AHL Norfolk Admirals

Admirals Top Penguins, 4-1

Published on March 23, 2013 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


WILKES-BARRE, Penn. - Kyle Wilson had a goal and two assists as the Norfolk Admirals (31-28-4-1) defeated the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (34-28-2-1), 4-1, on Saturday night at Mohegan Sun Arena.

With the win, Norfolk closes to within two points of a playoff spot with 12 games remaining in the regular season. The Admirals have won six of their last eight games.

Wilson, Chris Wagner, Patrick Maroon and Devante Smith-Pelly each scored for Norfolk. Goaltender Frederik Andersen (18-13-1) stopped 24 of 25 shots for the victory. The Admirals completed a sweep of all four games played at Mohegan Sun Arena in 2012-13.

Norfolk concludes a two-game road trip against the Charlotte Checkers on Tuesday night in the decisive game of the GEICO Challenge Cup. The team will return to Scope to battle the Syracuse Crunch next Friday and Saturday nights.

The Admirals scored on two of their first three shots of the game to take a 2-0 lead before the midway point of the first period. Wilson's eighth goal of the season (and third as an Admiral) came 4:55 into the game. Smith-Pelly spotted Wilson with a pass in the slot, and Wilson's shot eluded the glove of Penguins goaltender Brad Thiessen.

Just more than two minutes later, the lead doubled on Wagner's sixth goal of 2012-13. Wagner took a feed from Gabe Guentzel and sent a wrist shot from the top of the right circle that glanced off the crossbar and into the net at 7:02 of the first period.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton cut the Norfolk lead to 2-1 midway through the second period on the power play. Alex Grant sent a shot from the edge of the slot near the left circle past Andersen's glove at 13:13.

The visitors restored their two-goal lead with a power play goal of their own late in the second period. Just as a Penguins player exited the penalty box to make Norfolk's advantage five-on-four, Patrick Maroon sent a shot from the right circle that Thiessen stopped. However, he found his own rebound and scored his eighteenth goal of the season at 17:20 of the second period.

Norfolk's lead grew to 4-1 just over one minute later. Mat Clark sent a shot from the right point that Wilson deflected and Thiessen blocked. However, Smith-Pelly found the rebound in the crease and tucked it over the goal line for his tenth goal of the season at 18:58 of the second period.

The Penguins out-shot the Admirals, 10-9, in the final frame but were unable to find the back of the net.

Thiessen (14-11-1) made 19 saves on 23 shots in defeat. Jeff Zatkoff (20-19-0) relieved Thiessen at the beginning of the third period and stopped all nine shots he faced without receiving a decision.

Norfolk was 1-for-7 on the power play. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was 1-for-5.

The Admirals take on the Charlotte Checkers from North Carolina on Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. in the final and decisive game of the GEICO Challenge Cup. All games can be heard on 102.1-FM, 1490-AM or 1021TheGame.com. You may also watch at AHLLive.com.

The Admirals will return to Scope next Friday and Saturday night to take on the Syracuse Crunch. Friday's game begins at 7:30 p.m. while Saturday's game begins at 7:15 p.m.

Join us on Friday night for Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Night and on Saturday night for MDA Jersey Auction and Ticket Fundraiser. Through these exclusive online ticket offers, Red Level tickets for each game are available for just $11. If you were to buy these tickets at the Scope Box Office on game night, they'd be $19 - you save 42%. Plus, a portion of Friday's ticket sales goes back to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society and a portion of Saturday's ticket sales goes back to the local MDA chapter.

These special offers are only good online at norfolkadmirals.com/groups and only for a limited time. Please visit norfolkadmirals.com/groups or call (757) 640-1212 for more details.

The 13th Annual MDA Jersey Auction, Presented by PAPCO, takes place immediately following the game on Saturday night. A live auction will take place on the ice with special jerseys being sold right off the players' backs. All proceeds go to the local chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

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.

Three Stars:

1. Kyle Wilson - NOR

2. Devante Smith-Pelly - NOR

3. Chris Wagner - NOR

Check out the Norfolk Admirals Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



American Hockey League Stories from March 23, 2013


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central