AHL Norfolk Admirals

Norfolk Admirals Weekly

April 1, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


NORFOLK, Va. - The Admirals finished up a five-game homestand this weekend with two losses to division opponent Wilkes-Barre Scranton, both by a 2-1 score. After coming out on the losing end of a two-game weekend sweep to Binghamton on March 21 and 22, Norfolk continued to slide by dropping two more at home to the Penguins this past weekend. The Admirals never led in either of the two contests at Scope and scrounged up a pair of goals compared to the four Wilkes-Barre/Scranton scored to earn the sweep. Four straight losses at home and two wins in a row for Hershey has Norfolk just barely hanging on to the final playoff spot by a single point over the Bears in the Eastern Conference. The Admirals went 1-3-1-0 in the recent homestand and play Hershey twice in two of their last three regular season games.

THE ADMIRALS' WEEK AHEAD

Fri., Apr. 4 ... at Adirondack, 7:00 p.m.

Sat., Apr. 5 ... at Binghamton, 7:05 p.m.

Sun., Apr. 6 ... at Hartford, 5:00 p.m.

ADMIRALS' LOG

- Norfolk 's penalty kill regained the top spot in the AHL this weekend after getting rid of all six penalties charged against them. They have allowed only 35 goals on 273 power plays surrendered, disposing of penalties at a rate of 87.2% this season.

- The Admirals have a combined record of 9-5-0-1 on the road in games that are a part of "three-in-threes," or, three games in three days. Norfolk's upcoming six-game road swing contains two sets of "three-in-threes."

NORFOLK LEADERS

Goals : Devante Smith-Pelly (27)

Assists : Emerson Etem, Andre Petersson (27)

Points : Andre Petersson (47)

Games : Chris Wagner (67)

PP goals : Devante Smith-Pelly (10)

SH goals : Max Friberg, Devante Smith-Pelly (3)

+/- Rating : Garnet Exelby (+10)

PIM : Zack Stortini (270)

GAA : John Gibson (2.38)

Spct : Brad Thiessen (.931)

Wins : John Gibson (20)

Losses : John Gibson (21; four in shootout)

GPI : John Gibson (44)

Minutes : John Gibson (2521:59)

ABOUT THIS WEEK'S MATCHUPS

The Admirals prepare to embark on a six-game journey through New England that entails two consecutive trios of three games in three days. The first starts in Upstate New York this Friday, April 4, versus the Adirondack Phantoms (25-36-1-5). Norfolk aims to end their current four-game slide and remain in playoff contention, but meet a last place team in Adirondack who can go a long way in spoiling aspirations of postseason play for Norfolk with a win this Friday. In three games this season, Norfolk has won two of them including one at the Scope and one at Glens Falls Civic Center for a 2-1-0-0 record against the Phantoms. Both teams are in desperate need of a win to remedy their current losing streaks. The Admirals have dropped their last four while Adirondack has lost their last five. Keep an eye on Emerson Etem and Max Friberg who each have four points for the Admirals this season against the Phantoms. Adirondack is nearing the conclusion of a difficult season to say the least, but can ruin fellow Eastern-Conference opponents' chances at the postseason. They face the Admirals on home ice at 7:00 p.m. this Friday in search of their first win in the last five games.

ADIRONDACK LEADERS

Goals: Jason Akeson (21)

Assists: Jason Akeson (39)

Points: Jason Akeson (60)

Games: Jason Akeson, Mike Alt, Rob Bordson (66)

PP goals: Bruno Gervais (7)

SH goals: Jason Akeson (3)

+/- Rating: Cullen Eddy (+5)

PIM: Brandon Manning (211)

GAA: Cal Heeter (2.69)

Spct: Cal Heeter (.911)

Wins: Cal Heeter (15)

Losses: Cal Heeter (24; 1 in shootout)

GPI: Cal Heeter (41)

Minutes: Cal Heeter (2277:39)

On Saturday, Norfolk enters a venue they have struggled in this season, Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton, New York. They also face a team heading in the opposite direction as the Binghamton Senators (40-21-1-5) have won four of their last five and topped the Admirals in both games in New York this season. Binghamton has had Norfolk's number, winning five in a row over the Admirals dating back to October 11, 2013 when the Admirals blitzed the Senators for a 5-0 win in the first home game of the season. Binghamton currently leads the East Division with 86 points over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and, as a result, owns third place in the Eastern Conference standings. Two huge points are on the line for the Admirals with the chance to narrow the gap between themselves and the Senators. Binghamton's Stephane Da Costa, Shane Prince and Cole Schneider have plagued the Admirals this season. Each have five points against Norfolk this season while the Admirals have a 1-4-1-0 record this year against the Senators. The divisional meeting gets underway at 7:05 p.m. this Saturday, April 5.

BINGHAMTON LEADERS

Goals: Mike Hoffman (30)

Assists: Stephane Da Costa (40)

Points: Mike Hoffman (67)

Games: Fredrik Claesson (66)

PP goals: Matt Puempel (14)

SH goals: Cole Schneider, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Derek Grant (3)

+/- Rating: Fredrik Claesson (+40)

PIM: Mark Borowiecki (154)

GAA: Andrew Hammond (2.81)

Spct: Nathan Lawson (.910)

Wins: Andrew Hammond (22)

Losses: Andrew Hammond (15; 3 in shootout)

GPI: Andrew Hammond (41)

Minutes: Andrew Hammond (2350:42)

Norfolk reaches the halfway mark of their six-game trip when they pull into the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut on Sunday, April 6, for a tie with the Hartford Wolf Pack (30-31-1-6). The Admirals haven't seen the Wolf Pack since early February when the two sides split a two-game series in Norfolk after the Admirals took a shootout victory in the season opener up north. The Admirals are 2-1-0-0 versus Hartford and can expect a desperate Wolf Pack squad who must win the remainder of their nine games to have a chance at playoff hockey. Another golden opportunity against a team that likely won't make the postseason presents itself to the Admirals who can help sure up a playoff berth with two more points in a win over Hartford. It will also be an ideal time for Norfolk's 24th-ranked power play to find a rhythm against a Wolf Pack penalty kill slumping in the 24th spot in the AHL. Before Smith-Pelly's goal Saturday on the man advantage, the Admirals had not recorded a power play goal since March 19 versus Charlotte. Sunday's early evening game starts at 5:00 p.m.

HARTFORD LEADERS

Goals: Danny Kristo (21)

Assists: Aaron Johnson, Danny Syvret (30)

Points: Oscar Lindberg (40)

Games: Aaron Johnson, Oscar Lindberg (67)

PP goals: Jesper Fast (7)

SH goals: Danny Syvret (2)

+/- Rating: Ryan Bourque (+16)

PIM: Dylan McIlrath (149)

GAA: Dov Grumet-Morris (2.56)

Spct: Dov Grumet-Morris (.915)

Wins: Dov Grumet-Morris (16)

Losses: Dov Grumet-Morris (20; 5 in shootout)

GPI: Dov Grumet-Morris (37)

Minutes: Dov Grumet-Morris (2087:33)

**Upcoming Home Games, Events, & Promotions**

Wednesday, April 16 vs. Hershey, 7:15 p.m.

- Family Fun Pack

- $9 Student Rush Tickets

Saturday, April 18 vs. Hershey, 7:15 p.m.

- Admirals Team Poster Giveaway

- Party on the Plaza

- Girl Scout Night

- Fan Appreciation Night

GAME TICKETS

Individual tickets are on sale now at the Scope Box Office, all Ticketmaster Outlets, charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000 and online at www.ticketmaster.com

For discounted group 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.

ON THE RADIO / INTERNET

The "Admirals Hour" radio show airs every Tuesday from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. on 1490 AM The Game. Tune-in for an inside look into Admirals hockey featuring Admirals players, coaches, and staff.

All regular season games air live on 1490-AM The Game and on 1650 AM. Listen online at http://1490amthegame.com/home/listen-live/

Fans can watch the games online at AHL Live on a pay-per-view, or season pass basis at http://ahl.neulion.com/ahl/

Check out the Norfolk Admirals Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from April 1, 2014


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