Byfuglien's OT Goal Caps Norfolk Comeback
Published on January 21, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release
PHILADELPHIA, PA - Travel doesn't seem to bother Dustin Byfuglien too much. Only four hours after arriving in Philadelphia from Chicago, Byfuglien netted the overtime game-winning goal to cap a comeback as the Norfolk Admirals (31-10-4-1) defeated the Philadelphia Phantoms (15-23-2-3) in overtime 4-3 on Sunday evening at the Wachovia Spectrum.
The Phantoms struck first just over a minute into the first period. Stefan Ruzicka sent a shot from the right circle that went five hole on Norfolk goaltender Patrick Lalime at 1:19.
Pete Zingoni doubled the Philadelphia lead six minutes later on a delayed penalty against Norfolk. He sent a shot from the left faceoff dot over Lalime's left shoulder at 7:39.
The Admirals cut their deficit in half five minutes later. Adam Burish, who had also just arrived at the arena from Chicago at 3:00 p.m., intercepted a pass just inside the Norfolk blue line and sped past the defense on a breakaway. He deked before sending a backhand shot past Phantoms goalie Martin Houle at 12:48.
Norfolk knotted the score at 2-2 midway through the second stanza on the power play. After a shot from Carl Corazzini from the left wing was stopped, the rebound was caught up in a goalmouth scramble. Eventually, the puck was accidentally sent past Houle by a Philadelphia player. Corazzini received credit for the goal as the last Admiral to touch the puck at 8:55.
Ruzicka put the Phantoms back in front 3-2 with a power play goal four minutes later. He received the puck at the right faceoff dot, skated backwards toward the slot waiting for a screen to develop, and sent a wrister through traffic and past Lalime at 12:13. Phantoms blueliner John Slaney became the first defenseman in the 71-year history of the American Hockey League to record 500 AHL points with an assist on the goal.
The Admirals deadlocked the game at 3-3 with just 1:07 remaining in the second period. Jonas Nordqvist stole the puck just outside the Phantoms' blue line and fed David Bolland at the right circle. After a Philadelphia player poked the puck away from Bolland, the rookie winger quickly re-gained control, sped across the slot and sent a backhander into the back of the net from the left edge of the crease.
Byfuglien won the game for Norfolk 2:33 into overtime. Troy Brouwer fed him the puck in the low slot. Byfuglien backed up to between the hashmarks and sent a heavy wrist shot just under the crossbar to win the game 4-3.
Lalime (40 shots, 37 saves) earned the victory. Houle (26 shots, 22 saves) got the loss.
The Admirals were 1-4 on the power play. Philadelphia was 1-6.
The Admirals will now return to Scope to prepare for a Friday night showdown against their East Division rivals the Hershey Bears. The puck drops at 7:15 p.m. Friday night's game will feature an AJ Gator's Pre-Game Party. For more information, please visit norfolkadmirals.com. Also on Friday, the first 2,500 fans through the gate will receive an Admirals' T-shirt courtesy of Liberty Tax Service. The Admirals will also honor the fifth STIHL Hometown Hero of the season during the game.
Three Stars:
1. John Slaney - PHI
2. Dustin Byfuglien - NOR
3. Stefan Ruzicka - PHI
American Hockey League Stories from January 21, 2007
- MacLean Nets Hat Trick In Shootout Loss to Manchester - San Antonio Rampage
- Monarchs Round-Up Road Trip With Shootout Win - Manchester Monarchs
- Admirals sail away with extra point - Adirondack Phantoms
- Belle scores twice as Aeros top Admirals, 6-1 - Houston Aeros
- Cumiskey and Guite returned by Colorado - Albany River Rats
- Byfuglien's OT Goal Caps Norfolk Comeback - Norfolk Admirals
- Bears get by Penguins, 4-1 - Hershey Bears
- P-Bruins Defeat Pirates 3-2 - Providence Bruins
- Sharks Top Devils, 3-2 - Albany Devils
- Kings Assign Pushkarev To Manchester - Manchester Monarchs
- Slaney Scores 500th Career AHL Point - Adirondack Phantoms
- Stortini reassigned to Hamilton - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Barker, Burish, Byfuglien and MacDonald Return to Admirals - Norfolk Admirals
- Aeros game notes - Houston Aeros
- Belle, Ward back for Milwaukee showdown - Houston Aeros
- Backes, Sejna and King Return from Blues - Peoria Rivermen
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