian Boyle (21) Assists: Teddy Purcell (42)

Points: Teddy Purcell (58) Games: Trevor Lewis (55)

PP goals: Gabe Gauthier (13) SH goals: Several (1)

+/- Rating: Richard Petiot (+5) PIM: Paul Crosty (158)

GAA: Daniel Taylor (2.10) Spct: Daniel Taylor (.934)

Wins: Erik Ersberg (10) Losses: Erik Ersberg (13)

GPI: Erik Ersberg (30) Minutes: Erik Ersberg (1540)

PORTLAND LEADERS

Goals: Jason King (22) Assists: Andrew Ebbett (42)

Points: Andrew Ebbett (55) Games: Stephen Dixon, Andrew Ebbett (55)

PP goals: Jason King (10) SH goals: Ryan Carter, Matt Christie (1)

+/- Rating: Andy Schneider (+18) PIM: Andy Schneider (71)

GAA: Mike McKenna (2.58) Spct: Mike McKenna (.913)

Wins: Mike McKenna (17) Losses: Gerald Coleman, Mike McKenna (7)

GPI: Mike McKenna (28) Minutes: Mike McKenna (1559)

TRANSACTIONS

February 18, 2008 DELETE C Shawn Collymore - Released from Professional Tryout Contract (PTO)

DELETE RW Zbynek Hrdel - Reassigned by Tampa Bay (NHL) to Mississippi (ECHL)

UPCOMING EVENTS/PROMOTIONS

Wednesday, February 20 (at Bridgeport Sound Tigers)

- B2 Night at Baxter's - Join your fellow Admirals fans at Baxter's Sports Lounge in Downtown Norfolk on Wednesday night for another Admirals B2 Night at Baxter's. Watch two of the hottest teams in the AHL face off as the Admirals (6-2-1-1 in their last ten games) take on Kyle Okposo, Matt Keith and the rest of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (8-2-0-0 in their last ten games) on the big screen starting at 7:05 p.m. For more details, please visit norfolkadmirals.com.

STARS OF YESTERDAY VERSUS STARS OF TOMORROW GAME AT CHILLED PONDS

The "Stars of Yesterday" will square off against the "Stars of Tomorrow" this Friday at Chilled Ponds when a team comprised of former junior/college/professional hockey players will square off against the Hampton Roads Admirals Junior B Team. Former Admirals Dennis McEwen, David Buckley and Mark Bernard will lace up the skates for the "Stars of Yesterday." Donations will be accepted with proceeds going to the Hampton Roads Junior Whalers. There will also be a 50/50 raffle with a chance to win a St. Louis Blues autographed jersey and autographed photographs of Doug Weight and Keith Tkachuk. For more information, visit chilledponds.com.

ADMIRALS WIVES AND GIRLFRIENDS PUCK SALE RAISES OVER $800 FOR OPERATION SMILE

The Admirals wives and girlfriends would like to thank Admirals fans for helping them to raise over $800 for Operation Smile last Saturday. The wives and girlfriends put autographed Admirals hockey pucks on sale during Saturday's game against the Worcester Sharks.

THIS WEEK ON THE IN MOTION PHYSICAL THERAPY ADMIRALS HOUR

Tune in to the In Motion Physical Therapy Admirals Hour on Thursday evening at 6:00 p.m. on ESPN Radio 1310 WGH-AM. Admirals Vice President and Assistant General Manager Mark Bernard and Norfolk Tides General Manager Dave Rosenfield will host the show.

ADMIRALS MEDIA GUIDES AVAILABLE

The Admirals are pleased to announce that the first ever Norfolk Admirals Media Guide is now available for purchase. With detailed information on the history of the AHL Admirals, biographies of current players, coaching staff and management, as well as a look at Norfolk's history against its opponents, an Admirals media guide is an excellent companion for any diehard fan while watching or listening to games. Admirals Media Guides are available for $15 at the Admirals Center Ice Souvenir Stand during games or at the Admirals Online Merchandise store at norfolkadmirals.com.

TICKETS

To purchase tickets to any Admirals game, you may visit the Scope Box Office weekdays from 10:00 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.

Save money by purchasing Admirals season tickets, ten packs or group tickets! Stop by the Admirals' Administrative Offices at Scope or call (757) 640-1212 weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

ON THE RADIO/INTERNET

All games are broadcast on ESPN Radio 1310 WGH-AM. The games are also cybercast at SportsJuice.com. Go to SportsJuice.com, or click on the link at norfolkadmirals.com. Broadcasts begin 15 minutes prior to game time.

Games are also viewable through the Internet on a pay-per-view basis through B2 Networks for anyone with a high-speed cable modem, T1 or DSL broadband connection and Windows Media Player 9 or higher. Visit norfolkadmirals.com and click the B2 Networks banner to view all Admirals' home and away games.

Check out the Norfolk Admirals Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from February 19, 2008


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