AHL Norfolk Admirals

Admirals Weekly

Published on March 18, 2014 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


NORFOLK, Va. - The Admirals return home this week after losing two of three weekend divisional road games and falling from first in the East Division and third in the Eastern Conference to third in the division and eighth in the conference. Norfolk lost the first two games of the trip Friday in a 3-1 loss to Binghamton and Saturday in a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The Admirals did manage to salvage two points from the road trip by hanging on to beat Hershey 3-2 at the Giant Center on Sunday. While the Admirals hung on to secure the one-goal victory, Hershey received a bit of luck in their green St. Patrick's Day edition jerseys when Tyson Strachan's penalty-kill clearing attempt bounced its way towards Admirals' goaltender John Gibson and through his right side for a bizarre goal all the way from the Bears' end.

Despite only winning one of three games over the weekend, Norfolk did erase 16 of 17 penalties and are now tops in the entire AHL on the penalty kill (86.9%). They are 16-11-1-3 on the road and split the final 14 games of the regular season between home ice at Scope and visitors' buildings. The Admirals host Charlotte Wednesday night in the last of eight meetings this season between the two sides before Binghamton arrives this coming weekend for another important two-game divisional series here in Norfolk. Eight of their final 14 games remaining are against members of the East Division.

STANDINGS UPDATE as of 03/18/14

The Admirals (33-21-1-7, 72pts.) are third in the East Division and eighth overall in the Eastern Conference.

THE ADMIRALS' WEEK AHEAD

Wed., Mar. 19 ... vs. Charlotte, 7:15 p.m.

Fri., Mar. 21 ... vs. Binghamton, 7:30 p.m.

Sat., Mar. 22 ... vs. Binghamton, 7:15 p.m.

ADMIRALS' LOG

- After the three-game road trip this past weekend, the Admirals are now 1st in the AHL in penalty kill efficiency at 86.9%. They killed 16 of 17 total power plays over the three-day stretch. Norfolk suffered their first shutout on the road this season at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Saturday and only their second shutout this season.

- Devante Smith-Pelly's goal Friday versus Binghamton brings his team-leading total to 22 on the season and puts him in the top 20 in the league in goals scored. Andre Petersson scored his second goal as an Admiral on Sunday. He has four points (2g, 2a) in five games since joining Norfolk in a deal finalized just hours before the trade deadline earlier in the month.

NORFOLK LEADERS

Goals : Devante Smith-Pelly (22)

Assists : Emerson Etem (26)

Points : Andre Petersson (44)

Games : Chris Wagner (62)

PP goals : Devante Smith-Pelly (9)

SH goals : Max Friberg (3)

+/- Rating : Andre Petersson (+12)

PIM : Zack Stortini (252)

GAA : John Gibson (2.34)

Spct : John Gibson (.921)

Wins : John Gibson (19)

Losses : John Gibson (18; four in shootout)

GPI : John Gibson (40)

Minutes : John Gibson (2284:27)

ABOUT THIS WEEK'S MATCHUPS

With the Admirals holding on to the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, every game is meaningful as only 14 are left in the regular season. Norfolk starts in on the last month of the season Wednesday when they host the Charlotte Checkers at Norfolk Scope Arena. This is the final meeting out of eight this season between the Admirals and the Checkers as a part of the GEICO Challenge Cup. This is the only Western Conference opponent that Norfolk faces this season and it trails the season series 2-3-1-1. Charlotte clinched the Cup in the last meeting on March 4 at Scope in a comeback win in which they netted two goals in the final four minutes and 30 seconds for a 4-3 victory. The Checkers experienced a tumultuous first half of the season but find themselves two wins behind eighth place in the Western Conference and desperately need points from Wednesday's affair.

CHARLOTTE LEADERS

Goals: Zach Boychuk (28)

Assists: Chris Terry (33)

Points: Zach Boychuk, Chris Terry (56)

Games: Aaron Palushaj, Victor Rask (62)

PP goals: Zach Boychuk (14)

SH goals: Chris Terry, Brett Sutter, Nicolas Blanchard (1)

+/- Rating: Greg Nemisz (+9)

PIM: Matthew Corrente (113)

GAA: Nathan Lawson (2.90)

Spct: Nathan Lawson (.910)

Wins: Andrew Hammond (17)

Losses: Andrew Hammond (14; three in shootout)

GPI: Andrew Hammond (35)

Minutes: Andrew Hammond (1986:41)

After Charlotte on Wednesday, the Admirals can avenge their 3-1 loss to Binghamton last Friday that began the road trip. The Senators dug the Admirals into a two-goal deficit after the first period that proved to be insurmountable. Norfolk has lost three in a row to Binghamton and also trails this season series with the Senators, 1-3-0-0. It was the first time the teams played each other since the Trade Deadline transaction they engaged in that sent defenseman Alex Grant to Binghamton and right wing Andre Petersson to the Admirals. Neither player recorded a point Friday night but Petersson has two goals and two assists with Norfolk in five games since the trade while Grant has an assist. However, Binghamton is in control of the East Division with 77 points and is in third in the conference as Norfolk is third in the division and eighth in the conference. After this weekend, the two sides play each other two more times, both in New York with one of the meetings being the last game of the regular season. In total, the Senators and Admirals will square off four times in these last 14 games of Norfolk's regular season.

BINGHAMTON LEADERS

Goals: Mike Hoffman (30)

Assists: Mike Hoffman (37)

Points: Mike Hoffman (67)

Games: Fredrik Claesson (60)

PP goals: Mike Hoffman, Matt Puempel (12)

SH goals: Cole Schneider, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Derek Grant (3)

+/- Rating: Fredrik Claesson (+37)

PIM: Michael Sdao (138)

GAA: Andrew Hammond (2.88)

Spct: Nathan Lawson (.910)

Wins: Andrew Hammond (20)

Losses: Andrew Hammond (17; three in shootout)

GPI: Andrew Hammond (38)

Minutes: Andrew Hammond (2166:30)

**Upcoming Home Games, Events, & Promotions**

Wednesday, March 19 vs. Charlotte, 7:15 p.m. (GEICO Cup Challenge Game)

- Student Rush Night: All college students can purchase $9 tickets after 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday when they present their College I.D. at the Scope Box Office. Student Rush games take place for ALL Tuesday and Wednesday Admirals games this season!

- Family Fun Packs: Get 4-tickets, 4-hot dogs, 4-sodas, & 4-popcorns for just $54! This offer is available for ALL Tuesday and Wednesday Admirals games this season

- NATO Appreciation Night

Friday, March 21 vs. Binghamton, 7:30 p.m.

Mascot Mania

adoptVAkids Night

Saturday, March 22 vs. Binghamton, 7:15 p.m.

Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Jersey Auction Night, Presented by PAPCO

Boy Scouts Night (Colonial Council)

GAME TICKETS

Individual tickets are on sale now at the Scope Box Office, all Ticketmaster Outlets, charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000 and online at www.ticketmaster.com

For 10-packs, or discounted group 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

The "Admirals Hour" radio show airs every Tuesday from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. on 1490 AM The Game. Tune-in for an inside look into Admirals hockey featuring Admirals players, coaches, and staff.

All regular season games air live on 1490-AM The Game and on 1650 AM. Listen online at http://1490amthegame.com/home/listen-live/

Fans can watch the games online at AHL Live on a pay-per-view, or season pass basis at http://ahl.neulion.com/ahl/

Check out the Norfolk Admirals Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from March 18, 2014


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