AHL Norfolk Admirals

Admirals Trample Moose 5-4

December 12, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


NORFOLK, Va. - Brandon Bochenski and Mark Parrish each had three-point nights as the Norfolk Admirals (13-15-1-0) topped the Manitoba Moose (16-13-4-0) 5-4 on Saturday night at Norfolk Scope Arena.

The Moose took a 1-0 lead just 2:16 into the game. Dusty Collins sent a shot from the left corner that banked in to the net off of legs in the crease.

Manitoba's lead doubled at 16:12 with a give-and-go play. Alexandre Bolduc crossed the Norfolk blue line and passed to Marco Rosa at the top of the left circle. Rosa returned the puck to Bolduc at the bottom of the left circle, and Bolduc sent a backhand shot over the glove of Norfolk netminder Riku Helenius.

The Admirals came out of the gates firing with 21 shots in the second period. Norfolk struck for their first goal on a four-on-three power play midway through the stanza. Brandon Bochenski sent one of his patented shots from the left faceoff dot sailing over the right arm of Manitoba goaltender Daren Machesney at 7:37. The goal was Bochenski's team-leading 13th of the season.

Norfolk knotted the score at 2-2 just over nine minutes later. Mitch Fritz found his own rebound in the right circle and fired a shot through Machesney that landed in the crease. Matt Syroczynski punched the puck into the net for his fifth goal of the season at 16:42.

However, the Moose re-claimed the lead less than two minutes later. Sergei Shirokov stole the puck at his own blueline and started a two-on-one break with Rosa. Shirokov faked a pass from the right circle before deking into the slot and roofing a backhand shot into the net at 18:29.

The Admirals tied the score at 3-3 early in the final frame with a highlight reel play. Bochenski sent an aerial backhand pass from his own blueline that landed flat in front of the tape of Mark Parrish's stick as he crossed the Manitoba stripe. Parrish sent a wrist shot past the blocker of Machesney at 3:39 for his fifth goal of the season.

Just over a minute after the highlight reel goal, the Admirals used a bit of jam to take a 4-3 lead. Ryan Craig wrested the puck from Moose defenders in the corner to the right of Machesney and sent a shot on goal from in close. Martins Karsums found the rebound and put it into the net as he was knocked to the ice for his second goal of the season at 4:44.

Norfolk doubled its lead just under seven minutes later with another Bochenski four-on-three power play goal. This time, Parrish sent a pass from the high slot to Bochenski in the left circle for another wrist shot over the right shoulder of Machesney at 11:32. The goal was Bochenski's 14th of the season - the second-most in the American Hockey League.

The Moose climbed back to within a goal of the Admirals at 13:56. Travis Ramsey picked off a Norfolk clearing attempt at the left point and sent a pass to Marty Murray in the high slot. Murray spun around and sent a blind shot toward the goal that eluded a screened Helenius and found the top corner of the net to make the score 5-4.

However, Helenius and the Norfolk defense battened down the hatches in the waning minutes of the game to preserve the 5-4 victory.

Riku Helenius (28 shots, 24 saves) picked up his fifth win of the season. Daren Machesney (49 shots, 44 saves) took the loss.

Norfolk was 2-4 on the power play. Manitoba was 0-4.

The Admirals will conclude a five-game homestand next week with three games against East Division Rivals. On Wednesday, the Admirals battle the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. On Friday and Saturday, the Binghamton Senators invade Scope for the final times this season. All games begin at 7:15 p.m.

There are many promotions set for next week's games, beginning on Wednesday with Family Fun Packs, Student Rush Nights and Chanukah at Scope. Family Fun Packs include four discounted Red Level Tickets for just $48 plus four free hot dogs, four free popcorns and four free sodas. Fans get all of that for just $48 - that's a savings of $37!

Student Rush Nights, brought to you by Pit Bull Energy Drink and Baxter's Sports Lounge, provide $8 White Level Tickets (normally $12) for high school and college students with a valid current high school or college ID. In addition, when you buy a Student Rush Night Ticket, you get a buy-one, get-one free offer for the next Student Rush Night. On top of that, you get discounted food at Baxter's Sports Lounge (located right across the street from Scope) on the day of the game.

Admirals Family Fun Packs are available at the Scope Box Office, all Ticketmaster Outlets, charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000 or online at Ticketmaster.com. Student Rush Night Tickets are available ONLY at the Scope Box Office after 2:00 p.m. on the day of the game.

Wednesday is also Chanukah at Scope Night, presented by the Chabad of Tidewater. Special discounted tickets are available through the Chabad of Tidewater. Festivities include an ice menorah, Chanukah music, T-shirt giveaways, Chanukah gifts for kids, Kosher food sales and Jewish trivia.

For a complete schedule and details of next week's promotions, please visit norfolkadmirals.com or call norfolkadmirals.com.

Check out the Norfolk Admirals Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from December 12, 2009


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