AHL Norfolk Admirals

Bears Power Past Admirals, 7-5

Published on October 14, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


NORFOLK, Va.

- The Norfolk Admirals (2-1-0-0) surrendered a trio of power play goals as they fell to the Hershey Bears (3-0-0-0), 7-5, on Friday night at Norfolk Scope Arena. The same two teams meet tomorrow night at Giant Center in Hershey with puck drop set for 7:00 p.m.

J.T. Wyman, Tyler Johnson, Mark Barberio, Michel Ouellet and Richard Panik scored for Norfolk. Goaltender Dustin Tokarski started the game and took the loss while surrendering six goals. Jaroslav Janus did not receive a decision after allowing one goal in relief.

The Bears opened scoring with their first power play goal 4:47 into the contest. Chris Bourque sent a low shot from the right point through traffic and past Tokarski.

Hershey's lead doubled less than six minutes later on a similar goal. This time, it was Brett Flemming with a low shot from the right point through a screen that beat Tokarski at 10:11.

Norfolk got on the board just over five minutes later. Trevor Smith's initial shot was blocked, but the puck came back to him on the left wing. Smith then sent a feed to the low slot. J.T. Wyman redirected the puck past the left leg of Hershey goaltender Dany Sabourin at 15:32 for his first goal as an Admiral.

The Admirals knotted the score at 2-2 less than two minutes later with a power play goal. Tyler Johnson split the Hershey defense on entry into the attacking zone and sent a backhand shot from the low slot off Sabourin's glove and into the net at 17:02.

The Bears re-claimed the lead just 2:02 into the second period. Just two seconds after a Hershey power play had expired, Cody Eakin sent a one-timer from the right point over the right shoulder of Tokarski. The goal gave the visitors a 3-2 lead.

That lead doubled with another power play goal just over five minutes later. Chris Bourque sent a wrist shot from the left point that hit traffic in the left circle and eluded Tokarski at 8:07.

Norfolk drew back to within a goal just over a minute and a half later. Carter Ashton missed a shot in the low slot, but was able to spin around and send a backhand pass toward the bottom of the left circle. Mark Barberio was cutting down the left wing and connected on the pass for his first goal of the season at 9:32.

However, the Bears power play struck again less than three minutes later. Patrick McNeill sent a shot from between the hashmarks that Tokarski stopped. The Admirals goaltender then denied a Graham Mink follow-up, but was unable to stop Jacob Mickflikier's second rebound swipe at 12:05 as Hershey took a 5-3 lead into the second intermission.

Hershey's lead grew to 6-3 just 2:07 into the final frame. Cody Eakin crossed the blue line in the high slot and sent a wrist shot that deflected off an Admirals defender and found its way into the net. After the goal, Jaroslav Janus replaced Tokarski in net.

Just 18 seconds later, the Admirals closed back to within two goals on Michel Ouellet's first goal as an Admiral. Radko Gudas sent a shot from the right point that went behind the net. Ouellet found the loose puck and was able to backhand a shot past Sabourin at 2:25 to cut Norfolk's deficit to 6-4.

Hershey restored its three-goal lead just under four minutes later. Keith Aucoin sent a shot that hit an Admirals defender in the low slot and came back to him. Aucoin quickly fired the puck past Janus at 6:06.

Panik's first North American professional goal at 16:26 closed scoring. He found a rebound in the slot and buried it past Sabourin.

Dustin Tokarski (1-1-0) stopped 16 of 22 shots and took the loss in 42:07 of work. Jaroslav Janus (1-0-0) stopped 10 of 11 shots in 16:28 of relief and did not receive a decision. Dany Sabourin (2-0-0) stopped 41 of 46 shots for the win.

Norfolk was 1-6 on the power play. Hershey was 3-6.

The Admirals and Bears will face off once again tomorrow night at Giant Center in Hershey. The game begins at 7:00 p.m.

The Admirals will return to Scope next Friday and Saturday nights to face off against the defending Calder Cup Champion Binghamton Senators. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Friday and 7:15 p.m. on Saturday.

Individual tickets for all regular season games start at just $12. Tickets are available now at the Scope Box Office, all Ticketmaster Outlets, charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000 and online at ticketmaster.com.

Don't miss a minute of the action by purchasing your 2011-12 season tickets today. Season tickets start at just $350 while 10-Packs are available for as little as $110. 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!

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American Hockey League Stories from October 14, 2011


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