Sports stats



AHL Norfolk Admirals

Norfolk Admirals Weekly

January 13, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


NORFOLK, Va. - The Admirals finished their Pennsylvania road trip with six out of eight possible points. They took two games from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and split a two-game set with the Hershey Bears.

The trip started with a Tuesday night game at the Mohegan Sun Arena against the Penguins. Norfolk did what they've done in two previous games: they scored first. Charlie Sarault put a rebound behind goaltender Jeff Zatkoff and gave the Admirals the lead. Though Penguins rookie Jean-Sebastien Dea scored towards the end of the second period, Max Friberg answered in the third to give the Admirals the 2-1 win. Jason LaBarbera saved 23 of 24 shots he faced.

Just days later the Admirals were back on the ice to face the Penguins. Friday transpired much like Tuesday night. Norfolk was on the board first, but unlike Tuesday, they were the only team on the board. Emerson Etem capitalized on a short-handed breakaway at 11:11 of the first period. Just 2:37 later Marc Cantin ripped a wrister through traffic for his first AHL goal. Even with many power play chances during the second and third period, neither team could turn the chances into goals. LaBarbera got the shutout, and the Admirals won 2-0.

Saturday played out differently than their two previous games. They faced off at the Giant Center against the Hershey Bears. The Admirals continued to be the first team on the board as captain Dave Steckel shoved in his own rebound right past goaltender Brandon Anderson. That would be the only tally for the Admirals. Less than three minutes later the Bears would even the score on the power play off of a shot by Bears defenseman Nate Schmidt. Their next two goals lit the lamp in the beginning and end of the second period. Schmidt would tally his second of the game first, and Casey Wellman redirected the third from a Schmidt blast. A goal-less third period gave Hershey the 3-1 win.

Norfolk found redemption in their third game in three days. The Bears and the Admirals reconvened at the Giant Center to play the final game of Norfolk's four-game road trip. Hershey broke the streak and drew blood first just under six minutes into the opening period. Wellman pivoted into the left circle and got one over the glove of goaltender Igor Bobkov. At 10:37 Etem tied it up on a power-play goal for his first of the game. His second of the game came around the midway point of the second period to give Norfolk a 2-1 lead. The third period began with Chris Wagner striking just 28 seconds in for a two-goal Admirals lead. The Bears responded with a Kris Newbury goal, but Norfolk finished out with an empty-netter by Steckel for a 4-1 win.

The Admirals return home this weekend and start a five-game homestand against the Hartford Wolf Pack.

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 AM "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 15-20-1-2 (33 points), the Admirals are in 5th place in the East Division and are in 15th 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., Jan. 16 ... vs. Hartford Wolf Pack (New York Rangers) ... 7:30 p.m.

Sat., Jan. 17 ... vs. Hartford Wolf Pack (New York Rangers) ... 7:15 p.m. *Pink in the Rink*

ADMIRALS' LOG

Norfolk captain Dave Steckel has three goals in his last eight games after being held scoreless through the first 30. He brings a two-game goal streak into this weekend and is third on the team in assists. Goaltender Jason LaBarbera registered his first AHL shutout last Friday night since the 2006-07 season with Manchester. A veteran of over 200 NHL games, LaBarbera sports a 2.32 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage through 12 games this season for the Admirals.

NORFOLK LEADERS

Goals: Louis Leblanc (11)

Assists: Brendan Bell (18)

Points: Nic Kerdiles (20)

Games: Brendan Bell, Nic Kerdiles, Dave Steckel (38)

PP Goals: Emerson Etem, Louis Leblanc (5)

SH Goals: Chris Wagner (2)

+/- Rating: Jared Nightingale (3)

PIM: Nathan McIver (107)

GAA: Jason LaBarbera (2.32)

Spct: John Gibson (.928)

Wins: Jason LaBarbera (5)

Losses: Jason LaBarbera (5; 1 in OT)

GPl: Jason LaBarbera (12)

Minutes: Jason LaBarbera (671:13)

ABOUT THIS WEEK ' S MATCHUPS

After finishing up a successful road trip on which Norfolk went 3-1, they return to Scope to host the Hartford Wolf Pack in a back-to-back this weekend. The Admirals and Wolf Pack have faced each other twice this season, both in Connecticut, with each team posting shutouts. Saturday will be the last time the clubs meet during the 2014-15 season.

Outside of a 3-1 loss at Hershey, the Admirals would be hard-pressed to be disappointed about their road trip, which saw them climb six points in the Conference standings to sit just one point behind Binghamton. Emerson Etem was the star of the trip, notching five points during the four games on three goals and two assists. Etem now has seven points in five games this month. The road swing was also beneficial for captain Dave Steckel, who put up two goals, including one shorthanded. Nic Kerdiles continues to lead the team in points with 20, but the gap is shrinking, and only three points separate the top four scorers. Count on Brendan Bell to provide assists: he leads the Admirals, and is tied for third among AHL defensemen in that category. After being out since November 8 with an upper-body injury, Brad Winchester made his return on Sunday, emerging with a plus-minus rating of +1. Home remains where Norfolk excels on special teams - the club ranks first in the AHL on the penalty kill (88.6%) and third on the power play (24.6%).

Fifth-place Hartford will be optimistic themselves, as they went 2-0-1-0 last week, and have at least a standings point in 12 of their last 15 games. Chris Bourque will be a Wolf Pack player to watch out for, as the forward is seventh in the league in points with 33 in 36 games, and has six points in January alone. Oscar Lindberg will present a challenge of his own. He has amassed four points in his last four games and nine in his last 12. Blueliner Michael Kostka, a former Calder Cup-winning Admiral, has been on fire recently, compiling six points in his last five outings, and is tied for first in team plus-minus with a +6. Perhaps the Admirals ' toughest opponent, however, will be Head Coach Ken Gernander, who won his 300th AHL game behind the bench on Saturday. It will be goaltender Yann Danis ' first return to Norfolk after being released from his contract; Danis posted a 5-6-0-0 record for the Admirals, including two shutouts, a 2.72 goals-against average and .914 save percentage. Expect the Wolf Pack to look comfortable as the guests: they hold an 8-6-0-0 record away from home.

HARTFORD LEADERS

Goals: Chris Bourque (16)

Assists: Chris Bourque (17)

Points: Chris Bourque (33)

Games: Four players tied (37)

PP Goals: Chris Bourque (7)

SH Goals: Marek Hrivik, Tommy Hughes (1)

+/- Rating: Chris Bourque, Michael Kostka (6)

PIM: Dylan McIlrath (79)

GAA: Mackenzie Skapski (2.56)

Spct: Mackenzie Skapski (.910)

Wins: Mackenzie Skapski (9)

Losses: Mackenzie Skapski (10; 3 in OT)

GPl: Mackenzie Skapski (21)

Minutes: Mackenzie Skapski (1103:37)

**UPCOMING EVENTS AND PROMOTIONS**

Saturday, January 17 vs. Hartford Wolf Pack

- Pink in the Rink to benefit the Tidewater Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure

We paint the ice pink in support of the search for a cure for breast cancer! This event has sold out the past two years, so secure your seat to the Admirals annual Pink in the Rink Night by visiting the Scope Box Office, any Ticketmaster outlet, ticketmaster.com, or charge-by-phone at (800) 745-3000.

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.

Check out the Norfolk Admirals Statistics

• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...

American Hockey League Stories from January 13, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Norfolk Admirals Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central