AHL Norfolk Admirals

Admirals Win Fourth Straight On Road

Published on January 27, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


HARTFORD, Conn. - Matt Fornataro's goal with 2:46 left in regulation propelled the Norfolk Admirals (21-23-2-0) to a 5-4 victory over the Hartford Wolf Pack (23-18-2-4) on Wednesday night at the XL Center.

The Admirals improved to 4-0-0-0 on their seven game road trip, which continues on Friday night against the Springfield Falcons. The Admirals return to Scope on Wednesday, February 3 to face the Hershey Bears.

Norfolk opened scoring with a power play goal just 2:51 into the contest. Matt Lashoff sent a slap shot from the right point that eluded the glove of Hartford goaltender Matt Zaba for Lashoff's fourth goal of the season.

The Wolf Pack leveled the score at 1-1 just over seven minutes later with a power play goal of their own. Hartford leading scorer Corey Locke sent a pass from the bottom of the right circle toward the crease. Dane Byers, who was between the hashmarks in the slot, skated to the crease and redirected the puck past the outstretched right leg of Admirals goaltender Dustin Tokarski at 10:05.

The Admirals re-claimed the lead just over four minutes later. Mitch Fadden skated through the left circle into the slot and had the puck bounce over his stick. Mark Parrish was trailing the play and collected the puck in the low slot for a quick flip shot under the right shoulder of Zaba at 14:12.

A see-saw second stanza saw the Wolf Pack tie the game at 2-2 just 2:42 into the period. Andres Ambuhl sent a shot from the right circle that Tokarski stopped. However, Paul Crowder found the rebound in the low slot and sent a forehand shot over Tokarski's right leg and into the net.

Hartford claimed a 3-2 lead just over four minutes later. Corey Locke intercepted a pass at the top of the right circle in the Norfolk zone and sent a quick feed to the high slot. Kenny Roche collected the pass and sent a wrist shot into the net at 6:49.

However, the lead did not last long as Dana Tyrell made it 3-3 just over three minutes later. Newcomer Ryan Cruthers forced a turnover in the right circle of the Hartford zone and dropped a pass to Tyrell. The rookie forward sent a wrist shot past the blocker of Zaba for his second goal in as many games at 10:10.

Norfolk re-claimed the lead with a power play goal in the final minute of the third period. Radek Smolenak sent a pass from the right corner to David Hale in the slot between the hashmarks. Hale, who joined the Admirals from the Tampa Bay Lightning on a conditioning stint yesterday, scored with a wrister that glanced off the post and into the net past Zaba's glove at 19:09.

The Wolf Pack tied the game at 4-4 with 4:52 left in the third period on a power play. Corey Locke entered the attacking zone along the left wing and threw a pass to the right point before speeding toward the crease. Nigel Williams accepted the Locke pass and sent it across the slot back to Locke for a back-door tap-in at 15:08.

The game was not tied long, as Matt Fornataro's goal came just over two minutes later to put Norfolk on top for good. Scott Jackson sent a shot from the right point that was partially blocked in the slot. Fornataro found the loose puck between the hashmarks and fired a wrister on net that just trickled over the goal line behind Zaba at 17:14.

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Dustin Tokarski (28 shots, 24 saves) improved to 14-13-0 on the season with the victory. Matt Zaba (26 shots, 21 saves) shouldered the loss.

Norfolk was 2-4 on the power play. Hartford was 2-3.

The Admirals will continue their seven-game road trip on Friday night against the Springfield Falcons. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m. All games are broadcast on STAR 1310-AM, star1310.com and ahllive.com.

The Admirals will return to Norfolk Scope Arena to kick off a six-game homestand on Wednesday, February 3 against the Hershey Bears.

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 1-800-745-3000 or visit Ticketmaster online at ticketmaster.com. Don't miss a minute of the action by purchasing your 2009-10 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. Mark Parrish - NOR

2. Corey Locke - HFD

3. Kenny Roche - HFD

*NOTES*... With the victory, Norfolk (21-23-2-0, 44 points, 46 games played) is now tied for fourth place in the American Hockey League's East Division with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (21-21-1-1, 44 GP) and is just one point back of the Adirondack Phantoms (21-20-2-1, 44 GP) for third place... Jim Johnson improved to 4-0-0-0 as Norfolk's head coach... Including a 5-4 victory at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on January 6, the Admirals have won five consecutive road games for the second time this season... The Admirals improved to 13-11-2-0 on the road this season... Eleven of Norfolk's 18 skaters registered at least one point in the game with defensemen David Hale (1G, 1A), Ty Wishart (2A) and Matt Lashoff (1G, 1A) each netting two points... Dana Tyrell scored his second goal in as many games after going the first 38 games of the season without lighting the lamp... David Hale was assigned to the Admirals yesterday on a conditioning stint from the Tampa Bay Lightning. He had a goal and an assist (both on the power play) in his Norfolk debut... Ryan Cruthers also joined the Admirals yesterday after signing a Professional Tryout Contract and assisted on Tyrell's second period goal in his Norfolk debut... Admirals captain Ryan Craig missed the game after the birth of his second child, a daughter named Kylie Reese Craig yesterday. She weighs in at 8 lbs, 3 oz and is 20 inches long. Mother and daughter are doing well... Attendance: 2,082.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 27, 2010


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