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AHL Norfolk Admirals

Blue and Gold end February with sweep of Senators

March 1, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The Admirals took on the Binghamton Senators in a pair of key divisional match ups last weekend, sweeping both games to move ahead of the fifth-place B-Sens and sixth-place Penguins by five points in the standings. Quintin Laing and Lasse Kukkonen each posted three points as the Blue and Gold routed the Senators 6-1 on February 27. The next night, Norfolk held Binghamton to 11 shots as the Admirals came out on top 3-1.

The Philadelphia Phantoms (Philadelphia Flyers) make their last regular season appearance at Scope on Wednesday, March 3 at 7:15 p.m., and the Albany River Rats (New Jersey Devils) do likewise on Friday, March 5 at 7:30 p.m. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (Pittsburgh Penguins) begins a three-game series in Norfolk when the Penguins face the Admirals on Sunday, March 7 at 4:00 p.m. Norfolk hosts the Pens Wednesday, March 10 at 7:15 p.m. and Friday, March 12 at 7:30 p.m.

The Admirals are fourth in the East Division with a record of 28-26-4-5 (63 GP, 65 points). They trail Philadelphia (60 GP, 34-19-6-1, 75 points), Bridgeport (59 GP, 31-16-8-4, 74 points) and Hershey (64 GP, 28-24-8-4, 68 points), and are followed by Binghamton (62 GP, 26-28-6-2, 60 points), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (59 GP, 24-23-7-5, 60 points) and Albany (60 GP, 15-27-11-7, 48 points).

THE WEEK AHEAD

Wednesday, March 3 ... Norfolk vs. Philadelphia Phantoms ... 7:15 p.m.

Norfolk is 3-4-1-0 against Philadelphia this season, including a 2-2-0-0 mark at Scope, but the team holds an 18-14-2-2 edge in the all-time series. The Phantoms lead the AHL in PIM (1,778), minor penalties (469), major penalties (90) and 10-minute misconducts (16). Their 34 wins and 166 goals scored are the most in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia ranks eighth on the power play (16.67) and fifth in penalty killing (87.78). Kirby Law tops the club in goals (21) and points (55), and his 34 assists tie him with Peter White for the team-lead in helpers. Law is sixth on the AHL scoring list. John Slaney leads all League defensemen with 13 lamplighters. Philadelphia currently has six players with 100 or more PIM - AHL-leader Peter Vandermeer (324 PIM), P.J. Stock (147 PIM), Boyd Kane (131 PIM), Berube (123 PIM), Law (104 PIM) and Ian MacNeil (102 PIM). Between the pipes, Antero Niittymaki is 15-8-6 with a 2.25 GAA and a .916 spct. in 33 games, and Neil Little is 18-10-0 with a 2.02 GAA and a .919 spct. in 28 outings. Little is among the top 10 AHL netminders in wins and GAA, and both Phantoms' goalies are tied with several others for sixth place with four shutouts each.

Friday, March 5 ... Norfolk vs. Albany River Rats ... 7:30 p.m.

The Admirals are 4-0-1-0 verses the River Rats in 2003-04, and 9-1-2-1 all-time against the Devils' farm hands. Albany's 186 goals allowed are second only to St. John's (191). The club's six road victories are fewest in the League. The River Rats are 23rd in the AHL on the power play (12.36) and 21st when shorthanded (83.87). Craig Darby is the team-leader in goals (17), assists (35), points (52) and power play tallies (six). He is seventh in the League in scoring and tied with Steve Kelly (MCH) for fifth in helpers. Ray Giroux's 11 goals tie him with several others for second among AHL defensemen in lamplighters. Rob Skrlac's 101 PIM are most on Albany. In net, Ari Ahonen is 10-8-6 with a 2.74 GAA and a .908 spct. in 34 appearances. Matus Kostur is 0-4-1 with a 3.98 GAA and a .873 spct. in five games.

Sunday, March 7 ... Norfolk vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins ... 4:00 p.m.

The Penguins and Admirals are 3-3-1-0 against each other this year, and each has a win and a loss in Norfolk. Wilkes-Barre leads the all-time series with a 17-15-3-0 mark. The Pens' power play unit is 16th in the League (14.05) while its penalty killers are last (79.58). Michel Ouellet is atop the team scoring list with 24+12=36 points. He is first among AHL rookies in tallies and fifth in scoring. Patrick Boileau's 20 assists are most on Wilkes-Barre. David Koci has spent 222 minutes in the ‘sin bin', placing him sixth in the AHL in PIM. Minding the cage are Sebastien Caron (8 GPI, 4-2-2, 2.17 GAA, .927 spct.) and Nick Boucher (4 GPI, 1-0-0, 2.43 GAA, .919 spct.).

UPCOMING GAMES/PROMOTIONS

Wednesday, March 3 (Philadelphia Phantoms)

* Chick-Fil-A Night. Chick-Fil-A will be handing out coupons at the doors and the ever-popular cows will appear on the concourse and during the intermissions. As always, flying cows will parachute into the stands.

Friday, March 5 (Albany River Rats)

* Reader Rewards Night. Subscribers to The Virginian-Pilot who present their Reader Rewards KeyCard at the Scope Box Office will receive an adult Blue or White level ticket for just $8.00.

Sunday, March 7 (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins)

* Family Fun Pack Night. Receive a Blue level ticket, hot dog and soft drink for just $11.00. Available at the Scope Box Office and all TicketMaster outlets. Must be purchased in advance. Not available the day of the game.

* Post-game Skate. Fans can bring their ice skates and a limited number of skates will be available for rental.

Wednesday, March 10 (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins)

* The Blue and Gold host their rivals for another key divisional match.

Friday, March 12 (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins)

* Pre-game Party at AJ Gator's. For just $15, receive a Blue Level ticket to that night's game, a voucher for two drinks and an hors d'oeuvre buffet at AJ Gator's, 344 Granby Street in Norfolk. Available at the Scope Box Office and all TicketMaster outlets. Special discounts available for season ticket holders through the Admirals' office.

TEAM NOTEBOOK

* Norfolk's 6-1 victory of Binghamton on February 27 was the team's first six-goal output since defeating Wilkes-Barre 6-3 on opening night (October 8).

* The Admirals recorded three power play goals against the B-Sens on February 27. It was the first time since December 20 at San Antonio that they scored more than once with the man-advantage in a contest, a span of 27 games with fewer than two power play tallies.

* C Ajay Baines finished the month of February with a team-high 13 points (3+10) and a plus-13 rating. He registered points in 10 of Norfolk's 11 matches, including three multi-point games.

* RW Shawn Thornton picked up 22 penalty minutes against Binghamton on February 28 to give him 1,928 AHL career PIM, surpassing Mike Stevens (1,916 PIM, 1985-94) for sixth place on the AHL All-Time PIM Leaders list. He is right behind Serge Roberge (1,974 PIM, 1987-96) and Greg Smyth (1,970 PIM, 1985-99).

* D Marty Wilford skated in his 300th career AHL game on February 27 vs. Binghamton. He currently leads all League defensemen in assists with 31, and is tied with several others for third in scoring amongst AHL blueliners with 34 points.

* C Jason Morgan scored a goal and added an assist in his Admirals debut against Binghamton on February 27.

* LW Quintin Laing made his NHL debut on February 29 with Chicago, posting one shot and an even rating in the Blackhawks' 2-2 tie versus Florida.

* RW Matt Keith and D Johnathan Aitken each registered an assist for their first career NHL points against Columbus on February 27.

ON THE RADIO

All games are broadcast on the Admirals' Flagship Station, AM-1230 WJOI. The games are also cybercast on the World Wide Web at SportsJuice.com. Go to www.SportsJuice.com, or click on the link at www.norfolkadmirals.com. Pre-game broadcasts begin 15 minutes prior to game starting time.

TICKET INFORMATION

Individual tickets for all remaining contests on the Admirals' home schedule are available at the Scope Box Office, all TicketMaster outlets, charge-by-phone at (757) 671-8100 and online at www.ticketmaster.com. Group tickets are available through the Admirals' office. For more information, visit the club's website at www.norfolkadmirals.com or call the Admirals at (757) 363-1900.

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