Admirals Take Four-Game Winning Streak on the Road
December 29, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release
NORFOLK, VA - The Norfolk Admirals will take a four-game winning streak to Portland and Worcester for a three-game road trip this week.
The Admirals extended their winning streak to a season-high four games on Saturday night when Steve Downie netted a hat trick in a 7-2 win over the Philadelphia Phantoms at Scope.
This week, the Admirals will play a New Year's Eve game in Portland on Wednesday, travel to Worcester to battle the Sharks on Friday night and then return to Portland for a Saturday night tilt against the Pirates. Following this week, Norfolk will return to Scope for a nine-game homestand.
EAST DIVISION STANDINGS
At 13-19-1-4 (31 points), the Admirals are sixth in the East Division. The Hershey Bears (23-8-0-1, 47 points) and Bridgeport Sound Tigers (21-9-1-2, 45 points) own the two highest point totals in the East Division and the American Hockey League. They are followed by the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (20-11-1-1, 42 points), Binghamton Senators (17-10-3-3, 40 points) and Philadelphia Phantoms (19-13-0-1, 39 points). The Albany River Rats (11-16-3-2, 27 points) round out the division.
THE ADMIRALS' WEEK AHEAD
Wed., Dec. 31 ... at Portland Pirates (Buffalo Sabres) ... 5:30 p.m.
Fri., Jan. 2 ... at Worcester Sharks (San Jose Sharks) ... 7:05 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 3 ... at Portland Pirates (Buffalo Sabres) ... 7:00 p.m.
ADMIRALS' LOG
-Norfolk is on a season-high four-game winning streak and has wins in five of its last six games.
-The Admirals have allowed two or fewer goals in each of their last five wins.
-Since December 12 versus Bridgeport, the Admirals have averaged four goals-for per game and only 2.2 goals-against per game. Prior to that game, they were averaging only three goals-for per game and 4.1 goals-against per game.
-With his hat trick on Saturday versus Philadelphia, Steve Downie stretched his point streak to a Norfolk season-high eight games (5G, 10A). In six games with Norfolk since being reassigned by the Tampa Bay Lightning on December 12, Downie has five goals and eight assists.
-The hat trick was the first for the Admirals since Brandon Bochenski netted hat tricks against the Hershey Bears in back-to-back games on December 30, 2006 at Hershey and January 3, 2007 at Scope.
-Norfolk's seven goals scored were the most since last November 21 when they also put up seven goals against the Phantoms at Scope in a 7-3 win.
-Norfolk's 23 shots in the second period on Saturday were a season high and their 48 shots in the game tied a season high.
-Phantoms forward Jonathan Matsumoto's second period goal on Saturday was the first power play goal allowed by Norfolk since December 10, ending the stretch of opponent power plays killed at 27. The Admirals have killed 32 of the last 34 opponent power plays overall.
-Radek Smolenak has points (4G, 1A) in all four games with Norfolk after returning from his first career NHL call-up with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
-Defenseman Mike Lundin registered four assists to tie a Norfolk franchise record on Saturday versus Philadelphia.
-Defenseman Matt Smaby picked up his first NHL point with an assist on Saturday night with the Tampa Bay Lightning versus the Florida Panthers.
ADMIRALS RBK/AHL PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEE
Steve Downie: 1 GP, 3G, 0A, 3PTS, 0PIM
Steve Downie extended his point streak to eight games with a hat trick against his former club on Saturday vs. Philadelphia. It was his first professional hat trick and paced Norfolk's 7-2 win at Scope.
Downie now has five goals and 14 assists in just 12 games with Norfolk. He leads the Admirals with a +9 rating and his 1.58 points-per-game in a Norfolk uniform are more than half a point more than any other player. Including his four games with the Phantoms earlier in the season, Downie has six goals and 21 assists with a +12 rating in just 16 AHL games in 2008-09. His 21 assists rank in the top 20 in the AHL.
THIS WEEK ON THE ADMIRALS HOUR
The Admirals Hour Radio Show will not air this week due to the New Year's Holiday. The Admirals Hour will return on Thursday, January 8, from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. on ESPN Radio 1310.
NORFOLK STREAKS AND TRENDS
Player Streak/Trend Totals Streak Start
Steve Downie Eight-game point streak 5G, 10A 11/16 at PRO
Radek Smolenak Four-game point streak 4G, 1A 12/17 vs. ALB
Grant Potulny Points in 4 of his last 6 games 3G, 5A 12/6 at BRI
Blair Jones Points in 4 of last 6 games 1G, 4A 12/12 vs. BRI
Justin Keller Points in 4 of last 6 games 4G, 2A 12/12 vs. BRI
Vladimir Mihalik Points in 3 of last 5 games 1G, 2A 12/13 vs. BRI
ADMIRALS AMONG THE TOP 20 IN THE AHL:
-Games Played: Blair Jones (34, T-1st), Brandon Segal (33, T-16th)
-Plus-Minus: Steve Downie (+12, T-15th)
-Penalty Minutes: Radek Smolenak (98, 10th), Jay Rosehill (96, 12th)
-Power Play Goals: Brandon Bochenski and Radek Smolenak (6, T-17th)
-Power Play Assists: Blair Jones and Zenon Konopka (11, T-12th)
-Shorthanded Goals: Justin Keller, Brandon Segal, Paul Szczechura (1, T-19th)
-Game-Winning Goals: Zenon Konopka and Radek Smolenak (3, T-12th)
-Shots: Brandon Bochenski (116, 3rd), Blair Jones (107, 5th), Brandon Segal (99, T-14th)
-Goaltender Games Played: Karri Ramo (23, T-6th)
-Goaltender Minutes Played: Karri Ramo (1326, 7th)
-Goaltender Saves: Karri Ramo (628, 6th)
NORFOLK LEADERS
Goals: Brandon Segal, Radek Smolenak (12)
Assists: Blair Jones (16)
Points: Brandon Segal (27)
Games: Blair Jones (34)
PP goals: Brandon Bochenski, Radek Smolenak (6)
SH goals: Justin Keller, Brandon Segal, Paul Szczechura (1)
+/- Rating: Steve Downie (+9)
PIM: Radek Smolenak (98)
GAA: Mike McKenna (3.11)
Spct: Mike McKenna (.895)
Wins: Karri Ramo (7)
Losses: Karri Ramo (11)
GPI: Karri Ramo (23)
Minutes: Karri Ramo (1326)
PORTLAND LEADERS
Goals: Nathan Gerbe (14)
Assists: Tim Kennedy (22)
Points: Mark Mancari (32)
Games: Several (31)
PP goals: Nathan Gerbe (7)
SH goals: Mark Mancari (2)
+/- Rating: Mark Mancari (+13)
PIM: Mike Weber (74)
GAA: Jhonas Enroth (2.52)
Spct: Jhonas Enroth (.915)
Wins: Jhonas Enroth (11)
Losses: Adam Dennis (6)
GPI: Jhonas Enroth (20)
Minutes: Jhonas Enroth (1167)
WORCESTER LEADERS
Goals: Cory Larose (13)
Assists: Ryan Vesce (20)
Points: Ryan Vesce (28)
Games: Several (32)
PP goals: Cory Larose (5)
SH goals: Tom Cavanagh (2)
+/- Rating: Riley Armstrong (+8)
PIM: Frazer McLaren (81)
GAA: Taylor Dakers (2.70)
Spct: Taylor Dakers (.897)
Wins: Thomas Greiss (9)
Losses: Thomas Greiss (9)
GPI: Thomas Greiss (19)
Minutes: Thomas Greiss (1103)
TRANSACTIONS OF THE PAST WEEK
December 26, 2008 DELETE D Matt Smaby - Recalled from loan by Tampa Bay (NHL)
December 27, 2008 DELETE F/D Brent Henley - Loaned to Mississippi (ECHL)
DELETE RW Chris Lawrence - Reassigned by Tampa Bay (NHL) to Mississippi (ECHL)
DELETE D Scott Jackson - Reassigned by Tampa Bay (NHL) to Mississippi (ECHL)
DELETE F Mathieu Curadeau - Returned on loan to Fort Wayne (IHL)
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 (757) 671-8100 or visit Ticketmaster online at www.ticketmaster.com. Don't miss a minute of the action by purchasing your 2008-09 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 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 AHL Live. Visit norfolkadmirals.com and click the AHL Live banner on the left side of the site to view all Admirals' home and away games.
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