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AHL Norfolk Admirals

MacDonald's OT Goal Sends Sellout Crowd Home Happy

January 26, 2007 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


NORFOLK, VA - Craig MacDonald' goal 4:41 into overtime sent a sellout crowd home happy, as the Norfolk Admirals (32-10-4-1) defeated the Hershey Bears (29-8-4-5) 5-4 on Friday night at Scope to solidify their first-place lead in the East Division and the AHL.

The Admirals scored just 1:25 into the game on a tic-tac-toe passing play. Pierre Parenteau, who was stationed at the top of the left faceoff circle, fired a pass to Martin St. Pierre at the right dot. St. Pierre wired a pass across the slot to Danny Richmond, who redirected it into the net from the top of the crease.

The Bears knotted the game at 1-1 five minutes later. Kyle Wilson snuck a backhander under Admirals goaltender Corey Crawford's glove at 6:53.

Another nice passing play put the Admirals back on top 2-1. Colin Fraser started the play by winning a battle for the puck along the right wall and sending the pass to MacDonald. The Admirals' captain sent a pass behind his back to Jonas Nordqvist at the left edge of the slot, and Nordqvist steered it past Hershey goaltender Daren Machesney at 12:36.

But the Bears evened the game at 2-2 with just 48 seconds remaining in the opening frame. Dave Steckel collected a loose puck along the side of the net and chipped it over Crawford's left leg for a power play tally.

Parenteau put Norfolk ahead 3-2 with a man advantage marker of his own 3:28 into the second period. He skated into the attacking zone along the left wing and sent a wrister top shelf, glove side on new Hershey goaltender Nolan Schaefer from the faceoff dot.

Fraser gave the Admirals some insurance five minutes later. He tapped home a feed from the edge of the crease with David Bolland and Nordqvist assisting on the play at 8:41.

The Admirals would need that insurance, as the Bears battled back to tie the game in the third period. Steckel made it a 3-2 game 3:58 into the third period by eluding a poke check at the right circle and deking to the opposite side of the crease before sliding the puck past Crawford's right leg.

A turnover led to the game-tying goal at 12:32, as Tomas Fleischmann faked a slap shot to freeze Crawford before slipping a shot into a yawning cage.

MacDonald won the game with just 19 seconds remaining in the extra session. After poke-checking the puck away from a Hershey attacker at the blueline, MacDonald nudged the puck ahead to Carl Corazzini. MacDonald then skated ahead to left circle, received a pass from Corazzini, and rifled a shot over Schaefer's right shoulder.

Crawford (35 shots, 31 saves) earned the victory. Machesney (6 shots, 4 saves) played 20 minutes and did not factor into the decision. Nolan Schaefer (16 shots, 13 saves) was saddled with the loss.

Both the Admirals and Bears were 1-4 on the power play.

Tonight's capacity crowd numbered at 8,784, breaking the record crowd of 7,209 for AHL Admirals hockey set just one week ago on January 19 versus Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The Admirals now rank 15th in the 27-team American Hockey League in attendance with an average of 4,299 fans in 26 games thus far.

The Admirals and Bears now head to Hershey for a 7:00 game tomorrow at Giant Center. The Admirals return to Scope next Friday and Saturday for East Division showdowns with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Philadelphia Phantoms, respectively. The opening faceoff for both games is at 7:15 p.m. Friday night will feature an AJ Gator's Pre-Game Party. For more details, please visit norfolkadmirals.com. Fans will also receive coupons from Stanley Steemer at the game on Friday. On Saturday, the Admirals will honor another STIHL Hometown Hero.

To purchase tickets to an Admirals game, you may visit the Scope Box Office weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., call Ticketmaster at (757) 671-8100 or visit Ticketmaster online at www.ticketmaster.com. To purchase Admirals ten packs or group tickets, please stop by the Admirals' administrative offices at Scope or call (757) 640-1212 weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Check out the Norfolk Admirals Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from January 26, 2007


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