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AHL Norfolk Admirals

Blue and Gold win three in a row

February 16, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The Admirals swept a pair of home matches and came from behind on the road to win all three of their games last week. On Wednesday, February 11, Norfolk scored twice in nine seconds during the third period to down Lowell 4-2 at Scope. Hosting the Lock Monsters once again, Shawn Thornton lit the lamp twice to help the Admirals to a 4-1 win on Friday, February 13. At Wilkes-Barre the next night, the Blue and Gold score four unanswered goals as they staged a 4-2 comeback victory over the Penguins.

Norfolk visits the Providence Bruins (Boston Bruins) today at 4:05 p.m. Wednesday, February 18 finds the squad in Albany for a 7:00 p.m. match up with the River Rats (New Jersey Devils). On Friday, February 20, the Blue and Gold travel to Lowell to face the Lock Monsters (Carolina Hurricanes/Calgary Flames) at 7:00 p.m. The week concludes with a 7:05 p.m. contest at the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (New York Islanders) on Saturday, February 21.

The Admirals are fifth in the East Division with a record of 23-25-4-5 (55 points). They trail Bridgeport (28-13-8-3, 67 points), Philadelphia (30-17-5-1, 66 points), Hershey (26-21-8-4, 64 points) and Binghamton (25-22-4-2, 56 points), and are followed by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (20-21-5-5, 50 points) and Albany (14-24-8-6, 42 points).

THE WEEK AHEAD

Monday, February 16 ... Norfolk @ Providence Bruins ... 4:05 p.m.

The Admirals won the previous meeting with the P-Bruins, 2-1 at Scope on January 30, and are now 3-1-1-0 all-time against Providence. The Bruins' 1,215 PIM are most in the Atlantic Division and fourth-most PIM in the League. Their power play unit ranks sixth (16.7) while their penalty killers are 12th (86.5) in the AHL. Andre Savage tops the team scoring list with 12+22=34 points in 40 games as a Bruin (he scored one goal in eight games with Philadelphia). Ivan Huml's 13 lamplighters are most on the team. Brian White owns the best rating on Providence at plus-9 while Milan Jurcina's minus-8 rating is the lowest. Brendan Walsh and Colton Orr lead the P-Bruins in penalty minutes with 196 PIM and 143 PIM, respectively. Walsh is fifth in the AHL and Orr is 15th in PIM. In net are Tim Thomas (26 GPI, 12-8-5, 2.02 GAA, .940 spct.) and Hannu Toivonen (25 GPI, 10-10-4, 2.24 GAA, .925 spct.). Thomas is ninth in the AHL in GAA and third in save percentage.

Wednesday, February 18 ... Norfolk @ Albany River Rats ... 7:00 p.m.

Norfolk is 3-0-1-0 against Albany this year, including two wins in two game at Pepsi Arena. The Admirals hold an 8-1-2-1 edge in the all-time series versus the River Rats. Albany's 163 goals allowed are the most in the Eastern Conference, and its nine home wins are fewest in the entire League. The River Rats are 22nd in the AHL on the power play (12.5) as well as on the penalty kill (83.5). Craig Darby leads the squad in goals (17), assists (28), points (45) and power play goals (six). He is among the top 12 in scoring in the League. Ray Giroux's 10 goals are the most by an AHL defenseman. He has the lowest rating on Albany at minus-18, while Alex Brook 's plus-3 is the only positive rating on the team. Rob Skrlac, Brett Clouthier and Mike Matteucci lead the River Rats with 87 PIM, 84 PIM and 82 PIM, respectively. Between the pipes, Ari Ahonen is 9-15-4 with a 2.88 GAA and a .901 spct. in 28 games. Matus Kostur is 0-3-0 with a 3.69 GAA and a .882 spct. in three outings.

Friday, February 20 ... Norfolk @ Lowell Lock Monsters ... 7:00 p.m.

The Blue and Gold are 2-1-0-0 versus the Lock Monsters this year, and 5-3-3-1 in their all-time series. Lowell has scored the second-most goals in the Atlantic Division (138; Manchester - 146) and has allowed the most in that division (146). Lowell is third in the League on the power play (17.8) and 24th when shorthanded (81.5). Mike Zigomanis is the team leader in assists (32) and points (43; 11 goals). He is tied with Rochester's Domenic Pittis for sixth in the AHL in helpers. Martin Sonnenberg has 14 goals and a plus-14 rating to lead the squad in those categories. Brad Fast has 8+13=21 points, the most of any Lowell defenseman, and he is tied with several others for sixth in goals by a League blueliner. Brett Lysak's minus-12 rating is lowest on the Lock Monsters, and he has spent the most time in the penalty box with 83 PIM. Guarding the cage, Patrick DesRochers is 15-16-1 with a 2.81 GAA and a .910 spct. in 33 games. Dany Sabourin is 5-6-2 with a 2.84 GAA and a .904 spct. in 13 appearances. DesRochers is tied with several others for sixth in the AHL in losses.

Saturday, February 21 ... Norfolk @ Bridgeport Sound Tigers ... 7:05 p.m.

In four games against the Sound Tigers this year, the Admirals are 2-1-0-1, including a 1-0-0-1 mark at Bridgeport. Norfolk is 4-1-0-1 all-time versus the Islanders' farm club. The Sound Tigers' 92 goals allowed and 713 PIM are fewest in the AHL in their respective categories. Jeff Hamilton is atop the squad's scoring list with 28+18=46 points. He is second in the League in lamplighters (Miroslav Zalesak, CLV - 29) as well as in power play tallies (14; Jason Pominville, ROC - 15), and tops all skaters in game-winning goals (10). Brandon Smith's 19 helpers are most among current Sound Tigers. Hamilton has the best rating on the team at plus-13 while Graham Belak has the lowest rating at minus-3. The netminding tandem is comprised of Wade Dubielewicz (22 GPI, 14-5-3, 1.44 GAA, .941 spct.) and Dieter Kochan (28 GPI, 14-9-5, 1.82 GPI, .935 spct.). They are second and fourth in the AHL, respectively, in GAA (first - Rastislav Stana, POR - 1.37; third - Jason LaBarbera, HAR - 1.48), and second and seventh, respectively, in save percentage (first - Stana, .954).

UPCOMING GAMES/PROMOTIONS

Friday, February 27 (Binghamton Senators)
* 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.

Saturday, February 28 (Binghamton Senators)
* The Admirals take on the B-Sens once again in a key East Division match up.

TEAM NOTEBOOK

* Norfolk has scored four or more goals in five of its last six games, winning each of those contests (since January 31 vs. Hartford). The Admirals had scored four or more lamplighters in a match only five times in their first 51 games.

* The Blue and Gold are 7-2-1-0 over their last 10 games (since January 23 vs. Springfield). They have out-scored the opposition 31-19 during that stretch.

* Through their last 10 matches, the Admirals have out-shot their foes nine times, and have out-shot their opponents 319-224. They are averaging 31.9 shots per game while allowing just 22.4 shots per game over the last 10 games. Norfolk has posted 28 or more shots in each of the 10 contests and has held the opposition to 24 shots or fewer eight times over that period.

* C Ajay Baines has points in five straight games and has 3+5=8 points in his last seven games (since January 30).

* G Michael Leighton is unbeaten in six straight games (5-0-1 since January 25 at Wilkes-Barre) and has won five consecutive games (since January 30 vs. Providence). He has a 1.48 GAA and a .936 spct. over that span. Leighton's six-game unbeaten streak is the longest by a Norfolk goaltender in 2003-04.

* LW Matt Ellison has netted three goals and four assists (seven points) over his last seven matches (since January 30).

* RW Matt Keith has tallied 3+4=7 points in the last five games (since February 6). He posted three multi-point games during that stretch.

* D Marty Wilford has assists in three straight games (four total since February 11). He leads all AHL defensemen in helpers and is third among League blueliners in points with 3+28=31.

* C Mikhail Yakubov has six points (two goals, four assists) over his last six contests (since January 31).

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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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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