AHL Norfolk Admirals

Admirals Wrap Up 2008-09 Campaign on the Road

Published on April 6, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


NORFOLK, Va. - After concluding the home portion of the season schedule last week, the Admirals will hit the road for the final three contests of the 2008-09 season this week.

Last week, the Admirals wrapped up their season series against East Division rivals Hershey and Philadelphia. Norfolk goaltender Craig "Killer" Kowalski was a Bear-killer on Wednesday night at Scope as he made 34 saves to lead the Admirals past Hershey 3-2. Kevin Quick netted his first AHL goal, but the Admirals fell to the Philadelphia Phantoms 3-2 in overtime on Friday night at Scope. The Admirals fell to the Phantoms 4-2 on Saturday night at Scope in front of 6,050 fans in the final Admirals home game of 2008-09. Phantoms goaltender Scott Munroe made 30 saves as Norfolk fell to Philadelphia 3-0 on Sunday evening at the Wachovia Spectrum in the 86th and final all-time meeting between the clubs.

Norfolk will play road games against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Wednesday and Binghamton Senators on Friday before returning to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to close out the 2008-09 season against the Penguins on Saturday night.

EAST DIVISION STANDINGS

At 30-38-4-5 (69 points), the Admirals are tied for sixth place in the East Division. The Hershey Bears (48-21-2-6, 104 points), Bridgeport Sound Tigers (47-23-3-5, 102 points) and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (47-24-2-3, 99 points) have all clinched playoff spots. The Philadelphia Phantoms (42-29-2-4, 90 points) have overtaken the fourth and final playoff spot with the Binghamton Senators (40-28-5-4, 89 points) just one point behind. Both Philadelphia and Binghamton have three games remaining. The Albany River Rats (31-39-3-4, 69 points) are tied with Norfolk for sixth place.

THE ADMIRALS' WEEK AHEAD

Wed., Apr. 8 ... at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh Penguins) ... 7:05 p.m.

Fri., Apr. 10 ... at Binghamton Senators (Ottawa Senators) ... 7:05 p.m.

Sat., Apr. 11 ... at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh Penguins) ... 7:05 p.m.

ADMIRALS' LOG

- Last night's contest was the 86th and final all-time meeting between the Norfolk Admirals and Philadelphia Phantoms. Norfolk's all-time record against Philadelphia finishes at 43-33-2-6-2 (W-L-T-OTL-SOL).

- After killing all five Phantoms power plays last night, the Admirals have killed 30 of the last 31 (96.8%) and 51 of the last 56 (91.1%) opponent power play chances. Norfolk's penalty kill has jumped from 25th to 19th in the AHL since March 11 at Albany.

- Rookies all registered professional or AHL firsts on Kevin Quick's third period goal on Friday versus Philadelphia, as Quick notched his first AHL goal, John Swanson tallied his first pro assist and Geoff Kinrade notched his first professional multiple-point game (2A). Quick, who sent a game-high five shots on goal, scored his first AHL goal in his 65th AHL game.

- On Wednesday, former first-round draft pick defenseman Ty Wishart returned to the Norfolk lineup after missing seven games with an upper-body injury. Wishart recorded two assists in his return against Hershey for his first pro multi-point game.

- Forward John Swanson's first professional goal on Wednesday against Hershey proved to be the game-winner. Swanson, who was signed to an Amateur Tryout Contract earlier in the day, joined fellow ATO-contract player Geoff Kinrade (March 20 vs. Binghamton) as one of two Admirals to net the game-winning goal as their first pro goal in their pro debut this season.

FINAL TWO GAMES OF THE SEASON TO AIR ON 100.5 MAX-FM

The Norfolk Admirals today announced that their final two games of the season will be broadcast on 100.5 MAX-FM. The game against the Binghamton Senators on Friday, April 10 and the game against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Saturday, April 11 will both air on 100.5 MAX-FM. Both broadcasts will begin at 7:00 p.m. Please note that the Admirals' game at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Wednesday, April 8, will air at its normal spot on ESPN Radio 1310 WGH-AM. That broadcast will begin at 6:50 p.m.

NORFOLK STREAKS AND TRENDS

Player Streak/Trend Totals Streak Start

Mike Lundin Points/Assists in 5 of his last 9 games 0G, 5A 03/15 at PHI

Pete Zingoni Points in six of his last 12 games 3G, 3A 03/11 at ALB

Blair Jones Points in three of his last six games 2G, 2A 03/21 vs. WBS

Radek Smolenak Points in two of his last four games 1G, 1A 04/01 vs. HER

Brandon Segal Points/Assists in 2 of his last 4 games 0G, 2A 04/01 vs. HER

ADMIRALS AMONG THE TOP 20 IN THE AHL:

- Goals: Brandon Bochenski (27, T-19th)

- Games Played: Blair Jones (77, T-3rd)

- Penalty Minutes: Brent Henley (198, 10th), Zenon Konopka (186, T-16th)

- Power Play Goals: Brandon Bochenski (11, T-20th)

- Power Play Assists: Zenon Konopka (22, T-16th)

- Shorthanded Goals: Bracken Kearns, Justin Keller (2, T-19th)

- Shorthanded Assists: Zenon Konopka (2, T-13th)

- Game-Winning Goals: Brandon Bochenski (6, T-9th)

- Insurance Goals: Brandon Bochenski (5, T-1st)

- Unassisted Goals: Bracken Kearns and Brandon Segal (3, T-9th)

- Shots: Blair Jones (261, 3rd), Brandon Bochenski (256, 4th)

NORFOLK LEADERS

Goals: Brandon Bochenski (27)

Assists: Zenon Konopka (40)

Points: Zenon Konopka (57)

Games: Blair Jones (77)

PP goals: Brandon Bochenski (11)

SH goals: Bracken Kearns, Justin Keller (2)

+/- Rating: Paul Szczechura (+8)

PIM: Brent Henley (198)

GAA: Riku Helenius (2.72)

Spct: Riku Helenius (.918)

Wins: Mike McKenna (11)

Losses: Riku Helenius (15)

GPI: Karri Ramo (26)

Minutes: Karri Ramo (1507)

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON LEADERS

Goals: Chris Minard (34)

Assists: Jeff Taffe (49)

Points: Janne Pesonen (76)

Games: Deryk Engelland (76)

PP goals: Chris Minard (21)

SH goals: Connor James (4)

+/- Rating: Ben Lovejoy (+42)

PIM: Paul Bissonnette (164)

GAA: John Curry (2.36)

Spct: John Curry (.917)

Wins: John Curry (32)

Losses: John Curry (14)

GPI: John Curry (48)

Minutes: John Curry (2872)

BINGHAMTON LEADERS

Goals: Denis Hamel (25)

Assists: Mattias Karlsson (41)

Points: Ilya Zubov (52)

Games: Greg Mauldin (77)

PP goals: Denis Hamel (12)

SH goals: Danny Bois, Denis Hamel, Josh Hennessy (2)

+/- Rating: Peter Regin (+14)

PIM: Jeremy Yablonski (200)

GAA: Brian Elliott (2.31)

Spct: Brian Elliott (.926)

Wins: Brian Elliott (18)

Losses: Brian Elliott (8)

GPI: Brian Elliott (30)

Minutes: Brian Elliott (1691)

TRANSACTIONS OF THE PAST WEEK

April 1, 2009

ADD F John Swanson - Signed to Amateur Tryout Contract (ATO)

April 3, 2009

ADD LW Brandon Buck - Signed to Amateur Tryout Contract (ATO)

April 4, 2009

DELETE C Zenon Konopka - Recalled from loan by Tampa Bay (NHL)

DELETE D Vladimir Mihalik - Recalled from loan by Tampa Bay (NHL)

THIS WEEK IN ADMIRALS HISTORY (APRIL 6 - 12)

April 8, 2006 ... Admirals 2 at Hershey Bears 1

- Adam Munro makes 42 saves, many in dazzling fashion, as the Admirals hold off the Hershey Bears 2-1 at Scope. Martin St. Pierre and Matt Keith pot markers for Norfolk. Despite Munro's heroics, the Admirals trail 1-0 early in the third before St. Pierre ties the contest at the 2:34 mark. Keith then nets the game-winner for the home club, his 25th goal of the season, with just 1:47 left to break the stalemate.

April 9-10, 1991 ... Admirals 2 at Greensboro Monarchs 1 - 3OT

- After 105:47 of playing time, Dave Flanagan scores the game-winning goal as the Admirals register a 2-1 win in triple-overtime over the Greensboro Monarchs in Game 4 of the ECHL Jack Riley Cup Finals at the Greensboro Coliseum. The decision gives Hampton Roads a 3-games-to-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. The contest remains the seventh-longest game in ECHL history. Flanagan finally ends the classic battle at 1:25 a.m. with his decisive goal at 5:47 of the third overtime period. Coupled with a power outage at the Coliseum during the game, the contest takes nearly six hours to complete!

April 10, 1991 ... Admirals 6 vs. Greensboro Monarchs 3

- Before 8,706 fans at Scope, the Admirals clinch their first ECHL Jack Riley Cup Championship with a 6-3 win over the Greensboro Monarchs. The victory gives the Admirals a 4-games-to-1 win in the series. Admirals' RW Dave Flanagan and G Dave Gagnon share Playoff MVP honors. Flanagan leads the club with 24 points (16g, 8a) in the playoffs, while Gagnon's 10-1 record, 2.33 GAA and .931 save-percentage leads all league netminders in the postseason. Murray Hood also enjoys a stellar playoff run, netting six goals and adding a team-best 16 assists in the postseason.

April 12, 2008 ... Admirals 3 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 2 - OT

- Kyle Wanvig ties the game with 2:25 left and Paul Szczechura nets the winner in overtime as the Admirals rally from a 2-0 deficit for a 3-2 win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza in the final game of the 2007-08 season. Dana Tyrell pots his first pro goal for Norfolk. Szczechura scores on the rebound of a Brandon Segal shot 41 seconds into overtime.

TICKETS

Don't miss a minute of the action by purchasing your 2009-10 season tickets today. Packages are on sale now with special monthly rates available. For more details, please visit norfolkadmirals.com or call (757) 640-1212.

ON THE RADIO/INTERNET

Wednesday's game will be broadcast on ESPN Radio 1310 WGH-AM. Friday and Saturday's game will be heard on 100.5 MAX-FM.

All games are also cybercast at SportsJuice.com. Go to SportsJuice.com, or click on the link at norfolkadmirals.com. Broadcasts begin 15 minutes prior to game time.

Games are also viewable through the Internet on a pay-per-view basis through AHL Live. Visit norfolkadmirals.com and click the AHL Live banner on the left side of the site to view all Admirals' home and away games.

Check out the Norfolk Admirals Statistics

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