AHL Norfolk Admirals

Lalande Leads Crunch in Sweep of Admirals at Scope

January 9, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


NORFOLK, Va. - Goaltender Kevin Lalande stopped 38 of 39 shots tonight and 71 of 73 shots over the weekend to lead the Syracuse Crunch (14-19-3-3) in a weekend sweep of the Norfolk Admirals (16-21-2-0) with a 2-1 decision on Saturday night at Norfolk Scope Arena. The Admirals will continue a five-game homestand next week on Wednesday night against the Hershey Bears.

The Crunch took a 1-0 lead just 2:37 into the game. Dylan Reese sent a shot from the right point that bounced off Norfolk goaltender Dustin Tokarski and caromed into the right faceoff circle. Jared Aulin found the rebound and quickly fired it past Tokarski at 2:37.

Syracuse doubled its lead just under ten minutes later. Tokarski attempted to clear the puck from behind his own net along the left half-wall. Derek MacKenzie intercepted the puck and dropped it back to Brendan Bell at the left point. Bell sent a wrist shot that Tomas Kana deflected in the left faceoff circle on its way past the outstretched right leg of Tokarski at 12:01.

After a scoreless second period, the Admirals cut their deficit in half just 46 seconds into the final frame. While the teams played with four skaters each, Matt Lashoff finished off a give-and-go with Juraj Simek through the right circle and slot. Lashoff sent a pass to Simek from the right point, Simek returned it to Lashoff from the bottom of the right circle and Lashoff sent a wrist shot from the slot over the blocker of Syracuse goaltender Kevin Lalande for his third goal of the season.

The Admirals fired nine more shots at Lalande during the third period but were unable to solve the Crunch netminder again.

Dustin Tokarski (32 shots, 30 saves) was saddled with the loss. Kevin Lalande (39 shots, 38 saves) got the win.

Norfolk was 0-4 on the power play. Syracuse was 0-3.

Next up for the Admirals is a 7:15 p.m. meeting with the Hershey Bears on Wednesday night at Scope.

Wednesday's 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 January 9, 2010


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