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AHL Norfolk Admirals

Admirals Taste Sweet Victory in Hershey

January 23, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


HERSHEY, PA - Hours after being named to the AHL All-Star Classic Presented by Reebok, Justin Keller registered an assist and a shootout conversion as the Norfolk Admirals (12-28-1-3) weathered a Bears comeback attempt to defeat the Hershey Bears (24-17-0-2) 3-2 in a shootout on Wednesday night at Giant Center.

The Admirals charged out of the gates and took a 2-0 lead midway through the opening period. Junior Lessard got the scoring started just 1:22 into the opening period. Radek Smolenak stole the puck from Hershey at the top of the right circle. He sent a pass to an open Lessard in the slot, and Lessard's second shot beat Hershey goaltender Daren Machesney.

Fellow former Iowa Stars forward Paul Szczechura doubled the Norfolk lead less than seven minutes later on the power play. Justin Keller sent a shot from the high slot that Machesney stopped. The rebound came to Szczechura at the right hashmarks, and Szczechura skated to his right before firing a shot from the bottom of the right circle past Machesney glove-side at 8:19.

Josef Boumedienne got Hershey on the board 10:50 into the second stanza when he deflected Jay Beagle's point shot past Norfolk netminder Marc Denis.

The Bears tied the game midway through the third period on the power play. Eric Fehr sent a slap shot from the left faceoff dot that beat Denis at 9:05.

After a scoreless overtime, Karl Stewart and Keller converted on their shootout attempts and Denis stopped all four Hershey attempts to give the Admirals the victory.

Marc Denis (27 shots, 25 saves) earned the victory. Daren Machesney (38 shots, 36 saves) got the shootout loss.

Norfolk and Hershey were both 1-4 on the power play.

The Admirals will host the Albany River Rats at Scope on Friday and Saturday nights. The puck drops at 7:15 for both games. On Saturday night, the first 2,500 adults through the gates will receive a winter hat courtesy of Bank of the Commonwealth and Fox43.

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. To purchase Admirals season tickets, ten packs or group tickets, please stop by the Admirals' administrative offices at Scope or call (757) 640-1212 weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Three Stars:

1. Justin Keller - NOR

2. Sami Lepisto - HER

3. Marc Denis - NOR

Notes: Paul Szczechura's first period goal gives him points (2-2-4) in all four games since joining Norfolk in a January 15 trade from Iowa (AHL) ... Szczechura has changed his number to 12 ... Keller will replace forward Kyle Wanvig at the AHL All-Star Classic Presented by Reebok this weekend. Wanvig, who remains Norfolk's leading scorer, is on NHL recall to the Tampa Bay Lightning ... With an assist on Lessard's first period goal, Radek Smolenak now has points in three straight games (2-2-4) dating back to January 18 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton ... The victory was Norfolk's first road win since December 7 at Philadelphia, snapping a season-worst six-game road losing streak ... The victory was also the Admirals' first in Hershey since January 27, 2007 - a span of five losses between victories on the road against the Bears ... Forward Adam Henrich left the game in the first period with an upper body injury and did not return ... Forwards Shawn Collymore, Chris Lawrence and Norm Milley missed tonight's game due to injury, while forwards Zbynek Hrdel, Marek Kvapil and Stanislav Lascek were healthy scratches ... Attendance: 7,235.

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