AHL Norfolk Admirals

Brouwer's Hat Trick Leads Admirals Past Sound Tigers

Published on December 20, 2006 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


NORFOLK, VA - Troy Brouwer scored three goals to lead the Norfolk Admirals (20-6-4-1) past the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (12-11-1-3) on Wednesday night at Scope.

The Admirals got on board first while shorthanded early in the opening frame. Carl Corazzini sped past a Bridgeport player and collected a clearing attempt at the red line before breaking in two-on-one on Sound Tigers netminder Michael Mole two-on-one with Craig MacDonald. Corazzini sent a cross-ice pass from the right wall to MacDonald at the top of the crease, and MacDonald redirected the puck over Mole's right leg at 4:46.

The Norfolk lead doubled nearly ten minutes later. David Bolland skated from the left corner to behind the net with a defender closely guarding him. Bolland chipped a pass to an open Brouwer at the top of the crease. Brouwer made quick work of the pass by one-timing it past Mole at 14:28.

Brouwer scored his second goal of the night early in the second stanza. Dustin Byfuglien deked past a defender at center ice and then sent Brouwer in on a breakaway. Brouwer sent a shot past Mole blocker side at 1:55.

The Sound Tigers closed their gap to two goals under three minutes later. Allan Rourke sent a cross-ice pass from the left half-wall to an open Frans Nielsen at the bottom of the slot. Nielsen settled the puck down and sent a shot past Admirals goaltender Corey Crawford at 4:21.

Adam Burish netted Norfolk's second shorthanded goal of the night 1:17 into the final frame. He sent a shot from the slot that Mole stopped initially. But Burish corralled the rebound at the goal line and banked a shot off a Bridgeport defender and into the net.

Thirty-nine seconds later, Brandon Bochenski staved off a defender at the bottom of the right faceoff circle and fed Brouwer at the edge of the left circle. Brouwer sent a backhander into the back of the net to complete the hat trick at 1:56.

Allan Rourke deflected a Mark Wotton shot through traffic and past Crawford at 2:16. But Byfuglien put a cap on scoring with a strong individual effort ten minutes later. He got past a defender along the left half wall with a toe drag and then got past a second Sound Tiger at the top of the crease with a similar deke before beating Mole at 12:43.

Crawford stopped 25 of 27 shots and picked up the victory. Mole got the loss and stopped 26 of 32 shots.

Norfolk was 0-8 on the power play. Bridgeport was 0-4.

With two assists on the evening, Bochenski now has points in a franchise record-tying eleven straight games dating back to November 12 versus Manchester. In that stretch, he has 11 goals and 15 assists. He will attempt to break the record set earlier this year by Martin St. Pierre on Friday when the Admirals face off with their East Division Rivals the Hershey Bears at 7:15 p.m. at Scope.

Three Stars:

1. Troy Brouwer - NOR

2. Dustin Byfuglien - NOR

3. Brandon Bochenski - NOR

Check out the Norfolk Admirals Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from December 20, 2006


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