Norfolk Admirals Weekly
Published on October 28, 2014 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release
NORFOLK, Va. - The Norfolk Admirals dropped all three of their road games last weekend on their tour of the Northeast. The team was outscored by a total margin of 13-3 in matches against Providence, Springfield and Hartford.
Bruins goaltender Jeremy Smith stole the show in Friday's game at Providence. The young netminder made 39 saves and the Bruins skated away with a comfortable 4-0 victory. The forwards awoke on Saturday night at Springfield as Joseph Cramarossa and Brandon Yip scored their first goals of the season. Unfortunately, Norfolk goalie Igor Bobkov and the Admirals' defense struggled as the team allowed a total of six to the Falcons in a 6-3 defeat.
The Norfolk offensive attack was held off the scoresheet again on Sunday at Hartford. This time it was rookie goalie Mackenzie Skapski who stood tall between the pipes. Skapski stopped all 16 shots he faced, recording the shutout victory in his first ever AHL start. Forward Chris Wagner made his return to Norfolk after being reassigned from the Anaheim Ducks, but he was unable to spark the offense as the team dropped a 3-0 final to the Wolf Pack.
The losses dropped the Admirals record to 2-5-0-0 on the season. This weekend they face an East-Division opponent, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, who have had an inconsistent start to the season as well. Both teams will look to tighten up defensively while trying to find chemistry on offense when they meet on Halloween night in Norfolk. Puck drops at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and 7:15 p.m. on Saturday, November 1.
ON THE RADIO/INTERNET
All regular-season games will air live on 1650 AM WHKT "The Answer" and online at 1650theanswer.com. AHL Live will also carry online video of every Admirals game on a pay-per-view or season pass basis. Fans can log in to watch, listen or get more information about AHL Live's online audio and video features at ahllive.com.
Tune in live to 1650 "The Answer" every Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. for the "Admirals Hour" with the "Voice of the Admirals" Pete Michaud and the "Original Admiral" Dennis McEwen. Michaud and McEwen discuss the latest in Norfolk Admirals hockey, speak with guests, update you on the Anaheim Ducks, as well as answer any calls during the show. Ask Pete and Dennis your questions by calling in to the studio at 757-454-1650.
STANDINGS UPDATE
At 2-5-0-0 (4 points), the Admirals are in 5th place in the East Division and are tied for 14th place in the Eastern Conference.
Eight teams in each conference shall qualify for the 2015 Calder Cup Playoffs. Following the conclusion of each team's 76-game regular season, the three division winners in each conference will be seeded 1-3 (in order of regular-season points) and the next five best teams (in order of regular-season points) will be seeded 4-8.
THE ADMIRALS' WEEK AHEAD
Fri., Oct. 31 ... vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh Penguins) ... 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 1 ... vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh Penguins) ... 7:15 p.m.
ADMIRALS SPOTLIGHT
- Defenseman Josh Manson just received his first call to the NHL on Monday following the injury to Anaheim's Ben Lovejoy. Manson carries a solid, 6-foot-3 and 217-pound frame with him on the ice and has served as a stabilizing presence in the back for Norfolk. The rookie played in each of the Admirals' 10 playoff games last season upon finishing his career at Northeastern University.
- Former Admiral defenseman Sami Vatanen has gotten off to a blazing start in the first nine games of the season. Vatanen scored three goals and four assists thus far, which lands him in a tie for third in the league in points as a defenseman. He's a third of the way to his point total from last season across 48 games with Anaheim, thanks in part to a two-goal night versus St. Louis on October 19 and a two-point night against Columbus this past Friday. Vatanen's play on the man advantage has been dynamite, as every point to his name this season has lit the lamp on the power play.
ADMIRALS' LOG
Center Joseph Cramarossa produced the first two-point outing of his AHL career Saturday night at Springfield. The Toronto native connected on a beautiful wraparound attempt when he flicked a shot into the roof of the net late in the third period over the left shoulder of Falcons' goaltender Scott Munroe. Defenseman Mat Clark participated in his 100th game as an Admiral versus Springfield on Saturday. Clark began his career with Norfolk in 2012 as a second round draft pick of the Ducks in 2009. His totals read 101 games, one goal, 13 points, and 132 penalty minutes.
NORFOLK LEADERS
Chris Wagner (4)
Assists: Nic Kerdiles (5)
Points: Brad Winchester (6)
Games: 12 players tied (7)
PP Goals: Antoine Laganiere, Louis Leblanc, Brad Winchester (1)
SH Goals: Chris Wagner (2)
+/- Rating: Nathan McIver, Aaron Rome, Chris Wagner (+2)
0 Nathan McIver (38)
0 John Gibson (3.05)
A0 John Gibson (.902)
A0 John Gibson, Jason LaBarbera (1)
Losses: Igor Bobkov, Jason LaBarbera (2)
0 Jason LaBarbera (3)
Minutes: Jason LaBarbera (179:07)
ABOUT THIS WEEKEND'S MATCHUPS
The Anaheim Ducks sent down Chris Wagner on Sunday. He has a team-leading four goals kick-started by a hat trick on opening night. Look for Wagner to provide some life to the Admirals' attack alongside Brad Winchester who has at least one point in five of seven games so far. On the same token, expect the forwards to play with a sense of urgency around the net and present a heavier forecheck after a relatively quiet weekend. Joseph Cramarossa registered the first two-point night of his career on Saturday, notching a goal and assist on three shots against the Wolf Pack. Head Coach Jarrod Skalde continues to search for offensive output with the prolonged absence of two threats on the wing, Max Friberg and Stefan Noesen.
Meanwhile, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Andrew Ebbett attempts to preserve a three-game assist streak that began on October 24. Rookie tandem Bryan Rust and Jean-Sebastien Dea have led the charge in the scoring department so far for the Penguins, currently sitting first and second on the team, respectively. Rust is tied for third in the league for scoring by first-years and tied for fifth league-wide in points with six. Dea is fourth among rookies with five points, including four in the last five games. The Penguins have won four games and lost four, making the pair of contests this weekend a divisional barometer of sorts for both sides early on in 2014-15. Don't forget, last season's series involved a goaltender fight between Norfolk's John Gibson and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Jeff Deslauriers in the third meeting. Eleven players that took the ice against the Penguins last year return for the Admirals while 16 come back for Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate. Don't be surprised if tempers flare early and often during Friday's Halloween special.
WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON LEADERS
Bryan Rust (4)
Assists: Five players tied (3)
Points: Bryan Rust (6)
Games: Eight players tied (8)
PP Goals: Nick Drazenovic, Derrick Pouliot, Jean-Sebastien Dea (1)
SH Goals: None
+/- Rating: Brian Dumoulin (+5)
0 Bobby Farnham (62)
0 Eric Hartzell (2.00)
A0 Eric Hartzell (.913)
A0 Jeff Zatkoff (2)
Losses: Jeff Zatkoff (3)
0 Jeff Zatkoff (5)
Minutes: Jeff Zatkoff (280:36)
**UPCOMING EVENTS AND PROMOTIONS**
Friday, October 31 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
- "Zombie A-Hockey-Lypse"
It's Halloween and the Zombie A-Hockey-Lypse hits Scope as the Admirals battle the Penguins! Come to the game dressed as a zombie or in your Halloween costume to haunt the arena. Kids can arrive early to Trick-or-Treat in the Scope Exhibition Hall from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Challenge Coin Giveaway sponsored by John's Tax Service
The first 2,000 fans will receive an Official 2014-15 Admirals Challenge Coin. The coin may be presented at participating locations to receive discounts.
Saturday, November 1 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
- American Heart Association Night
Saturday night is American Heart Association Night! Attend to support the AHA as a portion of ticket sales will directly benefit the efforts to reduce cardiovascular disease and stroke.
- ODU Night
It's ODU Night so show your support of the local university by wearing blue and silver and attending ODU's club hockey game versus East Carolina at 2:30 p.m. inside Scope. Purchasing a ticket to the ODU game will also permit admission to the Admirals game at 7:15 p.m. Doors open at 1:30 p.m.
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 ticketmaster.com. Don't miss a minute of Admirals action by purchasing your 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.
American Hockey League Stories from October 28, 2014
- Phantoms Weekly - Two Big Games at PPL Center this Week - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Penguins Weekly - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Goaltender Jason Missiaen Reassigned to Greenville - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Wild Recalls Bickel and Falk - Iowa Wild
- Griffins Hunt for Victories at Home against IceHogs, Wolves - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Berschbach Rejoins Griffins, Hirschfeld and Nedomlel to Walleye - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Norfolk Admirals Weekly - Norfolk Admirals
- B-Sens Weekly - Binghamton Senators
- Detroit Assigns Weiss to Grand Rapids for Conditioning - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Admirals Host Two Games this Week - Milwaukee Admirals
- Joakim Nordstrom Named IceHogs Team Captain - Rockford IceHogs
- Spend Halloween with the Utica Comets - Utica Comets
- 'Canes Activate Eric Staal from Injured Reserve - Charlotte Checkers
- Hamilton's Natural Hat Trick Highlighted Sharks Weeek - Worcester Sharks
- American Hockey League Announces Suspension - AHL
- Blue Jackets Recall Anton Forsberg, Falcons Recall Scott Munroe - Springfield Falcons
- Ducks Call up Josh Manson - Norfolk Admirals
- Forward Danick Gauthier Reassigned to Everblades - Syracuse Crunch
- Capitals Recall Wilson from Hershey; Re-Assign Brown to Hershey - Hershey Bears
- IceCaps Agree to Terms with Brodie Reid - St. John's IceCaps
- IceCaps Sign Brodie Reid to PTO - St. John's IceCaps
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