AHL Norfolk Admirals

Hartford Snaps Admirals' Point Streak at Nine Games

Published on February 6, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


NORFOLK, Va. - The Norfolk Admirals (24-24-3-1) saw their nine-game point streak (7-0-1-1) end on Saturday night with a 5-1 loss to the Hartford Wolf Pack (25-20-3-4) at Norfolk Scope Arena.

Next up for the third-place Admirals is an important East Division matchup on Wednesday night against the sixth-place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at Scope. The Penguins trail Norfolk by only four points in the standings.

The Admirals took a 1-0 lead 3:17 into the game. Juraj Simek knocked the puck off a Hartford defender's stick near the left half wall. The puck wound up on the blade of Justin Keller at the edge of the left circle bordering the slot, and Keller fired a wrist shot past the glove of Wolf Pack goaltender Matt Zaba for his ninth goal of the season.

Norfolk's lead was short-lived, as Hartford knotted the score at 1-1 just 37 seconds later. Corey Potter sent a feed from the left circle to Derek Couture in the slot. Couture redirected the puck past the outstretched right leg of Admirals netminder Dustin Tokarski.

The Wolf Pack took a 2-1 lead with 1:28 left in the first period on a fast-developing play. Justin Soryal entered the Norfolk zone at the right point and sent a pass to Andres Ambuhl in the high slot. Ambuhl deked from forehand to backhand in the slot before sending a feed toward the net. Soryal redirected the pass at the top of the crease past the right leg of Tokarski.

Hartford doubled its lead 5:03 into the second stanza. The Admirals attempted a breakout pass from their own zone that was intercepted by Nigel Williams at the left point. Williams fired a shot from the left faceoff circle. Couture scored his second goal of the night off a forehand redirection past the left leg of Tokarski.

The Wolf Pack went up 4-1 nearly seven minutes later. Corey Locke sent a pass from the right half wall to the right point for a high one-timer by Corey Potter. The shot was redirected down and into the net by Dane Byers in the low slot at 11:43.

Hartford tacked on a fifth goal 5:18 into the final frame. Locke looped a shot high into the air from the right point and Kenny Roche deflected the shot down from the slot. The puck bounced off the ice and hopped over the right arm of Tokarski for a final score of 5-1in favor of the visitors.

Dustin Tokarski (35 shots, 30 saves) saw his six-game unbeaten streak (5-0-1) end. Matt Zaba (34 shots, 33 saves) earned the win.

Norfolk was 0-3 on the power play. Hartford was 1-3.

The Admirals will continue a six-game homestand on Wednesday against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. That game will be another Family Fun Pack Night and Student Rush Night. Family Fun Packs include four discounted Red Level Tickets for just $48 plus four free hot dogs, four free popcorns and four free sodas. Fans get all of that for just $48 - that's a savings of $37!

Student Rush Nights, brought to you by Pit Bull Energy Drink and Baxter's Sports Lounge, provide $8 White Level Tickets (normally $12) for high school and college students with a valid current high school or college ID. In addition, when you buy a Student Rush Night Ticket, you get a buy-one, get-one free offer for the next Student Rush Night. On top of that, you get discounted food at Baxter's Sports Lounge (located right across the street from Scope) on the day of the game.

Admirals Family Fun Packs are available at the Scope Box Office, all Ticketmaster Outlets, charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000 or online at Ticketmaster.com. Student Rush Night Tickets are available ONLY at the Scope Box Office after 2:00 p.m. on the day of the game.

For a complete schedule and details of the promotions, please visit norfolkadmirals.com or call (757) 640-1212.

To purchase tickets to any Admirals game, you may visit the Scope Box Office weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., visit any Ticketmaster outlet, call Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or visit Ticketmaster online at ticketmaster.com. Don't miss a minute of the action by purchasing your 2009-10 season tickets today. 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 February 6, 2010


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